357454 Posted March 9, 2021 Share Posted March 9, 2021 Hello All: I have been trying to find the correct powder for 38 special loads with a 100 grain coated bullet for Steel challenge. I have found several powders that give me acceptable accuracy however the velocity variation from high to low is over 100 fps on the best load, some I tested were over 300 fps. What have you found that works for both accuracy and velocity. My goal is to find a powder that will give me around 850 fps. Thanks in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twodownzero Posted March 9, 2021 Share Posted March 9, 2021 Red Dot, Clays, Trail Boss, Solo 1000 are all ones I've tried. Other ones I'd suggest: Promo, Clay Dot, Bullseye, WST, AA #2 If the book load is more than 3-3.5 grains, it's probably not what you're looking for in terms of low velocity target loads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4n2t0 Posted March 10, 2021 Share Posted March 10, 2021 Fast(er) powders like Titegroup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
357454 Posted March 10, 2021 Author Share Posted March 10, 2021 Over the past few weeks I have tested Bullseye, Clays, Red Dot, VV32C, 700X, Titegroup, VV 350 and BE86 all have what I consider too much extreme spread, I even tested with one chamber and found the results less than ideal, should I consider a shorter case for more effective ignition? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firewood Posted March 10, 2021 Share Posted March 10, 2021 May I ask what gun, barrel length, exact bullet used? Are you using moons? I use S&W 929s for SCSA so 9mm but the guys that I know that use 38 revos (627s and such), many of them use 38 short colt brass. Just food for thought, there are a bunch of threads here on this I think the revolver sub forum is where most of them are located. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
357454 Posted March 10, 2021 Author Share Posted March 10, 2021 I am using a 627 smith with a 6 1/2” barrel, the bullets are a bang and clang .358 diameter plated flat point round nose. I use federal primers with a noticeable roll crimp. One of the loads I tested gave me 1 1/2” groups at 25 yards however the velocity difference was noticeable while shooting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twodownzero Posted March 10, 2021 Share Posted March 10, 2021 (edited) If you want more consistent combustion, all you can do is raise the pressure. Work the load up more and it will become more consistent. If that means too much velocity, you need a faster burning powder (and less of it to achieve the same pressure). Very generally speaking, the higher the pressure, the more consistently a powder burns. Obviously once you hit the pressure limit for your cartridge, you have to stop. Edited March 10, 2021 by twodownzero Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
357454 Posted March 11, 2021 Author Share Posted March 11, 2021 Taking into consideration the current powder situation I am going to shorten a few cases to 38 long Colt length and re-test a few or the more promising powders I have. Hopefully this will get me closer to my goal, I will post my results sometime next week. Headed to Mesquite NV. today for two days of Revo excitement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mcfoto Posted March 11, 2021 Share Posted March 11, 2021 Not sure why you’re going short Colt for steel challenge where there’s no reload on the clock. FWIW, my most accurate load in .38 SP is X700. Had some hand me down from a friend (in the metal IMR cans) so tried it on a whim and dayum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmer Posted March 11, 2021 Share Posted March 11, 2021 I was going to suggest trying some Trailboss powder but may be hard to find. Never could get anything lighter than 125g to shoot well in any of my 38’s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onebadeye Posted March 11, 2021 Share Posted March 11, 2021 3.5 grains of wst works well for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firewood Posted March 11, 2021 Share Posted March 11, 2021 1 hour ago, 357454 said: Taking into consideration the current powder situation I am going to shorten a few cases to 38 long Colt length and re-test a few or the more promising powders I have. Hopefully this will get me closer to my goal, I will post my results sometime next week. Headed to Mesquite NV. today for two days of Revo excitement. Search both here and the BE revolver subforums on shortening 38 brass to 38 short colt length. It is not as easy as it sounds. I do think that using 38 short colt might be a solution to your problem. There are a lot of 627 and TRR8 shooters in Steel Challenge that use that cartridge. I'm not one of them I have 929s so 9mm. I would ask around before committing a lot of time and money. Bullseye or WST 105g SWC coated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Service Desk Posted March 11, 2021 Share Posted March 11, 2021 I use a 100gr. semi wadcutter seated flush in a 38 Special and 2.5 grains of Trailboss. Mousefart recoil, clean and very accurate on paper and steel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darrell Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 3.3 to 3.7 WST, use a taper crimp if the bullet you are using doesn't have a grease groove. My standard deviation was 7, shot 1" 10 shot group at 25 yds from the ransom rest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superdude Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 On 3/11/2021 at 10:39 AM, 357454 said: Taking into consideration the current powder situation I am going to shorten a few cases to 38 long Colt length and re-test a few or the more promising powders I have. No need to trim brass. Just push the bullet in deeper. That will emulate a 38 Colt case (Short or Long). As Service Desk notes, you can seat them flush. The reduced space by seating the bullet deeper will increase consistency. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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