Apivorus Posted January 4, 2022 Report Share Posted January 4, 2022 I can't get Vihtavuori N320 anywhere local to me currently. What other powders are reloaders using for .38 Special? I'm loading for my Marlin 1894C .38 Special / .357 Magnum 18.5" barrel, for targets at 25 and 50 yards, using 158 grain home-cast (Lee 358-158-RF mould) lead (50/50 range scrap/pure lead) bullet and CCI primers? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Windswept Posted January 4, 2022 Report Share Posted January 4, 2022 What have you got and what can you get? I use Viht N320 but prefer Hodgdon HP38. Ramshot Zip is a cheaper option and there's a fair bit of 38/357 data for some of the shotgun powders out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apivorus Posted January 4, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2022 22 minutes ago, Windswept said: What have you got and what can you get? I use Viht N320 but prefer Hodgdon HP38. Ramshot Zip is a cheaper option and there's a fair bit of 38/357 data for some of the shotgun powders out there. I can get N310, but emailed Vihtavuori and they won't give be any load data for that for .38 Special. Might try Hodgdon HP38. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Windswept Posted January 4, 2022 Report Share Posted January 4, 2022 Load data for HP-38 can be found here: https://shop.hodgdon.com/hodgdon/hodgdon-hp-38 I know quite a few people who use N310 but I went down the N320 route as there was some data available. I wonder why Viht don't publish data for .38? I also note the NRA seem to want people to use published data to shoot on their ranges: https://nra.org.uk/safety-notice-hand-loaded-ammunition/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apivorus Posted January 4, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2022 Thanks. Yes, I'm keen to use a powder for which the manufacturer has published load data for, having recently seen the NRA UK article you mention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Touchstone Posted January 4, 2022 Report Share Posted January 4, 2022 3 hours ago, Apivorus said: I can get N310, but emailed Vihtavuori and they won't give be any load data for that for .38 Special. Might try Hodgdon HP38. Data for 310 is on their App/on-line. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apivorus Posted January 4, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2022 2 minutes ago, Touchstone said: Data for 310 is on their App/on-line. Tim Are you sure? I have the app. and I can't find a N310 recipe using my bullet. I emailed them and they responded as follows: "For safety and product liability reason we are unfortunately not able to comment on data differing from our published reloading data. Each and every line of data we publish has carefully been tested in our ballistic test center and proven to be safe. Very sorry for not being able to give any recommendations concerning reloading data." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Windswept Posted January 4, 2022 Report Share Posted January 4, 2022 44 minutes ago, Touchstone said: Data for 310 is on their App/on-line. Tim For lead bullets? I checked the online data today and I can't find any N310 data for plain lead bullets, only data for jacketed or plated. As far as I can tell all the lead data is in their cowboy action section: 38 Special: https://www.vihtavuori.com/reloading-data/cowboy-action-reloading/?cartridge=40 357 Mag: https://www.vihtavuori.com/reloading-data/cowboy-action-reloading/?cartridge=35 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperfection Posted January 4, 2022 Report Share Posted January 4, 2022 I load 38 and use 3grns Bullseye mostly as its dead cheap at that ratio. If i load them upto 357 i use 8grns Ramshot true blue. These are for an Alpha 38/357 long barrel revolver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Touchstone Posted January 4, 2022 Report Share Posted January 4, 2022 1 hour ago, Apivorus said: Are you sure? I have the app. and I can't find a N310 recipe using my bullet. I emailed them and they responded as follows: "For safety and product liability reason we are unfortunately not able to comment on data differing from our published reloading data. Each and every line of data we publish has carefully been tested in our ballistic test center and proven to be safe. Very sorry for not being able to give any recommendations concerning reloading data." Just use any 158 grn load with your preferred powder as a reference and work up. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newbie to this Posted January 4, 2022 Report Share Posted January 4, 2022 1 hour ago, Imperfection said: I load 38 and use 3grns Bullseye mostly as its dead cheap at that ratio. This is what I use as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old man Posted January 4, 2022 Report Share Posted January 4, 2022 6 hours ago, Apivorus said: I can't get Vihtavuori N320 anywhere local to me currently. What other powders are reloaders using for .38 Special? I'm loading for my Marlin 1894C .38 Special / .357 Magnum 18.5" barrel, for targets at 25 and 50 yards, using 158 grain home-cast (Lee 358-158-RF mould) lead (50/50 range scrap/pure lead) bullet and CCI primers? Thanks. Have you tried Midcounties Blacking Ltd in Lichfield? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamwansbeck Posted January 4, 2022 Report Share Posted January 4, 2022 158g wadcutters and Bullseye back in the day of UK pistol shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apivorus Posted January 5, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2022 13 hours ago, old man said: Have you tried Midcounties Blacking Ltd in Lichfield? Went there yesterday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
set4d Posted January 5, 2022 Report Share Posted January 5, 2022 I can highly recommend Reload Swiss RS12. I use that for my .38spl 158gn RNFP lead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted January 18, 2022 Report Share Posted January 18, 2022 N310 is a bit fast burning for carbine length barrels. My favourite is Unique, 4.8 -5.3 grns. Its a bit sooty but wonderfully accurate and very forgiving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cervusman Posted January 28, 2022 Report Share Posted January 28, 2022 I used 3.3gr of Bullseye for my 38spl load with that bullet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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