Trina

Hi all from Australia, this is my first time on this great forum. I will be getting my new Kimber soon and plan on re-loading. I've only had experience re-loading for my .357magnum revolver. I use Australian made ADI powders. ( 150 grain lead SWC with 3.5 grains AP-50N medium/fast burning for the .357)
What is a good target load to start on for the .38super? Going by my book I need a slower burning powder? I will probably use lead (coated) SWC's, my book recommends bullet weights from 120 grains to 150.
Being impatient, I'd like to have some loaded ready for when I get it!

Cheers
Trina

Reed

I'm not sure how this will format but the following table is a synopsis of a data table with velocites, etc. It shows group size related to bullet type and powder type. These rounds were at about 10 yards or so through a Series 70 Colt with the factory fixed/low sights. My vision is horrible so I ask mercy about my group sizes. When I read the gun mags talking about 2" at 50 yards, etc., and then look at my accuracy I wonder if there's something wrong with me...suffice it to say that THESE numbers are real, and through a completely stock 1911. Anyway:

Regarding formatting, it doesn't look good right now so I'll say that the 1st column on the right is the powder type, the numbers across the top are the bullet diameter. I've now removed the description from the table but the bullet types respectively are: 115g Rainier RN, 115g Speer JHP, 125g Sierra JHP, 130g WW RN, & 150g Sierra FPJ, followed by the "powder ave.".

Group Sizes: 0.355 0.355 0.355 0.356 0.356 Powder Ave.

AA-2 2.451 1.432 1.417 1.756 1.779 1.767
AA-5 4.656 1.412 1.181 1.443 0.901 1.919
AA-7 2.967 1.302 1.357 1.592 1.239 1.691
AA-9 1.346 1.616 1.219 1.370 2.589 1.628
A-Unique 2.531 1.912 1.390 0.978 1.441 1.650
A-Blue Dot 1.568 1.297 1.243 1.648 1.474 1.446
A-Green Dot 2.318 1.300 1.962 1.168 0.938 1.537
H-Universal 2.312 1.467 1.902 2.843 2.539 2.213
HS-6 2.164 1.650 1.580 1.434 1.984 1.762

Ave by bullet: 2.479 1.488 1.472 1.581 1.654
The best loads by bullet were:

115g Rainier RN: 12.2g AA9, 1348 ± 12 fps, group = 1.346
115g Speer JHP: 9.5g Blue Dot, 1281 ± 27 fps, group = 1.297
125g Sierra JHP: 7.5g AA5, 1175 ± 16 fps, group = 1.181
130g WW RN: 5.8g Unique, 1143 ± 31 fps, group = 0.978
150g Sierra FPJ: 6.2g AA5, 940 ± 15 fps, group = 0.901

These all seemed to reliably funtion in the Colt but this was only 8 rounds of each to develop starting load information.

Hopefully this made sense.

Reed

Trina

Thanks for the detailed information Reed. Being new to re-loading I'm not familiar with some brand names you mention. We also can't use any jacketed bullets over here. I will use your table for future reference.
Trina

acp45230

trina, any load data book will give you some good loads just stay with in there limits you said no jacketed rounds ? then i would use rainier or
west coast they are plated (www.west coast bullets .com) 124grain rn.
are great have pushed them up to 1350 fps. with no problem good luck !

acp45230

trina, any load data book will give you some good loads just stay with in there limits you said no jacketed rounds ? then i would use rainier or
west coast they are plated (www.west coast bullets .com) 124grain rn.
are great have pushed them up to 1350 fps. with no problem good luck !

acp45230

trina, any load data book will give you some good loads just stay with in there limits you said no jacketed rounds ? then i would use rainier or
west coast they are plated (www.west coast bullets .com) 124grain rn.
are great have pushed them up to 1350 fps. with no problem good luck !

jgross

I shoot 38 super in both a built up 38 springfield with a .355 barsto barrell as well as a competition EAA ltd. I find that using 4 grains of Titegroup behind any bullett weight from 147 to 158 grain is consistently great. I also use WSR primers. At these velocities- roughly 1000 FPS, the soft plated ranier bullets are my favorite- they cause little barrell wear, and mold well to the rifling- The Barsto barrell is .355 so I use their .356 151 gr. RN, the EAA barrell is huge .357+ so I use the Raniers .357 158 gr RN.
Higher velocity loads can use harder bullets and still displace into the rifling but at these low velocity a soft bullets is a must to maximize accuracy. Bear in mind the lighter 9mm bullets are inherently inaccurate due to their shortness in relationship to their diameter but at higher speeds a good barrel will stabilize them. No so much at low velocity where you need a good long bullett profile in the 147-160 grain range.