What are folks using for loads for their .38 ACP handguns? I did some research in some old loading manuals and founds some data in them. I decided to try 2.8 Grains of Bullseye with a 125 Grain FMJ bullet. Will try them out on Friday.
I do cast my own at times. That is how I learned reloading many years ago. As of right now I have 18,000 slugs on hand.If loading our own, 38 Super Brass is the identical Cartridge, and perfectly alright to use it...it is a lot easier to find too. If not comfotable with possible confusions, then of course do not use .38 Super Brass, but stay with .38 ACP Brass proper.
As for me, I never liked FMJ, and I have never used it in Loading my own for anything.
Load your own, you can tailor your Rounds to be what you want, and to have the kind of Bullet you want, have the FPS you want.
Cast your own Bullets too, and it is just that much nicer.
If not for the Hague Convention of the 1890s which had the subscribers agree to no more use of "Dum Dum" Bullets in Rifles in context of formally declared War, no one in Civilian Life would have ever wanted or liked or had any reason to ever use FMJ in anything, and certainly not in any Hand Guns.
Being as the early Automatic Pistols Manufacturers wished for Military Patronage, ammo Makers elected to go along with the Hague Accord for those Pistol's Cartridges...otherwise, we'd have had Lead Bullets the whole time for all the Automatics, and some Semi-Jacketed Soft Points maybe, for those who may want them, and those likely only for the Luger P-'08 and .38 ACP, since .380 and 32 ACP likely would not be able to really justify their use for want of enough mass and FPS for a semi-Jacketed Soft Point to really expand well on impact.
Lead Bullet will go faster on the same Powder charge with less pressure, than FMJ, and are very kind to the Barrels and to the Pistol as a whole.
FMJ is hard on the Pistols and hard on the Barrel's Rifling and are much less efficient in every way...making for higher pressure, higher Heat, more wear and strain, and nothing gained in accuracy at all...
Load your own! And be Happy!
It's fun! and very satisfying!
You might look at the new IMR Red. Supposed to meter better, burn cleaner and use the same load data as Red Dot. I still have half a can of Red Dot, so I haven't bought the IMR, yetLooking at that old Lyman data Red Dot should make a nice load. I've never used any Red Dot, but might get some.
Nice!!I am a big fan of Red Dot. I use it as may pet load for the 38 ACP along with Rainer 130 gr. RN plated bullets which are very cost effective and accurate to shoot. I don't have any problems metering it through my RCBS Uniflow powder measure with the smaller cylinder.
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