Reloading data for 158g .38 spl?

[Grobin7569]

[Fyathyrio]

Any reliable source, such as your powder manufacturer (Many are online.) or a good reloading manual like Hornady's or Lyman's will have reloading data for both lead and jacketed. Plated are somewhat in between the two, generally higher lead based charges for the same weight and bullet profile will work well. For an easier shooting round, a lighter projectile will generally have less recoil, particularly in a snub nose. Check out the Loadbooks USA manual for a wide variety of load data all specific for the .38 Special and all from reliable sources.

[Bill Steele]

Just go to the Hodgdon Powder web site, get to their online load data, look up 38Spl, find the 158gr LSWC line for their Hodgdon HP38 powder and start at the start load level and work your way up stopping at or below the max load level. Done.

[wtkaiser]

Well, OP, so far you show good sense. But the above stuff is good info, you can trust the sites from the powder makers themselves. They pressure-test the loads. That said, I would go for a lighter bullet, if I could arrange it. A 158 from a snub strikes me as a mild form of self-mutilation. I fired a cylinderful of full WCs out of one once, and that was bad enough. And when you get a few bucks, spring for a Lyman, Sierra or Speer manual and spend a day or two reading it. You won't be a noob for long!

[CSACANNONEER]

First, I always use at least TWO different sources when starting load development for a new cartridge. I use my small library of manuals (30-50 of them), internet forums, magazine articles, manufacturer's websites and have called different manufacturers when necessary.

Second, "158gr" isn't enough info to find the proper load for a specific powder. Are you talking lead, copper, FMJ, WC, SWC, RN, etc?

[CCrawford]

The last couple of Speer manuals specifically list special short barrel loads with their short barrel bullets (read lower velocity opening).