HP-38 might be my new favorite pistol powder

[rockchalk06]

I've been running a 230 grain lead RN over 5.0 grains of HP-38 for awhile now. Gives me 650ish out of my FNP-45 Tactical. Quiet, sorta clean and I never loose my dot when firing.

Did up some 9mm last night. Book called for 5.1 grains under a 115 FMJ to get around 1160 from a 4" barrel. I just kept my measure settings the same and ran 5.0. Hoping this would run my comped 509T.

I'm impressed! Got 1260 out of the 4.5" 509T. 4.7" M17 averaged 1210, 3" Hellcat about 1120 and P365 the same. No pressure signs, brass ejected well and fairly clean too.

Not sure why the drop in FPS from 4.5 to 4.7 though. Each charge was trickled. My chrono isn't syncing with my Note 20, so I didn't see any SD's to compare. No worries.

Good range day. 25 yard zero on Pew Pew Poo too.

 

[dlbleak]

I use HP38 in about all of my pistol loads. It’s clean, meters nice and consistent. I settled on 4.6 for just about everything. Keeps it simple.

 

[Hangfire]

I've used Winchester 231 (same powder and minimums & maximums as HP-38 according to Hodgdon) https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol for 38 Special, 357 Mag and 45 ACP ever since I started reloading back in the late 80's......there's a rumor going around that I may have a pound or two on hand.

 

[zipty6]

I'm a big fan. I use it for all of my non-magnum loads.

 

[magna19]

I'm a big fan. I use it for all of my non-magnum loads.

Same here

 

[crapsguy]

this shortage has caused a bunch of us to try new things
I recently bought some Win 244 to replace CFE pistol that was not available anywhere -- love it! and won't go back to CFE

 

[458 SOCOM]

There are many handloaders who use Win 231/HP38 for cartridges in the magnum range so that other people whom dont shoot as oftem=n or is non-proficient with hand guns can learn to shoot and build confidence. My wife wouldn't shoot my .41 magnum unless I loaded some Win231 rounds for her.