.38 Spl. Target loads using WW231

[ShootingMaster]

Hi,
Does anyone have some experience in target loads for .38 spl using ww231?
Today I loaded 50 rounds of .38 special using 3.0 grains of ww231 and 115 gn. LHBWCs.

The first 20 rounds at 20 yards in single action were lousy in acuraccy. I couldn´t get any 5-shot group below 4 or 5 inches. Lots of unburnt powder also.

That got me thinking for a moment and then I did this between shots: I pointed the muzzle upwards and tapped the frame slightly
while pointing down the revolver very slow until the target came into sight.

By doing this I expected the powder to move rear in the case and near the primer and therefore I expected better ignition.
I was right: using the same load I was able to group in 2" at the same distance (20 yards). The unburnt powder residues was reduced to a minimum also.
Anyway I don´t want to repeat this process so I would like to know your opinions about ww231 used in light loads for .38 special.

Is it a bad choice for light loads like this? With such small charges there is a lot of free space inside the case and lots of unburnt powder unless I keep the muzzle up between shots like I said. I´ll appreciate your help.

Thanks in advance.
Regards.

[cochise]

Try alittle more powder, 3.2 grns is what I load in a 148 grm WC. A light charge doesn't always burn completely. 115 grn bullet is pretty light I'm sure you can jump to 4 grns and have no problems. My manuals do not list a 115 grn LWC but 125 grn LWC shows with 231 3.8 to 4.8 max.

[TheTinMan]

I've been working up a load using Win 231 and a Hornady 148gr hollow-based wadcutter. Hornady manual shows 2.2 grains min up to 3.5 grains max, but that's still a tiny bit of powder compared to the space in the case. 3.0-3.4 grains seems to be a popular load range for this combination. Accuracy seems OK at 15 yards but velocity shows up pretty erratic on the chronograph. I tried the "point up & tap" before each shot and a slight improvement in terms of consistent velocity but no measurable difference in accuracy. There does seem to be unburnt powder at times.

BTW the Hornady manual says the 148 gr HBWC is the "most accurate target bullet" for .38 Special. They also say that loads at 800 fps give best accuracy. Much over that speed, the HBWC may start to tumble IIRC.

[capstan]

For 148 grain hollow base wadcutters i use 3 grains of red dot. I have for 40 some years . I never tried anything else because the load is very accurate and I have a ton of red dot. You're right it is a tiny amount of powder in that big case.
I think it was in one of my old speer manuals that it said the 3 grains of reddot with the 148 HBWC was the most accurate. I think they were right. I use CCI 500 primers.

[ShootingMaster]

Thank you all for your suggestions.

I guess I will need to increase the powder charge for that bullet weight then.

I´ll move to 4.0 grains (instead of 3.0 grains I previously used) and see what happens.

I just wanted to keep velocity as low as possible in order to obtain an accurate load but instead of doing so I developed some ignition issues.

I didn´t know that best performance in terms of accuracy was about 800 fps. I´ll give a try to Red Dot and 148gn. LHBWC as well. I´ll let you know my results.

Thanks again to all of you.
Regards.-

[Zeke38]

If the increased powder charge doesn't do what you want then go to the HBWC seated near flush with the mouth of the case. The bullet (148HBWC) is a lot longer and will provide more stability while riding in the grooves down the bbl. The HBWC or full wadcutter bullet has been the target standard in 38SPL. for longer than I've been alive and I'm closer to 70 than 60.

[wraco]

Clothes dryer lint works good to fill the void inside the case between the powder and the bullet with light loads.

[TheTinMan]

Clothes dryer lint works good to fill the void inside the case between the powder and the bullet with light loads.

My first thought was "Great!" but then I started thinking about burnt lint in the barrel. Is that a problem?

[Pepper]

My first thought was "Great!" but then I started thinking about burnt lint in the barrel. Is that a problem?

Only if you set the range on fire!!

[Hatman1793]

One of the classic target loads for 38special cartridges is 3.1 grains of WW231 with a hollow base full wadd cutter swaged bullet set almost flush to the cartridge mouth. Other substitute powders would be 2.5-2.8 grains of Bullseye or RedDot or 700X. Stick with the 148 grain weight bullet for best results. Lighter bullets need more powder and upset the overall target quality. I know I'm going to take heat for that statement but the 148 grain weight is the real deal. Cast 148 grains also do well...