Depending on the power level sought, 3.0-4.0/Red Dot/158 gr. LSWC or LRNFP will give you almost anything you could reasonably want from a .38 Special.
The lighter charges tend to approximate the recoil of the 148 gr. HBWC loads. 3.5/Red Dot is very close to factory standard velocity. According to Alliant, 3.8/Red Dot/158 gr. develops +P pressures. Their old reloading data used to indicate that 4.0/Red Dot/158 gr. was +P, but they revised it downward. Since Since I own no .38 Spl. revolvers, I have just stuck with 4.0/Red Dot/158 gr. as my "general purpose" .38 Special load.
When it is time to buy propellant again, remember that Alliant Promo is basically Alliant Red Dot, without the red dots, and is somewhat less expensive when bought in the 8# jugs. You can reload enough .38 Special and .45 ACP to fill every bathtub in your neighborhood with 8 pounds of it. It is also quite useful in reduced velocity rifle loads, and of course, most shotgun gauges.