Returning to Bullseye

Good evening, I’m returning to Bullseye after a taking a break for a few years. I purchased a S&W 6” 686 and am looking for .38 special velocity target load suggestions, i.e., bullet style (swc, wadcutter), powder, crimp, etc.  I will be using .357 cases.  I have not loaded for .38 special before.  Any other suggestions on be appreciated.  Thanks, Tom

3.0 grains of Bullseye with a 148 grain HBWC.  FPS should be around 733. Taper crimp to .376. Seat slightly below flush so a very tiny ring of brass shows on the inside edge.  Load is from Speer Manual # Nine.

Tom Jadlos wrote:Good evening, I’m returning to Bullseye after a taking a break for a few years. I purchased a S&W 6” 686 and am looking for .38 special velocity target load suggestions, i.e., bullet style (swc, wadcutter), powder, crimp, etc.  I will be using .357 cases.  I have not loaded for .38 special before.  Any other suggestions on be appreciated.  Thanks, Tom

The bud who shot my 586 in PPC used 38 Special cases and 148 LWC's and 2.7 grains Bullseye. Depending on burn rate, you might need to bump that up.

I recently did load testing with 158's with 357 cases. To get the same velocity as my standard load of a 158 L with 3.5 grains in a 38 Special case, I needed to go to 4.0 grains Bullseye in a 357 case. The larger case requires more powder.

I would recommend testing over a chronograph. You don't want a stuck bullet in the barrel.

Compare .38 spl loads and your .357 loads.
You May just want to shoot .38 Spl like thousands before you!

In here is a copy of the 1987 Hercules pistol data.  They list a “target load” for 357 magnums and 148 LWC bullets.  

http://castpics.net/LoadData/Freebies/RM/Alliant/Hercules_1987.pdf

The 38 Special loss was 2.6 of Bullseye and the 357 load was 3.5 of the same powder.  When I got my Python in 1983 I loaded the Unique loads as listed (3.5 and 4.5, respectively) and found they shot the same, and that was very well indeed.

What kind of crimp is being used for these loads?   Taper crimp, as recommended for the Model 52, or Profile crimp?

If you want to duplicate the Winchester Ranger Target load, 3.1 grains of W231 and 148 grain hblwc! 

Smiles,