Hey Hodgdon, whats the chance ...

[Zman]

... you can increase production on W231 / HP38?? :Cool:.

Holy cow...been looking for months to no avail. Missed the small batch of HP that Bass Pro got a few weeks ago [Rant1]


Has anyone seen any in the northern/central metro area? He!!, even the online stores are hard to find with it in stock.

Z

[SA Friday]

I'm a big proponent of what I call junk reloading. Basically, working up multiple types of ammo with different bullets and powders and primers to accomidate whatever I can find available for pistol ammo. Rifles can be a lot more picky. It helps in these times where one can't find what they want for their ideal load. I do prefer some of the loads over others, but can usually find what I want for a respectable reload. If you provide the basic details of what you are reloading, I might have an alternative or two you can give a try.

[Zman]

Yea, I'm running .38 spl 148gr HBWC. I tried the standard 2.7 (2.5-2.8) gr Bullesye, and don't like the recoil response. There are lots of alternatives like Solo1000, etc. Would maybe try AA#2, but it's not so easy to find either. I guess I should be d@mn happy with the Bullseye I got a while back like it. [Muaha]

Actually, I like my Bullseye loads in the .380, .40 and .38 LSWC's. This HBWC is for my S&W52 semi target, and want it just so. [Coffee]

Any ideas I have missed?

Z

[SA Friday]

I'm haven't reloaded very much 38 spc in my life, but with that gr and type of bullet, you are pretty much looking at very similar specs to 9mm Luger. Also considering you are shooting lead, I would recommend looking at the following Solo 1000, WST, WSF, Ramshot Comp, and Universal Clays. If you really want to get riskae, N320. Avoid double based powders as their primary ingredient is nitroglycerin vs single based powders like Solo 1000 which use guncotton. It will cut way down on the smoke.

I'm a huge fan of Solo 1000 for pistol rounds. It doesn't fit the bill for everything, but it's close. I haven't found anything as good with lead bullets either. WST is really close, but as with all the Win pistol powders, are pretty reverse temp sensitive. Not that big a deal as long as you aren't pushing max loads. Solo 1000 is also a pretty fluffy flake powder and should fill the case fairly well.

I have burned a lot of Solo 1000 and Universal Clays. I like them both. Solo 1000 is the faster of the two. If the recoil impulse is too sharp, try the UC as it has more of a push impulse than a sharp impulse.

[Zman]

I'll take a look at my Univ. Clays data and see if I want to try that. Thanks for the input.

Z

[theGinsue]

How well does the Solo 1000 feed?

[Colorado Osprey]

I switched to Clays, not Universal Clays on all my 38 Special rounds. They are light clean burning loads for practice.
There is no match as far as keeping the gun clean when comparing it to Clays.
Small powder differernces make huge changes. You must be very dilligent when loading these.

I can't say how glad I am that I stocked up over the last couple of years in loading/reloading supplies. I just haven't been shooting because I know I will have trouble replacing my supplies, and if I find them costs have risen 100%.

[SA Friday]

I contemplated recommending clays or not in my previous post. I decided to not recommend it. Clays can be a touchy booger in some loads. Even in 40 S&W it's a precarious powder unless you are loading long and experienced with the pitfalls. UC, on the other hand is slower burning, takes more case so there's less chance of a double charge, and can be used in cartridges with smaller case capacity. I'm not saying Clays can't be used, I'm just saying I wasn't comfortable recommending it.

Ginsue, Solo 1000 is a fluffy flake powder and can give you some trouble getting a good powder throw with it. It's my only complaint about the stuff. What I've found though is over the chrono, a +/- 0.1gr variance makes little to no difference in velocity averages. It might open the Std Deviation up a little bit, but I routinely get SD's below 10 with Solo 1000. I get this by doing three things: I fill my powder reserve and refill after using on 1/3 of its content, I throw at least 30 test charges before reloading to ensure I absolutely have the throw in the right zone, and I test the powder throw every 20-25 rounds while reloading.

[Zman]

I contemplated recommending clays or not in my previous post. I decided to not recommend it. You're not the only person I have run across with comments on Clays being twitchy.

Being that Universal is a flake also, and wanting to try something new, I just picked up a canister of AA#2. Should meter great (including through any crack, no mater how small :).

The info from Dad's Wholesale in Denver is Hodgson/Olin/Winchester/whatever you want to call them is supplying all the 231/hp38 to the Feds. I vaguely remember reading a large contract the gov signed for several years for powder. Think of the train-car loads this would equate to [Muaha]

Anyway, there is data from several sources on #2, so I'm willing to give it a try.

Z

[Chris2087]

SA Friday,

Have you given any thought about teaching some hand loading? I would be willing to provide some frosty beverages to watch some before I jump into my own hand loading?

Chris

[SA Friday]

SA Friday,

Have you given any thought about teaching some hand loading? I would be willing to provide some frosty beverages to watch some before I jump into my own hand loading?

Chris

I have, and I do. The best time to do this is right before you are going to buy the equipment and build a reloading space. I have had a few come over and I run them through the basics at my house. It takes about 5-6 hours. Then I go over to the person's house after they have built their reloading space and received their reloading equipment and help them set up and start the reloading process. This usually takes about another 5-6 hours.

[gnihcraes]

Alliant red dot works for some 38 loads, I believe alliant power pistol also. Check their website reloading information.

Red dot goes a long ways... 1 lbs would build 1000's of rounds probably. :)

[jerrymrc]

SA Friday,

Have you given any thought about teaching some hand loading? I would be willing to provide some frosty beverages to watch some before I jump into my own hand loading?

Chris

I am also available here in the springs if one would want. Have both a single stage and a turret press.

And as far as running out of powder. If ya buy it by the case you will not have that problem. ;)

[Chris2087]

Jerry and SA Friday, I appreciate that. I am looking at a single stage, just .223 for the 700. I have been saving brass from PMC, LC and other assorted military surplus. I am leaning towards a single stage, doing each step in lots to keep the rounds accurate. But I need to see it a few times before I decide on a brand. The only thing I have decided on is the bullet. My gun really likes the 50 grain v max rounds.

Let me know when you are running a batch again.

Chris

[Colorado Osprey]

Jerry and SA Friday, I appreciate that. I am looking at a single stage, just .223 for the 700. I have been saving brass from PMC, LC and other assorted military surplus. I am leaning towards a single stage, doing each step in lots to keep the rounds accurate. But I need to see it a few times before I decide on a brand. The only thing I have decided on is the bullet. My gun really likes the 50 grain v max rounds.

Let me know when you are running a batch again.

Chris

I've had issues with PMC brass. I can only get 1-2 loadings from it. (cracked necks)

[jerrymrc]

Jerry and SA Friday, I appreciate that. I am looking at a single stage, just .223 for the 700. I have been saving brass from PMC, LC and other assorted military surplus. I am leaning towards a single stage, doing each step in lots to keep the rounds accurate. But I need to see it a few times before I decide on a brand. The only thing I have decided on is the bullet. My gun really likes the 50 grain v max rounds.

Let me know when you are running a batch again.

Chris

Very soon. I am about 2/3 through prepping 3000 .223 cases. I am also going to send off another 1500 to be processed. I know my A1 likes the 55FMJ's and the 55 Vmax loads.

I also need to load up more .308 for this year. I will drop ya a PM when I get ready.

[Hoser]

I am also going to send off another 1500 to be processed.

PM sent

[jerrymrc]

PM sent

Replied to. :)