Powder concensious 38SPL

[Sleepy Floyd]

I'm looking to load 38spl (for the wife) for CAS.  Looking at 125G RNFP and load to approx 700FPS.

Suggestions greatly appreciated.

Mike AKA Fergus Peel

[Blackfoot]

I like Titegroup and Clays but in todays market it is sometimes hard to find excatly what you want.

Lafitte

[Shotgun Franklin]

I've used Red Dot in a .38 for my S&W.

[pony express]

I use Bullseye or Titegroup, but it depends on what you can find.

[longinosoap]

Titegroup if you can find it.

[Will Lynchem]

I just fired off 200 rounds of 38 special I loaded for CAS in both my ruger vaqueros.  I used IMR Trail Boss with a 125 gn. acfp and rnfp both had little more recoil than a 22. I was really impressed and the rounds clocked out at just under 800 fps. The IMR load data for a 125 gn cast lead bullet is 3.0 to 5.3 gns. I split the difference and went with 4.6 gns. I really liked the results. Im thinking for CAS matches I will be sticking with this recipe for awhile. Your wife will be able to handle this load with no problem. Good luck and happy shooting! Dastardly Den.
Ps. Try the ACFP or "AC" also I think you will like the way feel and the accuracy of them. Just an idea. D. D.

[Sleepy Floyd]

Thanks guys,

Dastardly Dan I plan on using trail boss in both the Vaqueros and the 66. In both calibers I have.  The 38 for the wife and 45C for me.

What OAL are you using.  My books tell me 1.430 inches.

[rickk]

You can do a lot of things with Unique, especially in non-magnum applications.

For what it's worth, it was originally formulated for the 45 LC.

The current production Unique (in the plastic verses cardboard containers) is a little bit re-formulated for cleaner burning than the original formulation.

Rick

[Will Lynchem]

Fergus peel, I struggled with coming up with a oal that worked for both my Vaqueros and my Cimarron 1873. I talked to a long time CAS shooter and owner of J D Outfitters in OK. He suggested trying 1.440 as an overall leangh. It has worked wonders for me! I have never had a jam up or miss fire since. Give it a try.
PS. I also found that the 125 TC bullets work best for feed problems in the rifle with the RNFP a close second. Good luck and let me know how it works out for you. D.D.

[Sleepy Floyd]

My Wife's 66 should be ready in about 2 weeks.  I'll make up some dummy rounds ans see what cycles.

Thanks.

[Will Lynchem]

Fergus Peel,  Just an update on reloading 38 specials for CAS. I just picked up my new Uberti 1873 from Jim Bowie (the owner of the Cowboys and Indian store and also the gunsmith that came up with the shortstroke kits for the 1866 and 73s) who just finished a bang up action job on my 1873 and Stoeger sxs coach gun. He told me that both the 66s and the 73s work best with an overall case length of 1.50. (I was using 1.440 as OAL) Jim Bowie tolde me 1.440 is close to the short end of the scale to not get hung up as it feeds, but should work. We cycled some dummy rounds at 1.440 and I ran 200 rounds of
38s at 1.440 today at the range without 1 missfire, or jam up. I also loaded 100 rounds last night @ 1.50 (give or take .01 either way) and they worked great! So, its looking like 1.50 is a good place to be. I also ran the same rounds through one of my Ruger New Vaqueros and found the accuracy is right on.  I think I have found a sweet spot! I will let you know how it goes at our club CAS match this upcoming Sunday. I will be switching off and on with both every other stage. Wish me luck it will be my first full match using all my own guns and ammo. D. D.

[Sleepy Floyd]

I made up a bunch at 1.450.  Work fine in my wife,s 73.  Using 3.0 Grains of trail boss. 

The next set of loads I'll be testing at 1.470