Posted on 01/22/2022 4:49:33 PM PST by KingLudd
Greetings. I'm trying to reverse engineer a 38 special factory load that works well in a S&W Mod 52 - Winchester 148 gr. Mid-range wadcutter target load. Specifically, I could use some help identifying the propellant. Charge weight in the factory round is 2.6 gr. Projectile is HBWC. About 710 fps. Powder is flattened ball powder with a grey/silver color. It might be a blend, but if anyone has any ideas of what brand this propellant this is, please PM me. Thank you.
FRegards.
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It’s likely proprietary blend as you suggested. I got close with 2.8gr Bullseye under the same DEWC. Probably just slightly faster but not by much. Good luck!
Kinda looks like Hodgdon Clays to me. Clays makes a decent pistol load and Hodgdon probably has a recipe on its website.
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Thank you for rescuing my post by adding the photos.
NEVER reverse engineer something the way you are trying to do. Instead, look at various powders, bullet and powder manufacturer load data, and decide what loads would suffice for the performance you desire. Never think you can duplicate a recipe by looks. Work up your loads using known information, not looks. You will find many manufacturers use blended powders that you cannot get your hands on. They have additives you cannot sometimes buy and rarely detect.
“I got close with 2.8gr Bullseye under the same DEWC.”
Thank you for the info.
Looks a little like Unique to me, but I haven’t loaded wadcutters since the 80’s.
Good reply. Now what can I use .308 blank powder for?
Blanks.
Burning ants.
Fun on 4th of July.
Being dazzled by brilliant flames.
12ga trip wire reports.
In case you can’t tell, my parents hated when I was left unsupervised.
It’s really, really good for getting yourself in trouble. Blank powder is an explosive not a propellant.
You can definitely use it to prove the age-old recommendation, to "never shoot another person's reloads"...
;>)
Winchester WST will give about the same velocity with a 2.6 gr. charge under a 148 HBWC.
But, as others have suggested 2.7-2.8 grains of Bullseye will give very good accuracy. I tried HP-38 (which is the same as Winchester 231) and Bullseye was more accurate out of my revolvers.
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