good 38spl load?

I don't want to spend a ton of time finding a decent 38 load for my wife, as I shoot 357mag H110 loads. And thats what I like. But I am having a heck of a time finding a clean spl load. I am shooting 125gr XTP and have tried HS-6, which is my goto powder, and Unique. Wife hates unique but it shot nice, as she thinks its dirty. And it is. HS-6 did soemthing strange this weekend. I had unburntpowder when I ejected shells. Shot ok, but I looked into when I couldn't close the cylinder. And found I had some of this unburnt stuff fall under the extrator or punger. All I got left to try is HP-38. Woudln't mind getting over 950fps with the 125gr load.

[thndrchiken]

I find W231 to be very clean on 45 ACP and 38 Special, I shoot 5.4 gr of 231 with a 125 gr hp, this is a +p load which I know to be safe in my Ruger GP 100, for standard velocities 5.1 gr of 231.

[eldeguello]

Have you tried Bullseye? I use 3.5 grains of it with a 148-grain wadcutter. It is a good powder, but you have to be careful about a double charge!

[Palladin8]

I have tried both Win 231 and HP-38. They are almost identical in burn rate. They are fairly clean. I have only been shooting reduced loads and with a 148gr wadcutter. Around 4grs is all I have used for 38s. I have heard great things about tite group but haven't given it a try yet. I am told it is similar to unique but much cleaner.

ORIGINAL: eldeguello

Have you tried Bullseye? I use 3.5 grains of it with a 148-grain wadcutter. It is a good powder, but you have to be careful about a double charge!

ONly problem with bullseye is I am loading using a lee 1000. And it doesn't meter by volumn reliablely. But neither does unique. But I will look into it. Thanks,

ORIGINAL: Palladin8

I have tried both Win 231 and HP-38. They are almost identical in burn rate. They are fairly clean. I have only been shooting reduced loads and with a 148gr wadcutter. Around 4grs is all I have used for 38s. I have heard great things about tite group but haven't given it a try yet. I am told it is similar to unique but much cleaner.

Well, guess I will have to try HP-38. It was given to me. I never liked the powder because performance wasn't great in 9mm or 40S&W.

[hotdog4]

I've been using Ramshot Zip 4.8 grains behind the 125 grain hornady XTP,and Winchester HP and really like it.There True Blue powder is supposed to good also for the 38 spl.

[Pete D.]

ONly problem with bullseye is I am loading using a lee 1000.

What kind of powder measure are you using? Bullseye, as finely grained as it is, should meter very well. I load thousands of .45 ACP cartridges every year on my Lee 1000. I use Bullseye. Never a hitch, loads are accurate to a tenth or so.
My favorite .38 Spl load is a 195 grain cast LRN (Lyman 358430) pushed by 3.5 grains of IMR's 7625.

ORIGINAL: Pete D.

What kind of powder measure are you using? Bullseye, as finely grained as it is, should meter very well. I load thousands of .45 ACP cartridges every year on my Lee 1000. I use Bullseye. Never a hitch, loads are accurate to a tenth or so.
My favorite .38 Spl load is a 195 grain cast LRN (Lyman 358430) pushed by 3.5 grains of IMR's 7625.

I use the auto disk on the lee. I have never had trouble with it per se, but bullseye can get you into trouble in a hurry. Lots of loaders have blew up thier guns with bullseye with 5 seconds of mind being elsewhere. In other words, I prefer more of a 60-70% load density powder. Hense the reason I pick HS-6, (and I have 8lbs of it). So really trying to find a replacement for HS-6.

I hate the Lee 1000. I have had a lot of presses and its the worst of the bunch. But it was given to me.

[Pete D.]

ts of loaders have blew up thier guns with bullseye with 5 seconds of mind being elsewhere.

Yes, it can happen that way.
Pete