38 special - The Firearms Forum

mtnman05 · 02-01-2011, 10:58 PM

About to start reloading some 38 special for high volume target shooting. Just curious what your favorite 38 powders are? Was thinking about giving Unigue a try and I can always use it in my 44 magnum target loads too.

woolleyworm · 02-01-2011, 11:06 PM

Unique is very good, I've been using Titegroup over the past few months and it's my go to powder for 148gr wadcutters and 158gr SWC's. It's outperformed any other loads I've shot.

JLA · 02-02-2011, 09:31 AM

Gotta second the titegroup as well. I really like in the .357 magnum target loads

carver · 02-02-2011, 11:01 AM

I use Accurate Powder No.2 148gr DEWC; 3.6grs. for 764fps.

Orin · 02-02-2011, 01:00 PM

I'm also interested in this thread. New enuff to only have one powder - Unique - cuz its a prime for my favorite, the .44spl. But its not listed as the fav for .38. Seems Bullseye is. Yet none of you mentioned that powder.
As an aside, I read a thread about Unique having changed its formulation so as to be cleaner yet still using the old recipes. I'm interested in downloading for easier target shooting. Also, my wife has probs with recoil. She helps pay the bills so I listen to her!

gdmoody · 02-02-2011, 03:03 PM

Unique is a good powder, I used it for years. I have also used Accurate #5, Bullseye, and Winchester 231. I haven't decided which one is best, yet - so I am no help at all.

Alpo · 02-02-2011, 03:15 PM

First powder I ever loaded with was Unique. I've not seen any reason to change. I use Bullseye and AA#2 in 32 ACP, since the cases are so small. Use Titegroup in 38/40 and 44 Russian, since when I started with those I couldn't find any Unique loads. Use 296/H110 (same powder, different names) in my 357s and 44 magnums and 454 Casull. Use Unique in every other pistol caliber I load - 25 ACP, 32 S&WL, 32/20, 32 H&R, 38 S&W, 38 Special, 380, 9mm Mak, 9mm Luger, 40 Smith, 41 magnum, 44 Special, 44/40, 45 AR, 45 ACP an 45 Colt. Also use it in 12 and 16 gauge shotshell and in highpower rifles when shooting cast bullets. It is an excellent powder.

BobMcG · 02-02-2011, 08:42 PM

For my .38 target load needs, my most used go to powders are Unique and Bullseye. 700X will do in a pinch though.

mtnman05 · 02-03-2011, 10:39 AM

What about Alliant Power Pistol? anyone used it in their 38 loads?

vulcrider · 02-03-2011, 06:16 PM

Try Clay's Universal. Meters a lot like Unique and burns cleaner.

Oneida Steve · 02-03-2011, 09:00 PM

Bullseye and WW231 for me. Either one produces loads more accurate than I can shoot.

doug66 · 02-03-2011, 09:14 PM

Bullseye

medalguy · 02-04-2011, 08:27 PM

Bullseye, Unique, Titegroup, 231, Accurate #5 all have worked for me.

Warith · 02-05-2011, 05:10 PM

I use bullseye, HS6, autocomp, and power pistal for all my loads realy liken the bullseye for the 38.

mikld · 02-06-2011, 11:10 AM

Prolly one of the most popular loads for .38 Spec. 148 gr. WC is 2.9 -3.1 gr. Bullseye. I used 3.0 gr for a looooong time under 148 gr DEWC. (BTW, I googled "38 Special target loads using Bullseye powder" and got a few hundred hits...)

02-01-2011, 10:58 PM	#1
mtnman05 Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 41	38 special About to start reloading some 38 special for high volume target shooting. Just curious what your favorite 38 powders are? Was thinking about giving Unigue a try and I can always use it in my 44 magnum target loads too. -->

02-02-2011, 09:31 AM	#3
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,319	Re: 38 special Gotta second the titegroup as well. I really like in the .357 magnum target loads __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

02-02-2011, 11:01 AM	#4
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,283	Re: 38 special I use Accurate Powder No.2 148gr DEWC; 3.6grs. for 764fps. __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

02-02-2011, 03:03 PM	#6
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,344	Re: 38 special Unique is a good powder, I used it for years. I have also used Accurate #5, Bullseye, and Winchester 231. I haven't decided which one is best, yet - so I am no help at all. __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

02-02-2011, 03:15 PM	#7
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,662	Re: 38 special First powder I ever loaded with was Unique. I've not seen any reason to change. I use Bullseye and AA#2 in 32 ACP, since the cases are so small. Use Titegroup in 38/40 and 44 Russian, since when I started with those I couldn't find any Unique loads. Use 296/H110 (same powder, different names) in my 357s and 44 magnums and 454 Casull. Use Unique in every other pistol caliber I load - 25 ACP, 32 S&WL, 32/20, 32 H&R, 38 S&W, 38 Special, 380, 9mm Mak, 9mm Luger, 40 Smith, 41 magnum, 44 Special, 44/40, 45 AR, 45 ACP an 45 Colt. Also use it in 12 and 16 gauge shotshell and in highpower rifles when shooting cast bullets. It is an excellent powder. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

02-01-2011, 11:06 PM	#2
woolleyworm TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SW Fort Worth Contributor Posts: 4,883	Re: 38 special Unique is very good, I've been using Titegroup over the past few months and it's my go to powder for 148gr wadcutters and 158gr SWC's. It's outperformed any other loads I've shot. __________________ . What are you gonna do, talk the alien to death? -- (on Sigourney Weaver's worry about Guns in Aliens) "Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you hold in your hands." "I carry a small gun to compensate for my huge Blue press." .

02-02-2011, 01:00 PM	#5
Orin V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 109	Re: 38 special I'm also interested in this thread. New enuff to only have one powder - Unique - cuz its a prime for my favorite, the .44spl. But its not listed as the fav for .38. Seems Bullseye is. Yet none of you mentioned that powder. As an aside, I read a thread about Unique having changed its formulation so as to be cleaner yet still using the old recipes. I'm interested in downloading for easier target shooting. Also, my wife has probs with recoil. She helps pay the bills so I listen to her!

02-02-2011, 08:42 PM	#8
BobMcG Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Somewhere in the Twilight Zone. Contributor Posts: 1,119	Re: 38 special For my .38 target load needs, my most used go to powders are Unique and Bullseye. 700X will do in a pinch though.

02-03-2011, 10:39 AM	#9
mtnman05 Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 41	Re: 38 special What about Alliant Power Pistol? anyone used it in their 38 loads?

02-03-2011, 06:16 PM	#10
vulcrider V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 72	Re: 38 special Try Clay's Universal. Meters a lot like Unique and burns cleaner.

02-03-2011, 09:00 PM	#11
Oneida Steve Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 1,028	Re: 38 special Bullseye and WW231 for me. Either one produces loads more accurate than I can shoot.

02-03-2011, 09:14 PM	#12
doug66 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 538	Re: 38 special Bullseye

02-04-2011, 08:27 PM	#13
medalguy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 585	Re: 38 special Bullseye, Unique, Titegroup, 231, Accurate #5 all have worked for me.

02-05-2011, 05:10 PM	#14
Warith V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Belton, Mo Posts: 287	Re: 38 special I use bullseye, HS6, autocomp, and power pistal for all my loads realy liken the bullseye for the 38.

02-06-2011, 11:10 AM	#15
mikld Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oregon Posts: 573	Re: 38 special Prolly one of the most popular loads for .38 Spec. 148 gr. WC is 2.9 -3.1 gr. Bullseye. I used 3.0 gr for a looooong time under 148 gr DEWC. (BTW, I googled "38 Special target loads using Bullseye powder" and got a few hundred hits...) __________________ My Anchor is holding fast.