I am using 158gr plated bullets w/9gr of bluedot in my 357 and was wondering if i can use the same bullets and powder for 38 special?

I think bluedot is too slow for the 38. W231 and the 38Spec are meant to be together, and that is what I would recommend.

assuming you are using a standard .38 special chambered revolver to fire the cartridge, I have an old rule.....if the manufacturer of the powder does not show loads using that powder in a particular case then one should shy away from it.

If one is firing the .38 specials in a .357 chambered revolver he might have a different story.....but then one runs the risk that the ammo might someday be used in a different gun.....

It's just good reloading practice to stay with published data and Alliant does not show .38 Special loads using blue dot.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
assuming you are using a standard .38 special chambered revolver to fire the cartridge, I have an old rule.....if the manufacturer of the powder does not show loads using that powder in a particular case then one should shy away from it.

If one is firing the .38 specials in a .357 chambered revolver he might have a different story.....but then one runs the risk that the ammo might someday be used in a different gun.....

It's just good reloading practice to stay with published data and Alliant does not show .38 Special loads using blue dot.

I think Vapo is giving you the straight goods on this one.

Sure, there MAY be some good loads out there for ANY cartridge and any powder, which aren't listed in one or another of the loading manuals.

But, how good are they? And whose judgement as to what "good" is determined by , are you going to trust? Some guy whose qualifications you don't know from Adam, or a powder, bullet, or reloading equipment maker which is in business for the sole purpose of making money by providing you with sound products, and responsible advice on how to safely and best use them?

There surely is enough carefully and professionally derived published data on enough different powders and other components out there to meet anyone's needs without using powders for things they weren't intended for, just to save a buck here and there.

There's that old saying, Penny-wise and Pound-foolish", and it comes into play in just about every field of human endeavor, including reloading..

IIRC the makers of BlueDot warn NOT to use BlueDot for the 357 mag or the 41 mag !!!

Alliant lists a 38 Special +P load.

Some powders don't work well with reduced loads.

Ok, well I figured it didn't hurt to ask...lol. Seems I need to try some other powder. I bought 5lbs of blue dot at the gun show for 70 bucks so I could reload 44mag but my shell plate has been on back order for 3 months so I started my first ever reloads with 357 158gr copper plated hollow points w/9gr of blue dot and I'm impressed.Also I have read the warnings on the blue dot with 357mag and it only applies to 125gr bullets.Anyways...I am a virgin in here and need all the help I can get and I thank everyone who has lent their 2 cents.
So I have 158gr bullets to load in 38 special...the powder to use for it is W231? I have noticed the fps is real slow for the bullet weight.Also these bullets have no canular so I have had to taper crimp.

Sorry for the double reply but I did notice that my speers #14 lists a 146gr jhp-swc w/blue dot 6.7gr and 7.1 max.Could I use this cocktail with the 158gr bullet?And would it be safe in a ruger or s&w?

quote:

Originally posted by Sparky Phil:
Sorry for the double reply but I did notice that my speers #14 lists a 146gr jhp-swc w/blue dot 6.7gr and 7.1 max.Could I use this cocktail with the 158gr bullet?And would it be safe in a ruger or s&w?

Sparky, as you DO have a book load for Blue Dot,now you need to learn a bit about working up and down using "interpolation".

Look in your loading books for some powders which have loads listed for both 146 AND 158 grain bullets in the .38 Special. You want to get a feel for how much each of those powder's recommended loads needed to be reduced solely because of the difference in bullet weights.

Although I haven't checked any of my own books just for this post, I'd guess the average loads for the 158 grain bullets are .2 or .3 or even more 10ths of a grain lower than those for 146 gr. bullets of the SAME tyype (jacketed, or cast).


That should suggest that you'd need to probably reduce your Blue Dot loads at least that much....about 5% That by itself might suggest a beginning load of something like 6.2 or 6.3 grains of Blue Dot.

Then, you need to use handloader "General Rule #1" in the unwritten bible of handloading. "Never start with a new component (or components) without reducing a known safe load by 5%, and then working your way back up to whereever you feel is safe and adequate."

If your guesstimate by interpolation is that 6.3 grains will be safe for the new component (the 158 grain bullet),then reducing that by 5%will bring you down to between 5.9 and 6.0 grains of Blue Dot.


Now, mind you I am NOT saying that will be either a safe load, or a good one even if it is safe. And you are strictly on your own if you elect to try that approach. As you are a new handloader, I will not recommend that charge or any other to you.

I can only tell you that is the KIND of approach I would use if I was going to employ Blue Dot in a cartridge where I had a little data available, but not the exact data I want and need.

Personally, for a new handloader I would really recommend going to your loading books and finding one of the powders they have lots of data for, for both bullet weights, and then use that powder within the charge ranges they recommend.

(You should have more than one book, as their loads vary and you may want to average them for better safety.)

Thats a good idea.I guess its not good to experiment right out of the door.I will pick a powder in my books till i get the basics down. I have loaded 300 so far in 357mag and dont know why I never did this a long time ago.

Lyman's has some data that may help:

158g Hornady JHP
6.7g Blue Dot max
711 fps at 15,700 CUP

158g LSW
6.6g Blue Dot max
855 fps at 15,700 CUP

quote:

Originally posted by Scout Master 54:
Lyman's has some data that may help:

158g Hornady JHP
6.7g Blue Dot max
711 fps at 15,700 CUP

158g LSW
6.6g Blue Dot max
855 fps at 15,700 CUP

Just out of curiosity, what does Lyman list as
Minimum (starting) loads with those bullets and that powder?

158g JHP
6.0g Blue Dot start
607 fps

158g LSW
5.9g Blue Dot Start
765 fps

Thank You.