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I shoot mostly .357 Mag & I don't shoot a lot of .38s so I'm looking for a good medium powered load. I have some .38 cases I want to load up & give to my Brother. The components I have on hand are 158 gr. SJHPs... 231, 2400 & Unique for suitable powders using Win. small pistol primers.

Thanks ahead of time for any suggestions...

I’ve been doing Hornaday XTP 140gr HP with Bullseye at 3.5gr for my snubbies. Have done some 158gr. Ranier’s RN at 4.7gr. of Unique. I like the Hornaday bullets better.

Another vote for 4.7 grains of Unique.

What brand of bullet are your 158grainers

xerts1191 wrote: ↑December 23rd, 2018, 11:28 am What brand of bullet are your 158grainers

Winchester SJHP bulk bullets...

It's been a very long time since I loaded any .38... I seem to remember though that 5.5 grs is the upper end of loads for Unique...

THE ICEMAN wrote: ↑December 23rd, 2018, 6:13 pm

xerts1191 wrote: ↑December 23rd, 2018, 11:28 am What brand of bullet are your 158grainers

Winchester SJHP bulk bullets...

It's been a very long time since I loaded any .38... I seem to remember though that 5.5 grs is the upper end of loads for Unique...

I couldn't find anything in any of my reloading books that was over 5.1 Grains of Unique for 158 grainers.

Flash wrote: ↑December 24th, 2018, 6:42 am

THE ICEMAN wrote: ↑December 23rd, 2018, 6:13 pm

xerts1191 wrote: ↑December 23rd, 2018, 11:28 am What brand of bullet are your 158grainers

Winchester SJHP bulk bullets...

It's been a very long time since I loaded any .38... I seem to remember though that 5.5 grs is the upper end of loads for Unique...

I couldn't find anything in any of my reloading books that was over 5.1 Grains of Unique for 158 grainers.

Yeah, I dug up one of my old Speer books last night that lists 5.5 as a max +P load & 4.8 gr. of Unique for a starting load...

That explains it. I don't do +P loads.

Hard to beat 5gr of Unique under a 158 for a nice and mild shooting 38 load.

Just for reference, the last couple thousand 9mm plinking rounds I have made or shot have been 4.3gr Unique under a 147gr Frontier plated bullet. I bought an 8lb jug of Unique a couple years ago and have been trying to use it all up. I've been loading it in everything, even 308.

I've been loading with Montana Gold 142 FMJ bullets now for a while and have .357 mag data to share too. So far I like both powders listed below, but would like to try AA#5 & AA#7 as well.

Winchester 231
142 FMJ 4.1 4.5 OAL 1.45”
4.2 647 fps
4.4 687 fps
4.5 703 fps (636/752) Mod 19
4.5 710 fps (672/755) Mod 37
4.5 827 fps (785/905) 94 Winchester

AA #2
158 FMJ-RN 3.8 4.3 OAL=1.48”
3.8 592 fps
142 FMJ 4.2 4.7 OAL=1.45”
4.4 764 fps (701/809) Mod 19
4.4 770 fps (734/808) Mod 37
4.4 929 fps 94 Winchester

3 grains of trail boss and a 148 gr wadcutter

Hey , It's 38 spl. Intrinsically accurate and basically impossible to make one that does NOT shoot well.
Your decisions should revolve more around your intended use for such ammo.
Short barrel gun or long , self defense or plinking ?
Seems to me that using JHP bullets for basic 38 spl shooting is kind of a waste so I would look for a box of cast or plated in your weight of choice. Much cheaper to work with .
Faster powders ( your 231 or unique) for shorter barrels , slower powders ( your 2400) for a longer barrel)
Pick a charge that will move the cast (most fixed sight revolvers are regulated for 158 gr bullets) at about 800 to 900 fps and it will shoot well.

792mauser wrote: ↑January 6th, 2019, 9:05 am 3 grains of trail boss and a 148 gr wadcutter

--------------------------
EXCELLENT recommendation!!!

I have used Trail Boss for many, many, many, years,... I have between 15 and 20 pounds on hand at all times. I use it with every straight walled handgun caliber (38spl,357mag,44 spl, 44mag, 45acp, 45 acp rim, and 45 colt ) I own/ed,... for target and defense loadings!

Aside from ease of load development, it is the safest powder on the market, I have used!