.38 Special Load Question - 125gr & Unique

[ExtremeX]

I got a pretty good idea of what load I am going to start with here... BUT I have some questions since I am seeing some data that concerns me.

Its my first time loading for a revolver so I figure I check before I start throwing powder... heres what im working with.

.38 Special Case
CCI #500 Primer
Hornady XTP HP 125gr
COAL 1.450"
Powder = Unique

Hornady shows Start 5.1 to 5.8gr max. (5.6gr is where the +P load starts)

Speer # 14 Manual under 38 Special shows 5.7gr DNR (Do Not Reduce)

The Speer manual says not to reduce the load, and starting point is in the +P range of the Hornady data.

Can anyone shed some light on this...

[scotty99]

Alliant's website lists 5.7 as the max standard load, and 6 as the +P max. Neither has any DNR caution. 10% off max gets you to 5.1 for the standard load, which is exactly what Hornady lists. I think you have a solid range there. Just start in the low 5s and work up.

I have very rarely seen DNR warnings on pistol loads, and if you could see how light we load .38s for cowboy action shooting you'd laugh. Unique, though, tends to get dirty at low pressure. Get some Clays and you can make loads so light you can watch the bullet fly to the target.

[Bill Steele]

I got a pretty good idea of what load I am going to start with here... BUT I have some questions since I am seeing some data that concerns me.

Its my first time loading for a revolver so I figure I check before I start throwing powder... heres what im working with.

.38 Special Case
CCI #500 Primer
Hornady XTP HP 125gr
COAL 1.450"
Powder = Unique

Hornady shows Start 5.1 to 5.8gr max. (5.6gr is where the +P load starts)

Speer # 14 Manual under 38 Special shows 5.7gr DNR (Do Not Reduce)

The Speer manual says not to reduce the load, and starting point is in the +P range of the Hornady data.

Can anyone shed some light on this...

Not sure what he DNR is all about, maybe they think it will start shooting dirty if you go down too far. I have loaded 6gr with that exact bullet, nice stout load (as 38spl goes anyway).

I would start around 5.1gr and stop if I got to 6gr.

Good luck, have fun.

[wild_weasel]

Unique should work well with a 125gr JHP. I experimented with 110gr JHP bullets with Unique and Power Pistol in a 2” M-49 Bodyguard and M-10 M&P 38Specials. With +P charges of Power Pistol in the 2” barrel the muzzle flash was SPECTACULAR and very pronounced in the 4” barrel. Unique on the other hand while offering comparable performance had minimal muzzle flash.

[Cheep]

I've found that the Speer manuals tend to have hotter loads than I'm comfortable with.

[not-fishing]

My go to load for IDPA SSR revolver is 5.2 g of Unique with a 125 Berrys FP.

It drops steel just fine.

It's all about shot placement.

[ExtremeX]

Thanks for the insight everyone.

Ill be working up my ladder tonight

[wtkaiser]

If you are shooting a jacketed 125, Speer is concerned about bullets getting stuck in the barrel, I believe. Obviously, with a .357, that's not an issue, but with light-powered .38s, it can be. Speer tests little besides their own bullets, so their jackets might be a tad harder, or a few ten-thousandths larger, or a few longer (bearing surface) that some others. So they are just covering their own behinds.

[JagerDog]

Odd. IME DNR is reserved to magnum powders which simply don't ignite properly when reduced much. Haven't seen that with Unique. Plenty of shotshell loads burning Unique at 8kpsi. A little dirty, yes. But still performs.

[mark501w]

The old Winchester powder booklets used to say use these exact components & powder weights This always spooked me because we never had their gun which is important to max. load developement. Unique is a flexible powder & has always shown starting load data. My old speer manual shows 5.3gr as a starting load for a 125gr ,my Sierra was 6.0gr as a starting load there is no way in hell I would use the Sierra starting data. Proper load reduction is a valid part of reloading safety.

[ExtremeX]

Proper load reduction is a valid part of reloading safety.