38 special

[mike a]

Hi friends, Been a while. I want to shoot my Colt King Cobra at the club Silhoette match. Targets are at 40, 50, 75 and 100 yards. This pistol shoots wadcutters at 25 just great however beyond that they go to hell. Any info would help. Bullets can’t be jacketed. Thanx Mike

 

[GLShooter]

Load up some 158 RNL and a stout charge of 2400 and go for it. The WC bullets have the ballistics of a dinner plate. Work up your sight settings and tear it up.

 

[old codger]

Keith style semiWC should work.

 

[mike a]

Load up some 158 RNL and a stout charge of 2400 and go for it. The WC bullets have the ballistics of a dinner plate. Work up your sight settings and tear it up.

That’s a start. Thanx

 

[jk80]

I've shot 158 gr seconds over a stout charge of 231 out to 100 yards just fooling around and was surprised at the accuracy. Shot em through a scoped586 s&w revolver. That said, there's much better powder than 231 for what you want to do.

 

[DHD]

Are you concerned about recoil? Probably not with that large of a revolver but still got to ask. I have had better accuracy at 100 yards and further with Seirra 180 grain FPJ's. I cast very good bullets using very good molds and can equal the accuracy with my cast bullets compared to the FPJ's but can't beat them. IMHO, the only other factory bullet close is a Hornady 180 grain XTP.

I have only fired these in the 357 Magnum range (1100-1200 fps minimum) so can't really say how they will work lobbing them to 100 yards. At 1200ish fps they are very manageable in a large revolver and shoot into tiny groups. I use H110 and Starline 357 Magnum brass.

I will assume the picture is the revolver you are talking about. The red dot will definitely help!

 

[LAH]

A standard weight cast SWC, LFN, or RNFP at 900-1000 FPS should work just fine.

 

[JSH]

If you cast, 358311 has always been a good 35 caliber bullet for me. Proper size is most important, lube and alloy fall after that.
Unique or bullseye is the fuel I prefer.

FYI I have ran this bullet design in all things from 38SW to 35 Whelen.

 

[Fuj]

Most accurate load off the Ransom rest with my 6" Smiths was
with the 158 Kieth semi wad cutter. Powder of choice was 630
but sadly no longer made. 231 for everything else in a cast bullet.

 

[wright brothers]

Another vote for the swc. If you get the chance, try the lighter one also. 125gn ? It's been a while.
Those beat the jhp for penetration in our redneck testing.

I need to be careful around these cast topics.
Have a pile of scrap lead that whispers to me lol.

 

[Bill K]

The standard Keith 158 swc worked up with a load for your revolver will do just fine out further.

 

[K22]

While I have shot a ton of 38 specials, I have never shot one at those distances.

However, you may want to try the Oregon Trail Laser Cast bullets, 125 flat points. These bullets are extremely accurate in my revolvers and are somewhat resistant to leading. While 231 is my powder of choice, Unique might be better for your purposes to obtain a little more velocity especially if the revolver is rated for 38+P loadings.

 

[jds holler]

If plated are allowed, they would be one of my favs. Berry's 125 gr FP with 7 gr of Bullseye is my zero to 100 yd plinker. I shoot a 686 smith, and use same sight setting out to 100 yds. jd