All for 231: and 231 for all

I never claim to be a reloader in a technical form as there are many people who almost or even do make a science of reloading metallic cartridges. The other end of the spectrum is the guy who blows the top strap off his revolver or splits the action of an original 1876 Winchester open with one of his top quality made-in-the-basement reloads.

I like to think I stand somewhere in between. It is serious and I take it as so, but I actually load to provide more ammunition, so I can simply practice and shoot more. With the current cost of components there is some ammunition you can buy almost as cheap (or in some cases cheaper) than reloading, but for the most part by loading I get what I want. Since I am not a full-time loader, I load cartridges I can't readily buy or loads serving a purpose for my personal needs. To make it even more simplistic, I reload all of my handgun rounds with only one type of powder. I never get confused by the type of powder to use, so the worst thing--which is a very bad thing--I can do is put too much or too little powder in the case. This is solved for me by having a press for each of the calibers I load hence no changing shell heads or powder measure settings.

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I understand other powders could provide better ballistics, but since I'm not trying to launch the space shuttle, my choice of loads does what I need. The powder I use is WW231, and I have found it burns pretty cleanly. In all of my loads there is very little if any powder residue or unburned powder flakes left after firing. I have listed below the loads I use and in what handgun and would state up front the figures, as far as feet per second, are nominal and could change based on barrel length and bullet weight. I would also state these powder charge measurements are not nominal, they are correct and they have worked well for me in quality firearms in good condition. However, I strongly recommend you check these powder measurements and loads with current manuals you have to make sure they are safe for you and safe to use in your firearms.

.38 Special

The Smith & Wesson Model 327 with 5" barrel is one of my favorite handguns to shoot a lot with. I can put lots of rounds down range with minimal amount of abuse to the handgun, or myself, but yet the load solidly puts steel plates down and out. Using a bullet dropped from a Montana Bullet Works RCBS 82065 mold, I get a 158-grain SWC with a gas check traveling at a nominal 900 fps.

.41 Magnum

I personally really like the .41 Magnum, especially in a Smith & Wesson Model 57 with a 4" barrel, although there seems to be only a cult-like following for the cartridge nationwide. In its time, it was probably (and still may be) the ultimate law enforcement revolver cartridge and caliber. I use a Montana Bullet Works bullet from Lyman mold No. 410610 producing a 215-grain SWC bullet with a gas check also at 900 fps or a little more.

.44 Special

I put some effort into having the Smith & Wesson Model 21 .44 Special resurrected and, in this fixed sight Thunder Ranch Special, the load I use works well. I use the Montana Bullet Works Lyman mold No. 429244 producing a 255-grain gas check projectile. Both the .44 Special and Magnum loads could be hotter, but, again, I am not trying to beat the crap out my hands or guns. It is stout enough I find most things I've shot with this load sort of stop where they are.

Do not shoot this load in older .44s like Colt Single Action Army type revolvers.

.44 Magnum

No question the Smith & Wesson Model 29-2 4" revolver is one of my all time favorite revolvers. Hence, I load a lot of cartridges for this caliber. Using the Montana Bullet Works Lyman 255 SWC number 429244 with gas checks I have had good success even hunting deer-size animals with this load. The load also drops paper bad guys and steel plates with equal abandon.

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.500 Magnum

Using the Oregon Trail Silver Bullet Laser Cast bullet for this load gives me a good, solid working load I can shoot from my 4" Smith & Wesson 500 without undo strain on me.

As you can see, the velocity levels are a nominal 800 to 900 fps for all of the loads I make. This is good enough for practice and yet isn't hard on the guns firing these loads. I prefer cast gas check bullets as this significantly reduces leading in the barrel and cylinders even with a lot of use. So, by using one type of powder and cast projectiles, I can increase the number of practice rounds fired over the period of a year without the compromising I would have to do buying strictly factory loads. I do not declare these are defensive-type loads, yet the loads are clean firing and stout enough I wouldn't want to get hit by any of them. Being pretty simple myself this is a simple approach to solving or simplifying one segment of my daily life with guns.

HODGDON POWDER CO.

(WINCHESTER POWDER)

P.O. BOX 2932, SHAWNEE MISSION, KS 66201

(913) 362-9455, WWW.HODGDON.COM