Load data .38 Special

[NavahoJoe]

Hi Folks,
I recently purchased a Lee Mold, 140 grn. SWC .358 dia. for my Smith .38 Special. My new mold casts great, buttttt,
I can not find any load data for the 140 grn boolit in lead. I have searched my lyman books, Hogdgon Books, old reloading pamplets, the Internet, ect, to no avail. I did find a 146 grn. Jacket bullet in Lee's Second Edition, "Modern Reloading". So, where do I go from here? I emailed Hogdgon about a week ago and have not had a response as of today. Any help would be appreciated.
regards,.
NavahoJoe

[kg42]

Which model is it for exactly ?

http://www.alliantpowder.com/ has data for a 140LRF in their PDF Guide, Cowboy section.
Don't forget to compare how much the bullets take on powder space, this influences pressure.

Your 146 gr JHP data should be safe, as jackets usually raise pressure.

If your bullet is the conical one with two lube grooves, it takes as much space as the 158RF and that's what I would look at, including 158+P data. Hodgdon now has their lead bullets in the Cowboy section too.

Hodgdon 158LRN+P data was, in their 1995 free basic manual:
H4227: 12.5gr
HS7: 8.5gr
HS6: 7.3gr
Universal: 4.8gr
Thats pretty close to the standard 140JHP data.

kg

[NavahoJoe]

Lee Bullet Mold
Dia. .358
Weight 140 grn.
358-140-SWC

Thanks, checked out the Alliant Powder, have Bullseye and Unique both in hand. Would like a load with titegroup and Trail Boss also, but haven't been able to find it.
Again, Thanks for the rep;y. Now I have something to start on.
regards,
NavahoJoe

[testhop]

JOE
i would start with 2.8 bulleye or 4.0 unique
the old stand by load for bulleye shooters has long been 2.7 bulleye

[kg42]

You're welcome

Would like a load with titegroup and Trail Boss also, but haven't been able to find it.

http://www.hodgdon.com/ has IMR too. Their search function is quite clumsy but should (eventually) work.

[runfiverun]

4.0 gr titegroup should go well with this bullet 4.0 is about max with a 158 grain cast from ww this is also really accurate in my 4 and 6 in wessons

[405]

The Hodgdon/IMR site and manual lists Trailboss loads for cast 125 and 158 gr 38 Spl. I shoot Trialboss under a .358" dia plain base 133 gr. SWC in 38 Spl in S&W revolvers. Accuracy is excellent and pretty clean burning. I'd start at about 2.9 - 3.0 grs Trailboss under your 140 cast.

[wiljen]

Hodgdon lists 777 loads in 38 special cowboy loads - 15gr by volume (roughly 10.2gr by weight) behind a 158gr yeilds about 785 according to them. And this time of year, wally mart puts the 777 powder on closeout cheap too - bought 4 lbs the other day at $8 a lbs.