scarlino said:

Does anyone know of a good load for this gun?  I am looking to do some reloading, just standard pressure 38 spl is there an optimal load for the 1 7/8" barrel?  I have a Lymans reloading manual, but I havn't read too much on the 38 spl yet.  Can you use once fired +P brass for standard pressure reloads?

I may have answered this somewhere else but in case I didn't . . .

3.5 grains of Bullseye behind a 158 grain SWC or LRN bullet is a comfortable to shoot and accurate load.  It's what I use for targets and general plinking in all my .38s – 2", 4" and 6" barrels.  That includes my J-frame.  I've even used it in a 18" carbine barrel and it works well for that, too. 

Like all load recipes, you will want to work up your own and 3.5 grains is toward the low end of the scale.  As for +P brass, as long as it doesn't show any signs of case strain or deformation and the primer pocket is okay, I don't see any reason why you couldn't use one for standard power reloads. 

Be very careful with Bullseye powder, BTW.  It has a fast burn rate and 3.5 grains is a small amount.  It would be easily possible to double-charge a case, which could cause a disastrous ka-boom.  My habit is to visually check every load I build without exception.