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The Ultimate Reloading Manual
Wolfe Publishing Group
  • reloading manual
  • alliant reloading data
  • reloading brass
  • shotshell reloading
  • bullet reloading
Load Data
Load Data Load Data
The Ultimate Reloading Manual

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.38 S&W / .38 Smith & Wesson High Power Loads
.38 S&W / .38 Smith & Wesson High Power Loads
Warning! The loads in this table are not, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, suitable for older American "top-break" revolvers chambered for the .38 Smith & Wesson cartridge. British top-break Webleys and Enfields are safe; cartridge designations may be .38-200, .380 Rim, or .380 Mk 1. The Smith & Wesson "Victory" model, a Military & Police variant, is safe. Solid-frame U.S. guns suitable are Smith & Wesson Regulation Police and Terrier models, Colt Police Positive, Detective Special, and Bankers Special models. Caliber designation of these guns is generally .38 Smith & Wesson, but may be .38 S&W Super Police or .38 Colt New Police. Notes: Velocities shown are instrumental taken at ten feet from the muzzle. Test gun was Ruger Service-Six revolver with four-inch barrel, chambered for the .380 Rim cartridge. Cases used were new Remington-Peters and old Peters. Peters cases had greater powder capacity. Alcan Small Pistol primers used for all loads. Oehler Model 31 Chronotach and Model 51 electronic screens used to measure bullet velocities. (Handloader Issue 79)
Be Alert: Publisher cannot be responsible for errors in published load data.
Wt. Bullet Powder Manufacturer Powder Charge Velocity (FPS)
110 Hornady JHP (jacketed) IMR 700-X Subscribe 935
Remarks: case: P; OAL: 1.04; case expansion: normal; accurate high-velocity load
110 Hornady JHP (jacketed) Alliant Herco Subscribe 1,014
Remarks: case: P; OAL: 1.04; case expansion: maximum; highest velocity load within pressure limitations
110 Hornady JHP (jacketed) Alliant Bullseye Subscribe 893
Remarks: case: P; OAL: 1.04; case expansion: normal
110 Hornady JHP (jacketed) Winchester W-231 Subscribe 738
Remarks: case: P; OAL: 1.04; case expansion: normal; accurate
125 Sierra JHP (jacketed) Alliant Herco Subscribe 968
Remarks: case: P; OAL: 1.05; case expansion: maximum; high-velocity load
125 Sierra JHP (jacketed) Alliant Bullseye Subscribe 838
Remarks: case: P; OAL: 1.06; case expansion: maximum; accurate but erratic pressure indications; do NOT exceed
125 Sierra JHP (jacketed) IMR 700-X Subscribe 832
Remarks: case: P; OAL: 1.06; case expansion: maximum; most accurate load tested but should NOT be exceeded
125 Sierra JHP (jacketed) Alliant Herco Subscribe 872
Remarks: case: P; OAL: 1.07; case expansion: near max.; accurate load
140 Speer JHP (jacketed) Alliant Herco Subscribe 896
Remarks: case: R-P; OAL: 1.06; case expansion: near max.; may be best all-around load
140 Speer JHP (jacketed) Alliant Unique Subscribe 834
Remarks: case: R-P; OAL: 1.06; case expansion: maximum; marginal accuracy
140 Speer JHP (jacketed) Alliant Herco Subscribe 862
Remarks: case: P; OAL: 1.06; case expansion: maximum; lower velocity due to larger case capacity
148 Lyman 358495 (lead) Alliant Bullseye Subscribe 677
Remarks: case: R-P; OAL: 1.00; case expansion: normal; accurate load
148 Lyman 358495 (lead) Alliant Bullseye Subscribe 748
Remarks: case: P; OAL: 1.00; case expansion: near max.; fine target load; tied for third place
148 Lyman 358495 (lead) IMR 700-X Subscribe 709
Remarks: case: R-P; OAL: 1.00; case expansion: normal
148 Lyman 358495 (lead) Winchester W-231 Subscribe 700
Remarks: case: R-P; OAL: 1.00; case expansion: normal
158 Hornady JSP (jacketed) Alliant Herco Subscribe 703
Remarks: case: P; OAL: 1.10; case expansion: normal
158 Hornady swaged SWC (lead) Alliant Bullseye Subscribe 744
Remarks: case: P; OAL: 1.18; case expansion: normal; second most accurate load tested
158 Hornady swaged SWC (lead) IMR 700-X Subscribe 802
Remarks: case: R-P; OAL: 1.18; case expansion: normal; higher velocity due to smaller case capacity; good all-around load
158 Hornady swaged SWC (lead) Norma R-1 Subscribe 710
Remarks: case: R-P; OAL: 1.18; case expansion: moderate; accurate load
158 Hornady swaged SWC (lead) Winchester W-231 Subscribe 689
Remarks: case: R-P; OAL: 1.18; case expansion: moderate; accurate load
158 Hornady swaged SWC (lead) IMR PB Subscribe 762
Remarks: case: R-P; OAL: 1.18; case expansion: normal
158 Hornady swaged SWC (lead) Alliant Green Dot Subscribe 741
Remarks: case: P; OAL: 1.18; case expansion: normal
158 Hornady JSP (jacketed) Winchester W-231 Subscribe 741
Remarks: case: P; OAL: 1.10; case expansion: near max.; good load
158 Hornady JSP (jacketed) Alliant Unique Subscribe 712
Remarks: case: P; OAL: 1.10; case expansion: normal; fourth most accurate load
158 Hornady swaged SWC (lead) Hodgdon HP-38 Subscribe 689
Remarks: case: R-P; OAL: 1.18; case expansion: moderate
158 Hornady swaged SWC (lead) Alliant Red Dot Subscribe 776
Remarks: case: R-P; OAL: 1.18; case expansion: normal; not sufficiently accurate
158 Hornady swaged SWC (lead) Alliant Unique Subscribe 779
Remarks: case: P; OAL: 1.18; case expansion: near max.; not sufficiently accurate
158 Hornady swaged SWC (lead) Alliant Unique Subscribe 824
Remarks: case: R-P; OAL: 1.19; case expansion: maximum; not sufficiently accurate
158 Hornady swaged SWC (lead) Alliant Herco Subscribe 714
Remarks: case: P; OAL: 1.18; case expansion: normal
158 Hornady swaged SWC (lead) Alliant Herco Subscribe 786
Remarks: case: R-P; OAL: 1.19; case expansion: near max.
158 Hornady swaged SWC (lead) Alliant Blue Dot Subscribe 710
Remarks: case: R-P; OAL: 1.19; case expansion: normal
158 Hornady swaged RN (lead) Alliant Bullseye Subscribe 717
Remarks: case: P; OAL: 1.20; case expansion: moderate; not sufficiently accurate
158 Hornady swaged RN (lead) Alliant Bullseye Subscribe 734
Remarks: case: P; OAL: 1.21; case expansion: normal
158 Hornady swaged RN (lead) Alliant Red Dot Subscribe 715
Remarks: case: P; OAL: 1.20; case expansion: normal
158 Hornady swaged RN (lead) Alliant Unique Subscribe 794
Remarks: case: P; OAL: 1.20; case expansion: near max.
158 Hornady swaged RN (lead) Alliant Herco Subscribe 767
Remarks: case: P; OAL: 1.21; case expansion: near max.
163 Hensley 47358 (lead) IMR 700-X Subscribe 788
Remarks: case: R-P; OAL: 1.07; case expansion: near max. not sufficiently accurate
163 Hensley 47358 (lead) Alliant Bullseye Subscribe 775
Remarks: case: R-P; OAL: 1.07; case expansion: normal; accurate load
200 Markell cast (lead) Alliant Bullseye Subscribe 610
Remarks: case: R-P; OAL: 1.19; case expansion: moderate; duplicates British service load
200 Markell cast (lead) IMR 700-X Subscribe 702
Remarks: case: R-P; OAL: 1.19; case expansion: maximum; good load
200 Markell cast (lead) Alliant Herco Subscribe 784
Remarks: case: R-P; OAL: 1.19; case expansion: maximum; tied for third place accuracy; do NOT exceed
200 Lyman 358315 (lead) Alliant Herco Subscribe 711
Remarks: case: R-P; OAL: 1.37; case expansion: normal; excellent accuracy
200 Markell cast (lead) Alliant Bullseye Subscribe 700
Remarks: case: R-P; OAL: 1.19; case expansion: maximum; marginal accuracy only
200 Markell cast (lead) Alliant Unique Subscribe 788
Remarks: case: R-P; OAL: 1.19; case expansion: maximum; sticky extraction; poor accuracy
200 Markell cast (lead) Alliant Blue Dot Subscribe 845
Remarks: case: R-P; OAL: 1.19; case expansion: near max.; insufficient accuracy
200 Markell cast (lead) Alliant Blue Dot Subscribe 885
Remarks: case: R-P; OAL: 1.19; case expansion: maximum; more accurate than 5.2-grain load
200 Lyman 358315 (lead) Alliant Green Dot Subscribe 687
Remarks: case: R-P; OAL: 1.37; case expansion: normal
200 Lyman 358315 (lead) Alliant Unique Subscribe 718
Remarks: case: R-P; OAL: 1.37; case expansion: normal; insufficient accuracy