I'm new to reloading. Just bought the equipment and now need powder. I'm going to be loading 38's for some target shooting from a Ruger Security Six with 6 inch bull barrel. So my question is what powder type to get and why? Does stick, ball, flake have any characteric differences other than shape? Would a certain shape make a better target load? I await your wisdom. Thanks.

You ned a manual and follow the powder recommendations in it. Pistol powders are usually ball or flake powders but you still need to know how much by weight not volume.

I understand the need to follow the reloading manuals and to start 10% below max. and work your way up and check for pressure. What I'm really asking is if one type of powder shape burn cleaner, is easier to meter or something else that makes it more desirable or do these characteristics have nothing to do with the powders shape?

If this is a meaningless question I need to know that also.

Thanks,

for a .38 special and target loads I'd be using bullseye. It's more like a fine sand in texture and meters quite well.

Titegroup (a flake as I recall) also meters well and is another fine powder for the .38 S. and is a good choice for small loads. (like 3.0 grains)

I don't like flake, cause I load on a progressive. I like HS-6 and 7.5gr of it behind a 125gr XTP. This is more of a personal protection load that is accurate. It is for +P 38s however. Keep that in mind depending on your gun. I am not into target loads much but this is an accurate load. Also pretty clean compared to Unique.

I have tried 5gr of Unique behind 125gr JHP, which is flake, but consistent loads in a Lee 1000 is tough to get.

But what is funny, is Unique and bullseye is very clean when shooting 40S&W. I guess cause higher pressures compared to that of either my 44mag or 38Special.

38 Special and 45 ACP, I like 231 ( ball), find it to burn cleaner. Blue Dot ( flake ) would also do well.

Different shapes of powder helps control burning rate for different applications. Good luck.

I load 38/357 for a Security six myself. For target and home defense look at the loads for 158gr SWC using W231 or Bullseye can't go wrong with either and you can get a lot of rounds out of a pound of powder.

Wes

Well, small, dense grained powder like Bullseye, HS 6, and various the ball powders all meter more accurately through a powder measure than stick or flake powders. Some flake types, like Unique, are so bad in this respect that they need to be weighed for each round, a real pain!! However, slower powders occupy more space in the case, and overflow if you double-charge a case inadvertently. This prevents potentially serious overloads!!

A number of different powders work very well for target level loads in the .38 Special. I prefer Bullseye, but you have to carefully guard against double charges if you use it!

elde, don't alliant consider Bullseye to be flake powder? I don't think they make a ball powder for pistol. I know bulls eye is fine, and not the same shape as unique.