Thread: Clean powder

Been awhile since the last discussion. Loading .38 spcl what is the cleanest powder for target loads?

Titegroup

Cowboy Action folks use Titegroup a lot. I'm using 3 gns of titegroup and getting 600 FPS with 125 gn bullet. Careful cause you can easily double charge since a 38 case can physically hold upwards of 14 gns.

I was using 2.9 of Clays over 158grn lswc, I don't know the velocity but it hardly moved in my hand and was accurate.

Perhaps not as clean as titegroup but I'm having very good success with W231 in .38 special and especially .357 magnum

VihtaVuori N320 is extremely clean and low flash but it can be hard to find in stock either local or online. Titegroup is clean, inexpensive, and readily available online and locally.

ETA: Just looked and Powder Valley has VV N320 in stock in 1 and 4 lb cans. It's more expensive than Titegroup but I calculated it's only about $5 per 1k difference in my 9mm loads. If you're gonna order online anyway it's worth it to me. If you're gonna buy local I'd just pick up Titegroup by the pound at Bi-Mart.

Not Blue Dot if you're making light loads for a 3.5" barrel.