38 Special 125 grain handload input please?

[Guy Miner]

I want to shoot a bunch of 38 Specials and am looking for powder recommendations for the light-recoiling 125 grain bullets. Something similar, like 130's would be fine too, but I'm sitting on a mess of 125's. Muzzle velocity doesn't need to be high. 800 fps or so is fine.

I'm looking for accuracy, reliability, and if possible a clean-burning load that won't gum up the revolver over a long string of fire. I'm using plated bullets so I don't expect bullet fouling to be an issue.

I've been using W231, and it's doing great, roughly the same accuracy as the photo. But it's a bit dirty...

Recommendations?

Thanks, Guy

 

[AFG270]

I always used Bullseye or Unique for many years. Also used Universal.

 

[Guy Miner]

Sadly, those are very difficult to obtain... I have a LOT of Unique on hand, but it's the ancient stuff mixed by Daniel Boone and Davey Crockett - burns about as dirty as wet firewood... Great velocity and accuracy, but cleaning my sixgun every 18 rounds is a bit much.

Bullseye is awesome in the 38 - it's finding any that's the problem. Alliant hasn't been servicing the handloading community well for several years. Military contracts I understand.

 

[AFG270]

Yeah, I don't think any of them were real clean. I believe Titegroup is cleaner burning, but I never tried it, "IF" it's available. Glad I have a lot of Bullseye and Universal on hand.
Good luck!

 

[Guy Miner]

Yeah, I don't think any of them were real clean. I believe Titegroup is cleaner burning, but I never tried it, "IF" it's available. Glad I have a lot of Bullseye and Universal on hand.
Good luck!

I've got some Titegroup - it shoots really well. May go with that. However the gun gets really hot while shooting long strings of fire with Titegroup. I mean, it's obvious, not just a little thing. The cartridge cases are also hotter than normal. But the stuff produces excellent results.

Guy

 

[AFG270]

I've got some Titegroup - it shoots really well. May go with that. However the gun gets really hot while shooting long strings of fire with Titegroup. I mean, it's obvious, not just a little thing. The cartridge cases are also hotter than normal. But the stuff produces excellent results.

Guy

That's probably why it's cleaner because it burns hotter??
If I remember correctly, Universal was little cleaner than Bullseye .

 

[AFG270]

You might try some VihtaVuori powder. My old Speer manual shows 3n37 powder used with 125g bullets. Not sure if it's clean burning, but at least it's available.
I've started using VihtaVuori powders in a couple rifle calibers with excellent results.

 

[Nannyhammer]

My vote would be either HP-38 or CFE pistol.

 

[diverdown]

I want to shoot a bunch of 38 Specials and am looking for powder recommendations for the light-recoiling 125 grain bullets. Something similar, like 130's would be fine too, but I'm sitting on a mess of 125's. Muzzle velocity doesn't need to be high. 800 fps or so is fine.

I'm looking for accuracy, reliability, and if possible a clean-burning load that won't gum up the revolver over a long string of fire. I'm using plated bullets so I don't expect bullet fouling to be an issue.

View attachment 28901

The photo is a 7 yard group with 125 grain High Desert ammo which uses 125 gr plated bullets as I'll be doing, and I don't know their powder charge.

I've been using W231, and it's doing great, roughly the same accuracy as the photo. But it's a bit dirty...

Recommendations?

Thanks, Guy

Guy, WW244 is available and shoots very clean with 125 grain bullets. I use it exclusively in my 9MM and have found it is not dirty at all and the amount you use enables it to go a bit further than other powders.

 

[Slimfinn]

I use universal for my plinking 125s, more of a +p at 5.4gr