38 special/357 loading ???

[Blucollar]

May be basic but I need some advice, I've loaded some rifle shells but never any handgun ammo.
I have a 357mag, wanting to load some 38 specials for plinking.
Any big difference in loading for handguns?
What would be the cheapest practice rounds to load?
Also anything else you want to add will be appreciated.
Thanks, blu

[RugerNo3]

For cheap practice, I use 3gr Bullseye powder with any 150-160 gr lead semi wadcutter. Small pistol primers. These are safe in any tight 38Spec or 357 revolver in the proper cases. Velocity near 700fps.

[Kurt L]

also when you bell the case mouth open don't get to much as this will over work and you will get case mouth splits faster,
just adjust to get the bullet started in with out pealing lead.

[Questor]

There is a significant difference between loading 38 special and loading rifle bottleneck cartridges. It's a lot easier and faster to load 38s.  You don't need to lube the cases because the straight walled handgun cases are resized using a carbide die, so you eliminate a lot of the fuss. It's also a lot cheaper to load 38s on a per-round basis if you use cast bullets. Even at today's prices a box of 50 costs no more than about $5. Another thing is that you can pick up range brass from different manufacturers and expect loads based on this mixed brass to shoot uniformly and well. You don't need to worry about case head separation and you can reload the 38s until the case mouths split (which can take quite a few reloadings.)

I like 148 grain wadcutters with Winchester 231 powder for about 800fps. This makes a good target load. For longer range shooting, past 50 yards,  I like the 158 grain cast SWCs with enough powder for about 900fps.

I really like 38 special and have found that it's my go-to fun cartridge for revolver shooting when I'm in the mood for something bigger than the .22

[aflineman]

I use Unique, but may switch over to Win 231 or Bullseye. I'm looking for something cleaner that I can still use for lead loads in my .40S&W.

[coyotejoe]

One trick I'd suggest is to go to your local hardware store and pick up a 7/8" flat steel washer. They mike about .135" thickness, which is exactly the difference between .38 and .357 case lengths. You can adjust your dies for the .38 special and when loading .357s just slip the washer under the expander and seater dies and you're all set without have to readjust the dies. Of course that only works on a single stage press.

[Tom W.]

Do save yourself some time and trouble by buying carbide dies, as was mentioned earlier....

[Catfish]

I keep 2 powders on hand for loading handgun ammo. Bullseye for plinking loads and Win.-296 for hunting loads. As no3 said, 3 gn. of Bullseye and a 158 gn. semi wad cutter. You can go down to 2 gn. but I prefer at least 2.5 gn. as min.load. Win-296 in the same powder as H-110 but I can buy the 296 cheaper.

[Reed1911]

I use Unique, but may switch over to Win 231 or Bullseye. I'm looking for something cleaner that I can still use for lead loads in my .40S&W.

Neither 231 nor Bullseye will be cleaner than Uniq. provided you are loading it to good pressure. 231 no matter how it is loaded is dirty, and BE is about a 60/40 chance but can produce claen loads.