VANITY CHAT: Best powder choice for .38 / .357 short barrel loads?

Vanity | 12-6-08 | Vanity

[OKSooner]

Comments invited from experienced handloaders and everyone else.

[OKSooner]

Ping.

[mad_as_he$$]

Accurate #5

[xcamel]

HP-38 for my .38 spl target load. Topped with a 158 gr bullet

[Farmer Dean]

If the bullets are plain base(no gas check),use a quick burn powder like Bullseye or Unique.If you have gas checks on,then use something like Blue Dot in the .357 and stick with the fast powder for the .38.

[PapaBear3625]

I see a lot of people recommending Bullseye. You want a fast burning powder.

[Elderberry]

Bullseye

[Shooter 2.5]

I second that. Hodgden makes the powder if he didn’t already know that.

Semiwadcutter for target shooting but a truncated bullet for speed events in IDPA.

I didn’t put this on the bang list. We’re getting too many Freepers with smartass answers.

[mountainlion]

I have a model 19 S&W with a 4” barrel that shot 18” groups at 100 yards but of course I forgot what powder I used. Try different powders and find out what you and the gun like. 3” barrel may not make a difference.

[HiJinx]

Oops...I added it...sorry

[xcamel]

The wrong or heavy load in an airweight will wreck your wrist in no time flat - and you will feel it for **weeks**

[Shooter 2.5]

That’s ok. I might have been rude to say that but lately some Freepers have been carrying their comments too far.

[Loud Mime]

I admit we have a lot of smart asses here, but I do enjoy reading from all the knowledgeable comments that are posted here. Got to take the wheat with the chaff.

[Bigun]

I like Bull’s Eye.

Also there is a surplus (pull down) military powder called NM-4 available that is quite inexpensive and duplicates Bull’s Eye performance.

[cowboyway]

For handguns I use either Unique or Bullseye.

I also stay within the limits of the latest Speer reloading manual.

A lot of guys like to load ‘hot’ rounds but if I want to shoot something with a kick I grab my Freedom Arms 454 Casull.

[HiJinx]

I’d have to agree with the Mime. I love to learn from the shooters here, and I don’t think your comment was rude at all.

[Shooter 2.5]

A friend bought a load of military surplus powder that was “supposed to be like bullseye”. He loaded a thousand rounds of it at the suggested weight from the copied paper he was given.

The little Kahr .40 blew up on the first shot. I was standing to his right and part of the grips flew to the left.

Powder is the cheapest part of a cartridge. I don’t see any reason to cut corners on that.

Buyer beware.

I also don’t care for any powder where the level doesn’t come up to a point where a double charge is possible.

I talked to a guy who claimed he liked one powder because “ you need so little of it so it’s cheaper”. Penny wise and pound foolish.

[hiredhand]

Also there is a surplus (pull down) military powder called NM-4 available that is quite inexpensive and duplicates Bull’s Eye performance.

Can you recommend a supplier of NM-4? Thanks in advance. :-)

[Bigun]

Oops!

NM-4 appears to be no longer available.

Guess I bought it all!

LOL!

[Migraine]

The wrong or heavy load in an airweight will wreck your wrist in no time flat - and you will feel it for **weeks**

I agree. The .38 special is a good fit in and S&W Airlite, making the pistol highly useful and convenient; but I will NEVERRRRRR put .357s in it again. Talk about getting gun-shy!