Bullet/Load dot 38 super

New to bullseye. Using a Colt 1911 38 super at 25 yards. Changed out guide rod to 2 piece to allow trying different springs. Seems like 12# is best. Now looking for best loads. Currently trying Zero 125 grain Bullets  with 4.5-4.6 gr powder  using alliance powder and cci #500 primers.  Any different setups seem better.  Thanks in advance.

Hmmm;

I'm thinking that you meant you're using Zero 125 gr. bullets versus 25 gr.  You can go lower with the powder charges and still get very accurate loads.  I'll leave to to the folks here that are competing with .38 Supers to comment. My .38 Supers are personal defensive pistols.

At the other end of the scale you can try a 125gr SWC over 3.1gr of Bullseye. Very soft shooting and accurate. You will need to cut a couple coils off of a 10lb recoil spring.

Bill

messenger wrote:At the other end of the scale you can try a 125gr SWC over 3.1gr of Bullseye. Very soft shooting and accurate. You will need to cut a couple coils off of a 10lb recoil spring.

Bill

Wow, that is light!  Any particular bullet brand?

I have to assume the spring is the same as 45 10 lb spring?  Newb to the super

I run 115 XTPs in my super EIC pistol.

4.4 BE at the long line and as low as 3.8 BE at 25yds. 12lb recoil spring..hard to beat the XTPs in whatever weight you like

lablover wrote:

messenger wrote:At the other end of the scale you can try a 125gr SWC over 3.1gr of Bullseye. Very soft shooting and accurate. You will need to cut a couple coils off of a 10lb recoil spring.

Bill

Wow, that is light!  Any particular bullet brand?

I have to assume the spring is the same as 45 10 lb spring?  Newb to the super

Unfortunately Dardus Has closed up shop. I have been using them for a while. There are others out there. Yes, a couple coils off of a 45 spring. If you like the hot loads, Bob Marvel's load is 110gr XTP over 4.5gr Bullseye. I went with the 38 super for softer loads. If your shooting hot loads I would suggest just shooting the 45. It makes bigger holes which will score better. I've played around with the 38 Special, 38 Super, 32 SWL all to get the benefit of lighter recoil thinking it would improve my scores and all it did was put my 45 scores in the toilet. I'm back to shooting 45 in CF and I'm almost up to where I was. I'm hanging on to the 32 & 38 for when my shoulder will not tolerate the 45 for two 900's. 

Bill

I believe my .38 super has a #14 spring in it and really liked the 147gr lswc from Dardas or Magnus with 3.0grs of WST for both the long line and short.

Skid wrote:I believe my .38 super has a #14 spring in it and really liked the 147gr lswc from Dardas or Magnus with 3.0grs of WST for both the long line and short.

Are you running a 1X10 fast twist Barrel?

Bill

I've tried 5 different bullets with 4 different powders and 2 different barrels (1/10 & 1/16) on the 38 Super that I built this spring.  I've settled on HAP 125 over 5.0 of BE 86 (1/16 barrel).  I'd describe the recoil as "snappy" but not severe.  I'm 1 year removed from rotator cuff surgery for 2 completely severed tendons and a shredded bicep tendon and I find the recoil negligible.  I've used the gun in 5 matches and have had steady improvement and shot my personal best center-fire this Saturday (864) .

To answer your question Bill I don't know I can't find anything on my paper work from Clark they built it. I'll try to remember and call them tomorrow I'll get back with you.

Skid wrote:To answer your question Bill I don't know I can't find anything on my paper work from Clark they built it. I'll try to remember and call them tomorrow I'll get back with you.

I ask because you say it really liked the 147gr bullet. Fast twist works better with a heavier bullet. I bought a KKM 1X10 fast twist but could never get it to feed.

Bill

Bill I finally have an answer for you. For starters I miss spoke sorry it's a Dardas 126gr bullet with 3.8 BE.
Now the barrel is a 1X16 right hand twist . I do shoot a 147gr. dardas with 3.0 WST and it does print good groups but the 126gr bullet is the one that I've shot good scores with.
  With the 147gr bullet I seat it deep just before where the bullet profile tappers down towards the point but it does shoot well from my gun.
                                   Keith

Skid wrote:Bill I finally have an answer for you. For starters I miss spoke sorry it's a Dardas 126gr bullet with 3.8 BE.
Now the barrel is a 1X16 right hand twist . I do shoot a 147gr. dardas with 3.0 WST and it does print good groups but the 126gr bullet is the one that I've shot good scores with.
  With the 147gr bullet I seat it deep just before where the bullet profile tappers down towards the point but it does shoot well from my gun.
                                   Keith

Now we just need to find a replacement for the Dardus. As they don’t exists anymore

lablover wrote:

Skid wrote:Bill I finally have an answer for you. For starters I miss spoke sorry it's a Dardas 126gr bullet with 3.8 BE.
Now the barrel is a 1X16 right hand twist . I do shoot a 147gr. dardas with 3.0 WST and it does print good groups but the 126gr bullet is the one that I've shot good scores with.
  With the 147gr bullet I seat it deep just before where the bullet profile tappers down towards the point but it does shoot well from my gun.
                                   Keith

Now we just need to find a replacement for the Dardus. As they don’t exists anymore

the shape is a little different but if you're referring to the Dardas 126 SWC, Missouri Bullet Co. has a 125 SWC in plain lead and hi-tek coated. I've shot a few and they produced decent groups, but I haven't shot them against the Dardas bullet so I don't know how they compare.

https://missouribullet.com/results.php?pageNum_rsCWResults=2&category=5&secondary=8

I'm shooting mostly 125gr Zero for the long and short line but I have some good loads for Magnus 130gr L-SWC and 147gr bullets, Magnus FP or Hornady XTP. 

S148 wrote:

lablover wrote:

Skid wrote:Bill I finally have an answer for you. For starters I miss spoke sorry it's a Dardas 126gr bullet with 3.8 BE.
Now the barrel is a 1X16 right hand twist . I do shoot a 147gr. dardas with 3.0 WST and it does print good groups but the 126gr bullet is the one that I've shot good scores with.
  With the 147gr bullet I seat it deep just before where the bullet profile tappers down towards the point but it does shoot well from my gun.
                                   Keith

Now we just need to find a replacement for the Dardus. As they don’t exists anymore

the shape is a little different but if you're referring to the Dardas 126 SWC, Missouri Bullet Co. has a 125 SWC in plain lead and hi-tek coated. I've shot a few and they produced decent groups, but I haven't shot them against the Dardas bullet so I don't know how they compare.

https://missouribullet.com/results.php?pageNum_rsCWResults=2&category=5&secondary=8

Thanks for the link.  I assume the .356 9mm Bullets.  The goal is a low recoil 38 super load.

Can you expand on the load you used for the Missouri Bullets?

I’ve been using 4.0 be with the zero 125 gr jhp and have not been able to test at 50 yards yet.  Not huge recoil but has a tad bit of snap.

Len, might have to try your load but would think it would be more snappy than what I’m using now.  Long line would be fine but for timed and rapid not so much

In .38 super Brazos & Missouri both show .357 for 38 super lead bullets.
I'm running 150 gr Brazos bullets over 5.5 gr of accurate #7 with the stock spring from Kimber & a frame mounted dot.

In .38 super Brazos & Missouri both show .357 for 38 super lead bullets.
I'm running 150 gr Brazos bullets over 5.5 gr of accurate #7 with the stock spring from Kimber & a frame mounted dot.

With the demise of Dardas, I switched to the Penn 115 gr. SWCBB. I buy the bullets sized .356" and treat with Lee Liquid Alox without removing the lube that is already present. These are loaded with 3.00 gr. Bullseye, CCI 500 primer, Starline .38 Supercomp brass, OAL 1.195", and a taper crimp of .377-.378". My pistol has a Kart barrel, 8 lb. recoil spring, and a 19 lb. main spring. Very soft recoil.

For low recoil in the Super it would be hard to beat Magnus #509. A 130gr SWC that you have sized to .356. I've tried .355 and .357 but .356 with 3.8gr BE shot best group. Not a 50yd bullet but easily holds 10 w/mostly x at 25.

lablover wrote:

S148 wrote:

lablover wrote:

Skid wrote:Bill I finally have an answer for you. For starters I miss spoke sorry it's a Dardas 126gr bullet with 3.8 BE.
Now the barrel is a 1X16 right hand twist . I do shoot a 147gr. dardas with 3.0 WST and it does print good groups but the 126gr bullet is the one that I've shot good scores with.
  With the 147gr bullet I seat it deep just before where the bullet profile tappers down towards the point but it does shoot well from my gun.
                                   Keith

Now we just need to find a replacement for the Dardus. As they don’t exists anymore

the shape is a little different but if you're referring to the Dardas 126 SWC, Missouri Bullet Co. has a 125 SWC in plain lead and hi-tek coated. I've shot a few and they produced decent groups, but I haven't shot them against the Dardas bullet so I don't know how they compare.

https://missouribullet.com/results.php?pageNum_rsCWResults=2&category=5&secondary=8

Thanks for the link.  I assume the .356 9mm Bullets.  The goal is a low recoil 38 super load.

Can you expand on the load you used for the Missouri Bullets?

I’ve been using 4.0 be with the zero 125 gr jhp and have not been able to test at 50 yards yet.  Not huge recoil but has a tad bit of snap.

Len, might have to try your load but would think it would be more snappy than what I’m using now.  Long line would be fine but for timed and rapid not so much

Yes, it's the 9mm 125 grain .356 SWC bullets.

I was hoping you wouldn't ask about my data, but I actually found a little! 

I loaded the Dardas 126 (OAL = 1.260) and Missouri 125 (OAL = 1.225) in the 38 Super over 3.7 grains of Bullseye in Starline 38 Super Comp cases with CCI 500 primers. Ammo fired in a 5" Kart barrel. Gun was in a Ransom Rest.

I only have data for a single 10-shot string for these guys, and my intent was to do more testing later - but haven't got around to it (2.5 years ago!).

The Dardas bullet made 1041 fps and produced a 10-shot 1.89" group at 25 yards.  The Missouri bullet made 1019 fps and produced a 10-shot 1.39" group at 25 yards.

Hope this helps a little.