Reloading BS thread

Id consider bolting it to the wall if you are going to use it for reloading.

 

I'll probably end up adding the lip, not sure when I'll get to it though, I went ahead and screwed the bench to the studs in the wall and it's very sturdy.
Dug all our stuff out of storage and I've got a little bit of 38 special and 357 mag brass along with the proper dies so I'll probably reload a few rounds and try them out this weekend.

Some pics of the bench and some of the stuff I found in storage, I also have the press but i need to clean the rust off of the shaft and handle and then oil it up.

 

Well, I took about 75 of the 175 rounds of 38 special I loaded up with the Lee Loader to the range and shot them. These were 4.6 grains of Unique, with a 158 grain Berry's Plated FP bullet and CCI 550 primers. These were VERY mild, but also pretty accurate. From what I have read, Unique was supposed to be a "dirty" powder, but the gun cleaned up real easy and was not dirty at all. I still have 100 of that load in the gun safe for later in the year. I plan to take my brothers to the range so we can all shoot my dad's old revolver.

I decided to mix up a batch of 50 that were a bit hotter than the 4.6 grains of Unique. I did some research and it appears there has been a lot of changes in 38 special loads over the years. I have a buddy with a 1970 Lyman book that shows 5.4 grains of Unique as a max and I found an online reference to a 1973 Hornady manual that showed 6.1 grains as a non +P 38 special. My 49th edition Lyman shows 5.3 grains as a +P load. I erred on the lower value of 5.4 grains with the same 158 grain bullet. The gun is a 357magnum that is in good condition, so I am not overly worried about pressures with this load, but I don't think I would put it in a 38 special - particularly an older 38 special revolver. Don't know when I will have a chance to take it to the range to try it out, but I am looking forward to it.

I am already trying to decide on a press. Can't decide on a low end Lee single stage or a turret/progressive. My concern is that once I get the single stage, I will have already spent the money and then will spend more going to a turret or progressive. I kind of like the looks of the Lee Classic turret. Seems to be a good balance of cost and utility. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

Post some pics of the finished project when you are done.

 

30 years ago, Unique was a dirty powder. Over the years, the manufacturer has altered the formula to clean it up a bit. It sounds like you have new powder.

I still have some of older, dirtier powder. It really is not that dirty - cleans up easily.

Make sure you use loading manuals printed in the same era as your powder was manufactured. Powder formulas change over the years, and the recipes change as well.

You are smart to not use the heavier loads in older .38 Special guns.

Even with a progressive press, you will want a single stage. Everybody does.

You didn't seriously think you would only buy one press, did you?

 

Will do.

Started painting the press (only a few pieces) had to clean up some areas and lube the press shaft and paint the handle and a few small parts.
I've got some touch up paint to do but I should be mounting it in the morning.

 

Got the press mounted today, found a 1lb bottle of 2400 in the closet however I don't have small pistol primers so I need to pick some up but I do have a box of 250 bullets, 158 Gr Berrys bullets (These).

From my understanding since these are plated bullets they should be loaded to the specs of a similar cast bullet however I can't find an exact match in my manual, these are the closest I found.
It would appear that I would be safe starting at 10 GR and going from there.

 

Yes. Load them like cast bullets. For the Berry's I have, they say not to exceed 1250 FPS.

 

How much 38spec do you need?

The powder supplier's website is where I source load data. Hogdon and Accurate have very good load data resource.

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com

http://www.accuratepowder.com/load-data/

 

Reloaded 50x 30-30 today and 50x 45acp the other day. Was going to shoot but when I drove down to the woods, it was 6" of slimy mud. Didn't even get out of the truck

 

Gonna reach out to the manufacturers and see if they can get me load data, otherwise 10 Gr appears to be a safe starting load.
Not to difficult to stay under 1250 FPS.

I actually don't need any, I don't have a 38, my mom has a Jframe that I'm thinking about loading a few rounds to shoot through it, and my dad has a 686+ that I may shoot a little.

I am just going to load a little .38/357 to learn the equipment before I invest in 9mm and .40 dies.
Everybody who I have talked to locally has said the 38/357 is a great beginners cartridge.

Alliant has no load data for that particular powder (2400) with a 158 Gr bullet. I'll email them on Monday and see if they can say anything useful.

 

Hs6 has become my go to 38/357 and 45acp powder. Burns super clean, measures easy, and provides tight groups. I'll still load some h110 in 357 if I want to throw a fireball or want a full power load

 

I been using HP38 and Win231.

 

Going to the local outdoor warehouse to see if I can get some Alliant bullseye and see what other bullets they have. Also gotta pick up some primers while I'm there.

 

Don't get bullseye. It's sucks. Incredibly dirty

 

Look for be86, hp38, hs6, autocomp, 231

 

Ok, good to know.

 

After 50-100 rounds, my gp100 will be almost black shooting bullseye/red dot.

 

My go to fast powder has been HP38 for the last 20 years or so. I switched to it years ago when Unique was so dirty. I like a powder that fills half the case or more to make it a lot easier to spot a double fill. I still use Unique in it's cleaner form for larger cases like the 45 colt.

I mostly burn 2400, 110, and LilGun though.

 

Found one of my recipes for HP38 running a Berry's 158 I was using 5.6gr at 1.450 length. They were moving around 875 out of my S&W mod 19.

Found another one for a bit lighter bullet Serria 125 jhp gettin' kicked out the door with 5.2gr of HP38, I don't recall the velocity but they're angry in a J frame