38Spl Lee 105SWC load?

[Will]

Lee doesn't list a load for his 358-105SWC in his manual. I got it for my 380 but would like to try it in my 38 to save some lead over using the 158gr and 148gr. Does anyone have a good target load in 38Spl for this boolit?

Will

[Wally]

Yes, I use it with 5.0 grains of Bullseye in my .38 Special--that gets me a 1,120 FPS muzzle velocity..it is excellent for plinking steel cans and is quite accurate. I had a tool maker make me a custom seating screw as well as a a lube top punch that also works with Lee's excellent .38 Calber 140 SWC bullet.

[garandsrus]

Will,

I use 3.2gr W231 in a .38 Special. Very low recoil and the boolit shoots great...

John

[jeffwhetstone]

I was going to ask the same question since I just picked up this mold.

5.0gr of Bullseye sounds like a nice load, but might be a bit snappy for the wife.

What would be an appropriate charge of Bullseye for real light plinking?

[Larry Gibson]

I've been using that bullet over 4.7 gr Bullseye for 17 years in my M15 S&W with 5" barrel. Velocity is 1021 fps and my revolver will put 12 of the into 1.2" at 25 yards which is about as good as my old eyse can do with iron sights. Great light weight load for plinking and small game hunting.

Larry Gibson

[w30wcf]

Will,
Back in the early 1900's, the original .38 Special Mid Range loading was a 116 gr. bullet over 2.3 grs. of Bullseye. That load does 704 f.p.s. in my pistol's 6" barrel and 860 f.p.s. in my rifle. It is a very accurate load as well.

w30wcf

[Will]

Thanks to all for the data.

Will

[Echo]

I use 3 grains of PB for 'popcorn' loads for kids/wives/girlfriends that have been handed a .45/.357/.40 by a well-meaning Dad/Hubby/boyfriend. Teaches them to flinch, or whatever, and forget pistol shooting. I usually have a batch with me at the range and will give some (along with my Combat Masterpiece, if necessary) just so they can shoot something mild enough so they don't get afeared. Have to jack up the rear sight 3 turns to put it in the black...

[Will]

I've been reloading for 50 years and never used bullseye. Everybody else seems to like it. I guess I'll have to buy a can.

[Cherokee]

Will - if you have 231 or WST, use them. 3 gr should do fine.

[Will]

Ain't got no 231, bullseye,WST, PB. DO have Unique,red and Bluedot. If 3gr 231 is good I'll try 3.5 unique. I'll let you know if it works.
Thanks
Will

[rbstern]

That boolit over 4.0 grains of Hodgdon Clays is my standard plinking 38 special. I find Clays leaves the gun much cleaner than HP38 (Win 231) and Red Dot. For a while, my standard load was 3.5 grains of Clays, but the rounds tended to be powder position sensitive. The 4.0 grain load is much less so.