[Soontobewildcat]

What is the best .38spl load for general woods carry it's a .4in barrel and its +p rated.

 

[Savage99]

Whatever load it shoots best. For effect on small game I like the flat nose shape of the Keith style bullets best.

 

[Ralph McLaney]

For a 158gr. lead bullet:

This currently published +P (MAP 20,000 psi) load pushes close to 1,000 fps in a 4" revolver.

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reload...d=1&weight=158&shellid=27&bulletid=30&bdid=67

 

[Soontobewildcat]

Im really considering a 148 gr wadcutter over a stout load of unique or blue dot or some other cheaper powder would this be effective?

 

[William Iorg]

I have three brothers, along with my father we wore out his K-38 – twice, using a load of 2.7 grains of Hercules Bullseye and a 148-grain wadcutter. Hard to beat this load and when you learn where it hits at various ranges you will be able to hit gallon and five gallon cans well beyond the believable range.

 

[jmortimer]

The hard cast DEWC sold here by Beartooth or the one by Oregon Trails would be your best bet. Here is max load info I have found for Unique and a solid wc
Speer #13 does list Unique in .38 Spl, using 4.5 - 5.1 grains, but only with a BBWC,
Not with a HBWC.
Those loads were tested in a S&W Model 14.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[wildhobbybobby]

Wadcutters are not meant to be used with heavy loads. There is reduced powder capacity in the case due to the deep seated wadcutter bullet, and that will raise pressures quickly with increased powder charges. Also, if using a hollow base wadcutter bullet, a heavier load will often either blow the skirt off the bullet when it exits the muzzle, or expand the skirt to a large diameter, which ruins accuracy.

Wadcutters should be used with a midrange charge...the classic wadcutter load is 2.7 grains of Bullseye.

A good woods load is a 158-160 gr. SWC bullet over 5 grains of Unique. Good factory loads would be the 158 gr. LSWCHP +P loads by Remington, Federal or Winchester. But any 125 gr. JHP +P load would be good too.

 

[FF1063]

I don't think a wadcutter is a good bullet for serious use. The well tested standard for .38 spl is the +p 'FBI' load, 158 grain LSWC-HP. This load has proven itself against man and beast and is probably the most effective mid bore load short of a magnum. It was the standard load for the RCMP for decades.

For the handloader, Magnus bullets carries a good 158 LSWC-HP, as do others.

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/38%20Special%20158gr%20LSWCHP.htm
http://maypeacebewithyou.blogspot.com/2008/04/big-time-38-special-loads.html

 

[O'Connersun]

I've used many different loads in a S&W Model 10, 4" barrel for a farm-carry sidearm and one of the harder 158gr SWC's loaded with Unique has served me well. Hornady once loaded a flat, semi-jacketed lead load that I liked but can't find them any more. The SWC handloads are universal, not to expensive and comfortable to shoot. Not the perfect choice for all occassions but versatile enough for me.

 

[slim 60]

again i think what matters most is finding that sweet rnd that you can do your best eastwood imitation with.. my accurracy with 150 grn winchester special ammo is by far better than with 158 grn ..
it just fits my 4 inch special an myself.. i set up 3 junk cd disk at 20 yrds the other day.. pull an shoot just using the front sight as i would if in a real hurry..
hit all three..
now im no handgun specialist or nothing .. its just the right rnd for me an that special.. gun will take +p but i wouldn t have hit one of the disk with that..
its really taught me just how much better a hit with a standard special rnd is ,,than a miss with a super powered rnd of some sort..jmo slim
ps.. your sweet rnd will be different than mine probabably..good luck

 

[jmortimer]

You will get excellent penetration with a hard cast 148 grain DEWC even at modest velocities.
Here is standard presure 150 grain hard cast wad cutter from Buffalo Bore http://www.brassfetcher.com/Buffalo...r standard pressure Hard Cast Wad Cutter.html
That was out of a 1 7/8 inch barrel - even a standard pressure load out of your four inch gun will penetrate well over two feet and the business end of the bullet, the meplat, is max on a wad cutter which is why it will out perform the 158 grain SWC when it comes to terminal performance. Again, the hard cast wadcutters sold here from Buffalo Bore or the hard cast wad cutter from Oreon Trails aka "Laser Cast" are excellent choices even at modest velocitiyof say 1,000 fps in your gun. Less recoil, more accurate, excellent penetrtation, and devestating terminal performance due to max meplat. Try 5 grains of Unique and you should be well over 1,000 fps and be getting around three feet of penetration. That will work for sure. I often lnk this article "Wicked Wadcutters" as it clearly shows why the 148 grain hard cast wad cutter is such a beautiful bullet - in this case the 148 grain Laser Cast http://www.handgunsmag.com/ammunition/HG_wickedwadcutters_200901/

 

[jodum]

I am not a fan of wad cutters. To hard to load in a cylinder with arthritic hands. My all purpose load is a 158 gr SWC ahead of 5 gr Unique. I think someone above liked this load too. You will have to try several loads till you find the one that shoots to point of aim for your gun. I use the same bullet as a general load in my 357 mag also. Makes life simple.

 

[Soontobewildcat]

I havnt gotten the gun in yet but im gonna load a couple wad cutters, a couple hollow points of vairous type lead and jacketed, some SWC lead. And see how they shoot.

 

[Ralph McLaney]

This one loads smoother than a SWC or WC

I am not a fan of wad cutters. To hard to load in a cylinder with arthritic hands. My all purpose load is a 158 gr SWC ahead of 5 gr Unique. I think someone above liked this load too. You will have to try several loads till you find the one that shoots to point of aim for your gun. I use the same bullet as a general load in my 357 mag also. Makes life simple.

Highlighted point:

IMHO: Marshall's 160gr. FN (WFN actually) gives the best balance of wide meplat and easy speed loading in this bullet weight:

http://www.beartoothbullets.com/images/bullets/38-160-FNBB.jpg

 

[Soontobewildcat]

By the way even though im part of this sight bullets will be bought from missouri bullet company. Sorry but they're excellent quality awesome price and they're close to home won't find more bang for your buck anywhere else.

 

[jodum]

Highlighted point:

IMHO: Marshall's 160gr. FN (WFN actually) gives the best balance of wide meplat and easy speed loading in this bullet weight:

http://www.beartoothbullets.com/images/bullets/38-160-FNBB.jpg

Thanks Ralph, I will take a look at those. I cast most of my own but I may be able to find a mold with a simular profile.

 

[jmortimer]

By the way even though im part of this sight bullets will be bought from missouri bullet company. Sorry but they're excellent quality awesome price and they're close to home won't find more bang for your buck anywhere else.

Missouri Bullets are good quality at a great price - if you are shooting paper they are a good choice. Mr. Missouri bullet makes a soft DEWC around 8 or 10 BHN so it will not penetrate. The do make some 16 BHN bullets but do not have any LBT bullets - I believe they will discover the meplat someday but if you want "excellent bullets" you would buy Beartooth - if you hunt or are interested in self defense then you would want to go with Beartooth and a LBT bullet with max meplat. Beartooth bullets are heat treated to 21-22 BHN - Mr. Missouri Bullet did say he would name his "Double Wide" after me - name would fit on many levels so I would be honored.

 

[aryfrosty]

.38 spl

My all around best load is WW factory, (Police Only), 147gr +p subsonics. I am down to my last 4 boxes and have already started folks looking for it for me. It is available to the public and can still be found.

 

[Soontobewildcat]

Arfrosty

I think your thinking of 9mm because they normally dont label .38 spl as subsonic.

 

[ironhead7544]

The Keith bullet from BTB with a Max charge of Unique will be a good all around load.