MJF Posted January 14, 2021 Share Posted January 14, 2021 I want to load practice and target loads in 38 Special to shoot out of my 357. With powder being very difficult to find I am left to using powder I already have. I will be using Blue Bullets 158gn SWC bullets. I have a lot of Sport Pistol on hand and would like to use it, if feasible. Have any of you had success with this powder and the 38 Special? Thank you, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rnlinebacker Posted January 14, 2021 Share Posted January 14, 2021 I use it in 40 major for uspsa and it is awesome. Meters very well, SD is normal and it's not temp sensitive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radny97 Posted January 14, 2021 Share Posted January 14, 2021 Yes Sport Pistol is great in 38. Try 3.5 grains with a 158 gr lead bullet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteelCityShooter Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 (edited) Allient's web site lists .38 Special using Sport Pistol for a variety of bullet weights and types. Edited January 16, 2021 by SteelCityShooter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJF Posted January 16, 2021 Author Share Posted January 16, 2021 Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClayBuster Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 alliantsportpistoldata10217.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJF Posted January 17, 2021 Author Share Posted January 17, 2021 2 hours ago, ClayBuster said: alliantsportpistoldata10217.pdf 275.66 kB · 3 downloads Thank you! I'm looking forward to shooting them out of this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BHBret Posted October 14, 2021 Share Posted October 14, 2021 I know this is an older thread but it is perfect to add data. I've been searching this forum and the internet for 38 Special loads using Sport Pistol. Here is my results from a new 4" Colt Python using a LabRadar shooting in a 25 yard indoor range. For the SD and ES numbers I'm showing the value for the 12 rounds +/- shot and the number is parentheses is throwing out the highest and lowest velocity shots. I'm not 100% that some of the numbers might be wonky from being indoor and the radar bouncing off of walls and ceiling so have the alternate with the two numbers thrown out: Sport Pistol - 3.5 grains SNS 160 Grain Coated Roundnose Ave muzzle velocity - 717 fps Velocity at 11' - 710 Power Factor at 11' - 114 OAL - 1.562" Primer - WSP SD - 28 fps (12*) ES - 104 (35*) (Alliant data shows 778 fps for 3.5 grains and a 158 grain SWC) Other loads tried same day with same primer, bullet and OAL: Bullseye - 3.5 grains Velocity at 11' - 789 Power Factor at 11' - 126 SD - 27 fps (6*) ES - 103 (18*) Unique - 4.5 grains Velocity at 11' - 854 fps Power Factor at 11' - 137 SD - 25 fps (18*) ES - 92 (50*) Unique - 5.0 grains Velocity at 11' - 907 Power Factor at 11' - 145 SD - 15 fps (10*) ES - 49 (28*) ( *) - high and low shots removed from 12 shot string numbers I'm going to use the Bullseye load for an ICORE match on Saturday and an IDPA match Monday night. It shot significantly more accurately than a max load of Trail Boss under an SNS coated 158 SWC that I have been using. That said, I want to develop a Sport Pistol load for the 160 grain SNS since I have 8# that I want to use for 38, 45 and 9mm as I run out of other powder. Any suggestions from anyone using Sport Pistol for 38 Special with 158-160 coated bullets? I'm looking for a PF in the 125 to 130 range. I'm not too far off right now and will probably try 4.0 grains and see if I need to go up (or down) from there. As an aside, the standard 148 HBWC load with 2.7 grain of Bullseye meets the minimum IDPA power factor in my revolver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radny97 Posted October 14, 2021 Share Posted October 14, 2021 4.1 grains does it for me. But I’ll say Sport pistol is just so-so in 38 special. ES is a little too high and other powders are more accurate. It is very clean. And I do use it in both 9mm and 38 short Colt for ICORE. My favorite powder for 38 special is Ramshot Competition. I use it for NRA Action Pistol matches. Most accurate and least ES by far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BHBret Posted October 14, 2021 Share Posted October 14, 2021 I might have to look into Competition. Appreciate the feedback! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben53 Posted October 15, 2021 Share Posted October 15, 2021 Bullseye... Unique is good but dirty. Bullseye was used in target loads for decades with 148 wadcutters. I know that's not what you're loading, but I think you'd have good success with bullseye. I've also used Red Dot with good results. Nice revolver. I do like Pythons. I had a 4" 686 but let it go; wish I'd kept it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BHBret Posted October 29, 2021 Share Posted October 29, 2021 Radny97, I decided to try 4.1 grains of Sport Pistol with the 160 coated SNS and got the following. I does nail the PF needed for ICORE (and definitely IDPA). The ES and SD are definitely not as good as 3.5 grains of Bullseye (which I also ran today and the results were identical to those I posted on the 14th, which is satisfying). The accuracy with 4.1 is better than 3.5 SP but not quite as good as Bullseye, but close. Everything you said was dead on! Thanks! Here are the stats from LabRadar for the 4.1 grains of Sport Pistol: Stats - Average 798.59 fps Stats - Highest 832.11 fps Stats - Lowest 748.63 fps Stats - Ext. Spread 83.48 fps Stats - Std. Dev 21.56 fps Power Factor (11') 126.4 No shots 18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radny97 Posted October 29, 2021 Share Posted October 29, 2021 BHBret, glad that worked! Try some Ramshot Competition you won’t be disappointed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BHBret Posted October 29, 2021 Share Posted October 29, 2021 Been looking for Competition. Seems like powder supplies are definitely improving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BHBret Posted March 4, 2022 Share Posted March 4, 2022 On 10/29/2021 at 5:38 PM, radny97 said: BHBret, glad that worked! Try some Ramshot Competition you won’t be disappointed. radny97, any recommended 38 loads for Competition with coated 160 grain RN’s? (I have Bayou and SNS). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radny97 Posted March 4, 2022 Share Posted March 4, 2022 (edited) I’d try 3.1 and see what it gets you. Guessing you’re looking for 850 fps or so? Edited March 4, 2022 by radny97 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BHBret Posted March 4, 2022 Share Posted March 4, 2022 Closer to 800 or a little less. I just need a PF of 120 for ICORE and 105 for IDPA. 800 will get me 128 for a nice cushion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radny97 Posted March 5, 2022 Share Posted March 5, 2022 Try 3.1 and work from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BHBret Posted April 2, 2022 Share Posted April 2, 2022 Competition does appear to be more accurate. The SD for 18 rounds of Competition yesterday was 11 fps. For 18 rounds of Sport Pistol in October SD was 22 (see previous post for details). The groups I fired offhand at 10 yards were tighter with Competition. There is definitely less flash with Sport Pistol and the recoil was also softer. But dang, the improvement of accuracy is definitely nice. I'm going to run this load for awhile. Also I'm using Bayou bullets instead of SNS and Magtech primers instead of WSP (because I'm almost out of WSP). Trying to duplicate my 4.1 grain load of Sport Pistol with Ramshot Competition and here it is with 3.6 grains of Competition using 160 Bayou roundnose and Magtech primers: Stats - Average 813.93 fps Stats - Highest 838.82 fps Stats - Lowest 798.48 fps Stats - Ext. Spread 40.34 fps Stats - Std. Dev 10.92 fps Number of rounds - 18 As a check, I also fired 6 rounds of 4.1 grains of Sport Pistol with 160 SNS and WSP primers: Stats - Average 812.85 fps Stats - Highest 832.6 fps Stats - Lowest 792.43 fps Stats - Ext. Spread 40.17 fps Stats - Std. Dev 17.8 fps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radny97 Posted April 2, 2022 Share Posted April 2, 2022 Yep. I like both, but RS Comp is better in 38. Thanks for the data. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BHBret Posted April 2, 2022 Share Posted April 2, 2022 As a plus, 3.6 grains of Comp has more volume than 4.1 of Sport Pistol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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