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38 Special Reloading Question

cdm85-251
I am just getting back into reloading, and lost all my reloading manuals in a flood about 11 years ago. (Kind of gives you a clue on how long I haven't been reloading.) I bought some Copper plated 158gr. round nose 38 Special bullets from West Coast Bullets, and have some Winchester 231 powder. What are the opinions on minimum and maximum powder amounts?

CDM
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Comments

7 comments

Date Votes
  • rufe-snow
    You'll be better served useing a slower burning powder then 231, IMHO with 158 grain projectiles.

    The 158 is normally one of the heavier bullets used in the 38, and as 231 is one of the faster burning powders, they don't make a good combination.

    Here's the Winchester on-line manual ( PDF ).



    http://www.winchester.com/products/catalog/components/reloadertoc.aspx

    luger_4.jpg
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  • king999
    I agree with RUFE, however you could make gallery loads with about 2.7 gr. It would be fine for plinking, but not much else.
    Morty
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  • cdm85-251
    Thanks for info King999. I am not looking at making the best match loads that can be found, just something for fun shooting.

    CDM
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  • Pinhead
    As rufe said, W231 is a fast powder for the .38 special. I have used Unique powder for the .38 loads for about 25 years now and am perfectly satisfied with it. Imostly shoot 125gr. bullets but have used 158 grainers on occassion(bowling pin matches). I would start out a load with 3.9 grains of Unique and work up gradually from there watching for signs of pressure. With the 158 grain jacketed bullet you will run into +P loads about 4.5 to 4.6 grains of Unique. Make sure your revolver is rated for +P loads before shooting any +P loads in it.
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  • cdm85-251
    Hopefully there shouldn't be too many issues with pressure with the revolver. It is a stainless Ruger GP100. .357 Magnum.

    Just wanting to use up this Winchester 231 Powder though, if I could.

    CDM
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  • Pearyw
    I load a lot of 38 spl. with 231. I load 158 with a max load of 4.4 gr 231 and a start at 3.5 gr. I have always got good results in 357 mag pistol with the 4.4 gr load.
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  • haroldchrismeyer
    Here is the page from Winchester for reloading data. http://www.winchester.com/products/catalog/components/reloadertoc.aspx
    I usually use 3.5 grains myself of 231 with a 158 grain bullet. Remember that those plated bullets take the regular lead bullet data, not jacketed.

    While Pinhead is correct that Unique is a slower powder than W231, it is only one step lower in the burn chart http://www.hodgdon.com/data/general/burnratechart.php
    This usually doesn't make a lot of difference. W231 has many advantages though. In a powder measure on a reloading machine the W231 flows much better, due to the relative small size of the grains of powder, and the relative heavy weight for its size. With Unique I couldn't get uniform charges, but with W231 they are all EXACTLY the same. Also on a cost basis, W231 is cheap, and at that charge rate you get 2000 rounds per pound. If a slower powder is what you want, Winchester WSF is a good one.
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