pbcaster45 Posted September 18, 2017 Share Posted September 18, 2017 (edited) A search didn't produce many minor loads for the .38 Super (and I looked!) Since I just got a new Edge in this caliber I'll post my results! Couldn't chronograph anything with the rain so here's what I've got so far... Gun fed and ejected 100% with all loads but might need to shorten the slide lock plunger spring, a little too strong for reliable slide lock on last round. Bullet: Hornady 115 gr. HAP (.356) Powder: Hodgdon Titegroup 4.8 grs. Primer: Winchester Small Pistol Case: PMC .38 Super +P LOAL: 1.240 Recoil Spring: STI Light Recoil Master Comments: New brass, processed with Lee Standard Sizer Die and Lyman M-Die Expander. Most accurate test load. **** Bullet: 125 gr. Blue Bullet Coated RN (.356) Powder: Hodgdon Titegroup 4.3 grs. Primer: Winchester Small Pistol Case: PMC .38 Super +P LOAL: 1.250 Recoil Spring: STI Light Recoil Master Comments: New brass, processed with Lee Standard Sizer Die and Lyman M-Die Expander. **** Bullet: Speer 124 gr. TMJ RN Powder: Winchester 231 4.8 grs. Primer: CCI-500 Case: Starline 38 Super +P LOAL: 1.260 Recoil Spring: STI Light Recoil Master Comments: Lee U-Die and Expander used to process brass. Okay accuracy and good function - but a little underpowered, brass fell at my feet. Edited September 18, 2017 by pbcaster45 grammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbcaster45 Posted September 23, 2017 Author Share Posted September 23, 2017 (edited) I'm planning to provide chronograph results later this weekend. I went shooting today but had to quit after a couple of magazines. I was testing some Rainier 158 gr. FN plated bullets (.357) and they were really accurate at first - practically going into the same hole at 30 feet. Then my groups opened up and I noticed the rear sight had come loose. I had the same problem with my Edge in 40 S&W so it's time to do the Red Loctite fix on the sight dovetail. Anyway, this load was silly soft shooting. I know everyone complains about how dirty Bullseye is - but it's still cleaner than Titegroup! Bullet: Rainier 158 gr. Plated FN (.357) Powder: Alliant Bullseye 3.4 grs. Primer: Winchester Small Pistol Case: PMC .38 Super +P LOAL: 1.228 Recoil Spring: STI Light Recoil Master Comments: New brass, processed with Lee Standard Sizer Die and Lyman M-Die. Edited September 23, 2017 by pbcaster45 grammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Service Desk Posted September 24, 2017 Share Posted September 24, 2017 122gn TCFP cast bullet with 4.8 gns WW231 loaded to 1.210". Very accurate and soft shooting ..... Around 1090 fps in a 5" Edge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbcaster45 Posted September 24, 2017 Author Share Posted September 24, 2017 (edited) Wow! I haven't done this much chronograph work in a long time! FOR SCIENCE! Bullet: Hornady 115 gr. HAP (.356) Powder: Hodgdon Titegroup 4.7 grs. Primer: Winchester Small Pistol Case: PMC .38 Super +P LOAL: 1.240 Recoil Spring: STI Light Recoil Master Average Velocity: 1151.77 fps ES: 31.80 SD: 10.95 PF: 132 Comments: New brass, processed with Lee Standard Sizer Die and Lyman M-Die. ***** Bullet: Precision Delta 124 gr. JHP Powder: VihtaVuori N320 4.7 grs. Primer: Winchester Small Pistol Case: Starline .38 Super +P LOAL: 1.245 (.976 with Stoney Point) Recoil Spring: STI Light Recoil Master Average Velocity: 1064.57 fps ES: 60.71 SD: 20.92 PF: 132 Comments: New brass, Lee U-Die and Expander used to process brass. ***** Bullet: 125 gr. Blue Bullet Coated RN (.357) Powder: Hodgdon Titegroup 4.4 grs. Primer: Winchester Small Pistol Case: PMC .38 Super +P LOAL: 1.250 Recoil Spring: STI Light Recoil Master Average Velocity: 1068.42 fps ES: 30.36 SD: 9.05 PF: 133 Comments: New brass, processed with Lee Standard Sizer Die and Lyman M-Die. ***** Bullet: 147 gr. Blue Bullet Coated RN (.357) Powder: Hodgdon Titegroup 4.0 grs. Primer: Winchester Small Pistol Case: Winchester Nickel .38 Super +P LOAL: 1.260 Recoil Spring: STI Light Recoil Master Average Velocity: 1011.68 fps ES: 29.90 SD: 10.39 PF: 148 Comments: New brass, processed with Lee Standard Sizer Die and Lyman M-Die. ***** Bullet: Rainier 158 gr. Plated FN (.357) Powder: Alliant Bullseye 3.4 grs. Primer: Winchester Small Pistol Case: PMC .38 Super +P LOAL: 1.230 Recoil Spring: STI Light Recoil Master Average Velocity: 703.53 fps ES: 62.16 SD: 18.94 PF: 111 Comments: New brass, processed with Lee Standard Sizer Die and Lyman M-Die. Very soft recoil. ***** Bullet: Rainier 158 gr. Plated FN (.357) Powder: Hodgdon Titegroup 3.3 grs. Primer: Winchester Small Pistol Case: PMC .38 Super +P LOAL: 1.230 Recoil Spring: STI Light Recoil Master Average Velocity: 707.84 fps ES: 57.87 SD: 18.86 PF: 111 Comments: New brass, processed with Lee Standard Sizer Die and Lyman M-Die with 0.146 spacer ring combo. I was pretty pleased with all these loads except the two using the Rainier 158 gr. FN. I missed the PF I was hoping for (130ish) and the ES & SD readings were higher than I like. The most accurate load was the Hornady 115 gr. HAP over Titegroup. Edited September 25, 2017 by pbcaster45 more info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbcaster45 Posted September 25, 2017 Author Share Posted September 25, 2017 Happy Day! Discovered that using a Grams follower and magazine spring works that slide lock perfectly! YES! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbcaster45 Posted September 30, 2017 Author Share Posted September 30, 2017 Bullet: X-Treme 124 gr. HP (.356) Powder: Hodgdon Titegroup 4.3 grs. Primer: Winchester Small Pistol Case: Mixed .38 Super +P LOAL: 1.225 (.979 with Stoney Point) Recoil Spring: STI Light Recoil Master Average Velocity: 1062.79 fps ES: 58.74 SD: 19.15 PF: 131 Starting to notice the ES & SD readings for plated are roughly double for jacketed and coated bullets... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbcaster45 Posted September 8, 2019 Author Share Posted September 8, 2019 (edited) I've been comparing Alliant Sport Pistol to the N320 load I normally use and I think I'm going to switch to SP! I set some aside for chronographing - it's just too hot outside for my usual testing. Bullet: Precision Delta 115 gr. JHP Powder: VihtaVuori N320 5.4 grs. Primer: Winchester Small Pistol Case: Starline .38 Super +P (Sized with Lee U-Die) LOAL: 1.245 (0.965 with Stoney Point) Recoil Spring: Dawson tool-less guide rod, 12 lb. Recoil Spring and Buffer Pad. Bullet: Hornady 115 gr. FMJ-RN Powder: Alliant Sport Pistol 5.0 grs. Primer: Winchester Small Pistol Case: Starline .38 Super +P (Sized with Lee U-Die) LOAL: 1.245 (0.946 with Stoney Point)Recoil Spring: Dawson tool-less guide rod, 12 lb. Recoil Spring and Buffer Pad. Edited September 8, 2019 by pbcaster45 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbcaster45 Posted October 27, 2019 Author Share Posted October 27, 2019 Didn't have time to check any loads with Sport Pistol but here is the above load with N320. Bullet: Precision Delta 115 gr. JHP Powder: VihtaVuori N320 5.4 grs. Primer: Winchester Small Pistol Case: Starline .38 Super +P LOAL: 1.245 (0.965 with Stoney Point) Recoil Spring: Dawson tool-less guide rod, 12 lb. Recoil Spring and Buffer Pad. Average Velocity: 1224.36 fps ES: 29.01 SD: 9.84 PF: 140 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbcaster45 Posted August 6, 2020 Author Share Posted August 6, 2020 (edited) I don't like posting load data without chronograph readings but this one was pretty good. My 9mm's don't seem to shoot very well with the Speer 124 gr. TMJ but my .38 Super does! Twenty rounds at 10 yards. Bullet: Bullet: Speer 124 gr. TMJ RN Powder: Alliant Sport Pistol 5.0 grs. Primer: Winchester Small Pistol Case: Remington Nickel +P LOAL: 1.260 Recoil Spring: Dawson tool-less guide rod, 12 lb. Recoil Spring and Buffer Pad. Comments: Lee U-Die and Expander used to process brass. Edited August 6, 2020 by pbcaster45 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbcaster45 Posted November 4, 2020 Author Share Posted November 4, 2020 Another good combo! More like a SD load though... Bullet: Speer 124 gr. Gold DotPowder: Alliant Herco 7.0 grs.Primer: Federal 100Case: Remington Nickel +PLOAL: 1.260Recoil Spring: Dawson tool-less guide rod, 14 lb. Recoil Spring and Wilson Buffer Pad. Twenty rounds at 30 feet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbcaster45 Posted February 4, 2021 Author Share Posted February 4, 2021 Bullet: Sig Sauer Elite Performance 125 gr. +P V-Crown JHP (factory) LOAL: 1.250 Recoil Spring: 12 lb. Recoil Spring, Wilson Buffer Pad and Dawson Tool-Less Guide Rod. Average Velocity: 1277.96 fps ES: 60.74 SD: 18.94 Bullet: Winchester 147 gr. JHP Powder: Hodgdon CFE Pistol 5.2 grs. Primer: Winchester Small Pistol Case: Sig Sauer .38 Super +P LOAL: 1.258 – 12.60 Recoil Spring: 12 lb. Recoil Spring, Wilson Buffer Pad and Dawson Tool-Less Guide Rod. Average Velocity: 1069.51 fps ES: 30.56 SD: 10.86 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbcaster45 Posted December 27, 2021 Author Share Posted December 27, 2021 Really impressed with results using Herco. Twenty rounds at 30 feet. Bullet: X-Treme 124 gr. HP (.356)Powder: Alliant Herco 6.2 grs.Primer: Federal 100Case: PMC .38 Super +PLOAL: 1.210 (.979 with Stoney Point)Recoil Spring: Dawson tool-less guide rod, 14 lb. Recoil Spring and Buffer Pad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbcaster45 Posted August 14, 2022 Author Share Posted August 14, 2022 (edited) I've never tried Accurate #5 in my .38 Super before, pretty happy with it! Accurate and it left the gun nice and clean. Twenty shots at 30 feet - yeah, I blew a couple. Bullet: Hornady 125 gr XTP #35710 (.357)Powder: Accurate Arms #5 7.2 grs.Primer: Federal 100Case: PMC .38 Super +PLOAL: 1.200Recoil Spring: Dawson tool-less guide rod, 14 lb. Recoil Spring and Wilson Combat Shok-Buff. Edited August 14, 2022 by pbcaster45 spelling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbcaster45 Posted November 18, 2023 Author Share Posted November 18, 2023 Trying to come up with a load similar to the Sig Sauer Elite Performance 125 gr. +P V-Crown JHP factory load - more work needed but I'm on the right track. Plan to use the 125-grain version next at 1.250 with 6.8 grains of CFE. This is lower than the Sierra starting charge and should work in short throated guns. Bullet: Sierra Sig Sauer V-Crown 124 gr. JHP Powder: Hodgdon CFE Pistol 5.95 grs. Primer: Winchester Small Rifle Case: Starline .38 Super Comp (New) OAL: 1.210 (.995 with Stoney Point) Average Velocity: 1202 fps ES: 42 SD: 11 PF: 149 Recoil Spring: Dawson tool-less guide rod, 12 lb. Recoil Spring and Buffer Pad. Comments: Lee U-Die and Lee Expander Die used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ysrracer Posted November 19, 2023 Share Posted November 19, 2023 5 hours ago, pbcaster45 said: Trying to come up with a load similar to the Sig Sauer Elite Performance 125 gr. +P V-Crown JHP factory load - more work needed but I'm on the right track. Plan to use the 125-grain version next at 1.250 with 6.8 grains of CFE. This is lower than the Sierra starting charge and should work in short throated guns. Bullet: Sierra Sig Sauer V-Crown 124 gr. JHP Powder: Hodgdon CFE Pistol 5.95 grs. Primer: Winchester Small Rifle Case: Starline .38 Super Comp (New) OAL: 1.210 (.995 with Stoney Point) Average Velocity: 1202 fps ES: 42 SD: 11 PF: 149 Recoil Spring: Dawson tool-less guide rod, 12 lb. Recoil Spring and Buffer Pad. Comments: Lee U-Die and Lee Expander Die used. I'm a big fan of Sport Pistol powder in 9mm and .38 special. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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