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Posted: 12/5/2010 10:54:34 AM EDT
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I have never loaded 38 spl heck it must be 20 yrs since I have fired one. Any way my wife does not like auto loaders, she likes wheel guns. So I bought a 38 spl with a 2 in barrel for her.
This is what I have to load her some ammo with. Hornady 110 gr HP/XTP Power Pistol or Unique CCI 500 primers for this load She is kinda recoil sensitive so what would you guy advise me to load for her. I have the load data for this bullet. I just need some feedback on what you feel a would be a good load for her and the bullet still be effective as a personal defense rd. What would be a good bullet weight for future loads for this barrel length |
| I use Unique for my .38spl loads. They are very mild but I shoot them out of a 6" gun. It is my understanding that Power Pistol has a considerable ammount of muzzle report. That my be a consideration with a 2" barrel, I don't know though as I don't use Power Pistol. I use Speer Gold Dot bullets in all my defensive handguns. Speer makes short barrel Gold Dots designed to expand at velocities typicial of 2" or so barreled guns. Thats what I will use whenever I get a short .38spl. |
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I have no experience with Power Pistol, but Unique would be a poor choice in a short barrel 38, lots of unburned powder. You probably should have gotten her a 4" bbl, any kind of a warm load in that short a barrel can generate a ton of recoil. The small frame pistols can be outright painful to shoot with warm loads. |
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If you need a good shooting target/plinking load to help her develop confidence/skill, the speer 148gr bbwc over 2.5 gr bullseye is very hard to beat. Then load her some hotter hp loads for defence. The load you list is a good one.
MLG edited, wrong weight bullet. |
| Of the two powders, Unique would be the best choice. Unique does better at 3/4 to full charges. Bought my wife a lightweight 2" barreled .38 Special and she's not comfortable shooting it especially with plus p 125 grain factory loads. The 110 grain bullets will reduce recoil some but still will probably be as much or more than a recoil shy lady will enjoy shooting. Keep her targets close in as in 7 to 10 yards and a target like a torso size to build confidence in the short pistol. They usually aren't good at plinking tin cans etc. at 20-25 yards. I wouldn't reduce the Unique below 5.5-5.7 grains with the 110 XTP. I too llike AA#2 for .38 Special and also for .380 loads. Make sure the bullet is tight in the brass and a good roll crimp applied. Hope your wife likes her pistol. |
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Alliant website info
Pistols and Revolvers
38 Special * 110 GR Speer GDHP Minimum OAL (inches) Bbl Length Primer Powder Charge Weight (grains) Velocity (fps) 1.455 6 CCI 500 Bullseye 4.6 990 View this recipe 1.455 6 CCI 500 American Select 4.3 887 View this recipe 1.455 6 CCI 500 Unique 5.8 1,065 View this recipe 1.455 6 CCI 500 Power Pistol 6.6 1,074 View this recipe Figure about 150-200fps less velocity out of a snubbie. |
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I would honestly suggest starting with a different bullet. The 110 grain bullets are highly unlikely to hit POA. Most .38 Spl's will have the sights regulated to a 158 grain bullet. The hornady XTP also tends to expand a little less/slower and penetrate more than many other SD oriented bullets. I also suggest finding a set of stocks that actually fit her hand, as this will make a huge difference in perceived recoil, control of the gun, and accuracy. I've run a couple of loads through my snubbies over the chronograph––-factory 110 grain +P from Remington was around 950 fps IIRC, and the 158 grain LSWCHP +P was around 850...both from a 2.25" barrel. You should be able to duplicate or come close to duplicating those loads with the correct bullet and powder without any trouble. You'd probably be better served loading 148 grain wadcutters for most of her practice, and just have her shoot enough of the serious load to remember POI/POA. I've gotta set my XL650 up for .38 wadcutters and let mom run off a few hundred rounds so she'll stop bugging me for ammo.  |
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Quoted: Alliant website info Pistols and Revolvers 38 Special * 110 GR Speer GDHP Minimum OAL (inches) Bbl Length Primer Powder Charge Weight (grains) Velocity (fps) 1.455 6 CCI 500 Bullseye 4.6 990 View this recipe 1.455 6 CCI 500 American Select 4.3 887 View this recipe 1.455 6 CCI 500 Unique 5.8 1,065 View this recipe 1.455 6 CCI 500 Power Pistol 6.6 1,074 View this recipe Figure about 150-200fps less velocity out of a snubbie. Tested in a real gun or a pressure barrel? If a real gun, don't bet money on it.  |
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Quoted:
I have never loaded 38 spl heck it must be 20 yrs since I have fired one. Any way my wife does not like auto loaders, she likes wheel guns. So I bought a 38 spl with a 2 in barrel for her. This is what I have to load her some ammo with. Hornady 110 gr HP/XTP Power Pistol or Unique CCI 500 primers for this load She is kinda recoil sensitive so what would you guy advise me to load for her. I have the load data for this bullet. I just need some feedback on what you feel a would be a good load for her and the bullet still be effective as a personal defense rd. What would be a good bullet weight for future loads for this barrel length Power Pistol is for full power loads, a noticable flash, not what you want. For my wifes 2" 38, I load 148 gr WC's with 2.5 grs bullseye. You will still notice the recoil, but nowhere near full loads. Also put a set of Hogue grips on, helps a lot. If you must use Unique, load the "starting" load for the least amount of recoil. |
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Thanks for all the great info. I have put Hogue grips on the weapon and I am going to order some more bullets this week. I plan on keeping her load right under +P. I carry a SF 1911 EMP in 9mm and to be honest I really like the light weight 38 spl. I carried it for a few hours in my pocket before putting it up for Christmas day. I almost forgot I was carrying it. I might have to buy me one for Christmas also
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May I suggest using Bullseye or Win 231 powder.
When I loaded some light hollow point loads for my snubby, the slower powders gave me very poor results. With Blue Dot and Power Pistol the bullets would barely penetrate 2 inches into the dirt with almost no expansion. It did make plenty of noise and flash though! Unique is a little better, but really doesn't start to perform until the barrel is at least 4 inches long and 6 inches is better. For the snubby use the fastest powder you can get (I.E. Bullseye, 231). This will provide the best muzzle velocity with the least flash. |
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