Recommend a 38 SPL powder for low ES/SD

ncav8tor

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The title sez it all.

I used up a stray pound or so of Tite-group for 38 SPL but I was extremely disappointed in the consistency of what I have reloaded with respect to extreme spread and standard deviation.

Those of you that reload this round, which powder is your "go-to" for consistent performance? I am confident in my reloading skills and so I think I need to tap the 38 SPL reloading brain trust here.

I have a spare pound of Bullseye but my suspicions are it won't be much better that the TG. What say you 38 SPL experts?
 
I'm watching a couple threads over @castboolits and 5gr of Unique seems to have a following.
That's with a 158-160gr bullet.
What are you shooting these in and weight of the projectile?

My first foray into 38spl was with 3.4gr of Bullseye, 158gr SJSP in a 2in barreled Taurus UltraLight. Only made about 595-600 fps, my goal is around 800 with no signs of overpressure.
My next load is going to be with 4.7gr Unique & the same projo.

*You should always check reloading guide for established loads and work up/down from there.

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I have loaded everything from 125 gr cast/fmj to 160gr cast and everything in between. I am an equal opportunity reloader with regard to bullet weights, :D.

Tite-group is a crappy powder for all of these in 38 SPL. It works, but not well. Well, with not the consistency that I want. I am looking for something that is better.

I do have a some Unique. What kind of ES & SD are peeps reporting and what weight projectiles are they reloading? I was hoping someone here would have experience they could share and not have to search it out on another forum.

Thank you for the reply though!
 
I’m curious what numbers you’re chasing and from what gun.

I’m away from my book, but I think that I get good results from 3.4g of TG over a 158g coated RN out of a Marlin 1894. It’s a load that suppresses well.
 
Why are you chasing SD and ES numbers?? You should be chasing ACCURACY not numbers that no one but you will ever see??
I have loads with horrible es/sd numbers yet excellent accuracy.... No explanation.... Chase what matters, not what is unimportant...
 
I’m curious what numbers you’re chasing and from what gun.

I’m away from my book, but I think that I get good results from 3.4g of TG over a 158g coated RN out of a Marlin 1894. It’s a load that suppresses well.

Accuracy is fine for the distances that one would shoot this round. But, I am seeing extreme spreads of 70-80 fps with Tite-group and 38 Spl out of a 4 inch Rossi revolver. It just seems to me that I should be able to cut that number at least in half. I don't see that kind of variation with other cartridges or loads.

Anyway, thanks for the replies.
 
Accuracy is fine for the distances that one would shoot this round. But, I am seeing extreme spreads of 70-80 fps with Tite-group and 38 Spl out of a 4 inch Rossi revolver. It just seems to me that I should be able to cut that number at least in half. I don't see that kind of variation with other cartridges or loads.

Anyway, thanks for the replies.

Define "fine for the distances"..... What's fine to you could be totally unacceptable for me. What is the average group size for 12 shots at 25 yards??
As to the numbers, who cares??? No one see's them except you....
 
Ive been happy using 231 or WSF, but I dont remember doing any data on them, just happy with my shooting results. I generally use 140-158 grain bullets.
 
I haven’t reloaded in a while, but I always had good results from unique.


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How accurate is your powder measure, are you getting consistent throws? If its not doing its job it wont matter what powder you use. I've always had pretty low SD numbers with TG.

That said I would say Accurate #2 would be a good candidate for you. Not position sensitive, meters like water, shoots clean and accurate.
 
I generally do not worry about ES and SD for pistol or any ammo for less than 600 yards, or where ballistically the ES and SD can cause you to miss a 2 MOA plate when holding center of the target.

That said, with .223 and I imagine the same is true with 38 SPL, I have found that crimping adds considerable variation in muzzle velocity. Case trimming is critical to consistent crimping, and frankly on 223 and with pistol brass, I pay it very little attention as long as I am under max length. It is too much of a pain to trim it and just setting a neck tension to 0.002 has done the trick for me on .223.
 
I've used most of the mainstream ones, BE/TG/W231-HP38/Unique...but my current favorite and a downright value is IMR Target. It's basically similar burn rate to Bullseye but it meters better. It also seems to be insensitive to position in the case.
 
How accurate is your powder measure, are you getting consistent throws? If its not doing its job it wont matter what powder you use. I've always had pretty low SD numbers with TG.

That said I would say Accurate #2 would be a good candidate for you. Not position sensitive, meters like water, shoots clean and accurate.

I went back and looked at my previous loads with heavier bullets. Those were 148-158 gr. projectiles (lead, coated & FMJ) and they were way more consistent with TG than these 125 gr Berry’s.

Ill check my powder drop for consistency once I get back home but I’ve never had problems with it before but ya never know.

Thanks for the reply.


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I like Unique for .41Mag plinker loads. It doesn't meter well, it's tough to keep charges within +/- 2 grain & the ES/SD numbers aren't that great, but it shoots well. I'm OCD as hell & it drives me nuts, but it works.
 
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