I have been using .356 diameter bullets in my super and have heard of others using .357 diameter bullets. I did slug the barrel out and it measures .356 would there be any advantage to using .357. I ask because I also load .38/.357 and it would be nice to have to buy fewer assortments of lead.
.38 super .356 or .357
- Thread starter Clifford
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.355 is noticeably less accurate in my super. So much for buying 115 Grn RN for the 9 & .38. That is why i'm looking at .357, I guess my question is with the round oversized how is this gonna effect pressures. Will it go up a little, start with 5-10 percent charge reduction. Or should I expect a large rise in pressure and start my loads down at 15-20 percent?
COL, magazine fit and feeding might be issues besides pressures.
You can generaly load round nose/fmj types to about 1.275", so you have to check to make sure you have full diameter bullet at the case mouth. .38 special LRN bullets have longe noses.
.38 special flat points tend to have large meplats that might be a feed issue.
I've had more luck dropping my standard .38 Super load (130 grain/.356" Rainier plated round nose/5.0 grains Titegroup) into .357 magnum brass. Works great in all my .357's except my Marlin, magazine issues!
Here's a link;
http://38super.net/Pages/Overall%20Length.html
I'm going to order some 140 grain/.357" Ranier flat points and see if I can make them an all around bullet.
You can generaly load round nose/fmj types to about 1.275", so you have to check to make sure you have full diameter bullet at the case mouth. .38 special LRN bullets have longe noses.
.38 special flat points tend to have large meplats that might be a feed issue.
I've had more luck dropping my standard .38 Super load (130 grain/.356" Rainier plated round nose/5.0 grains Titegroup) into .357 magnum brass. Works great in all my .357's except my Marlin, magazine issues!
Here's a link;
http://38super.net/Pages/Overall%20Length.html
I'm going to order some 140 grain/.357" Ranier flat points and see if I can make them an all around bullet.
Johnny Guest
Moderator In Memoriam
"The loading manual is your friend."
No, bullets intended for .38 Spl or .357 Mag not proper fodder for the Super .38. The Super .38 cartridge uses the same bullets as the 9x19/9mm Parfabellum/9mm Luger/9mm P.08 cartridge.
I know one man who used to pull Remington 125 gr JHP .38 Spl bullets and load them for his Super .38 Commander. This was MANY years back, before there was ANY Super .38 factory hollow point ammo. He was a pretty careful loader, and was free to admit that he got some strange-looking primers early in his load development.
Bes of luck to you
Johnny
No, bullets intended for .38 Spl or .357 Mag not proper fodder for the Super .38. The Super .38 cartridge uses the same bullets as the 9x19/9mm Parfabellum/9mm Luger/9mm P.08 cartridge.
I know one man who used to pull Remington 125 gr JHP .38 Spl bullets and load them for his Super .38 Commander. This was MANY years back, before there was ANY Super .38 factory hollow point ammo. He was a pretty careful loader, and was free to admit that he got some strange-looking primers early in his load development.
Is your pistol one made before the switch in headspacing? My old (1953-vintage) Super does not shoot some ammo well at all, due to the old-style headspace-on-the-semi-rim system. It does shoot 124-grain plated bullets and factory Winchester Silvertip loads well, though. I surmise this is because the softer bullets "slug out" but I can't see how this would effect the headspacing.Clifford said:
Bes of luck to you
Johnny
P.S. My 2006 hodgdon manual has data for a .357"/135 grain Nosler IPSC bullet. Pressures, velocities and charges are all very similar to a .356"/130 jacketed load.
If you're using a quick powder, it still wouldn't hurt to go down 15% out of respect for the Super's tiny case.
If you're using a quick powder, it still wouldn't hurt to go down 15% out of respect for the Super's tiny case.
ReloaderFred
Member
I shoot both .355" and .356" diameter bullets through my .38 Super pistols, and they're accurate with both sizes. Mine are all EAA Witnesses and put the bullets right where I aim them.
For proper feeding through the Marlin 1894 Carbine in .357 Magnum, the overall length of your rounds has to be at least 1.480" to be smooth and reliable.
Hope this helps.
Fred
For proper feeding through the Marlin 1894 Carbine in .357 Magnum, the overall length of your rounds has to be at least 1.480" to be smooth and reliable.
Hope this helps.
Fred
It's a new manufacure colt series 80, bought it 4 months ago NIB. I'm told all the supers made after 1980 or so headspace on the casemouth but looking at the hood of the barrel I see a small leadge that the rim appears to lock into.
I'll send some picks in a few minutes tell me what you think.
I'll send some picks in a few minutes tell me what you think.
I had the same gun two years ago. I know what you mean about the rim. There is a small ledge that appears to headspace the cartridge. Checking with sized brass it did seem to headspace there. A digital caliper seemed to agree.
Everyone said there is no way a new Colt headspaced on the rim, but it sure seemed to. I sold it because I never got great accuracy with anything.
My new Baer ramped Super has no ledge at all, a very standard looking auto pistol chamber.
Everyone said there is no way a new Colt headspaced on the rim, but it sure seemed to. I sold it because I never got great accuracy with anything.
My new Baer ramped Super has no ledge at all, a very standard looking auto pistol chamber.
Thanks for the link. When I discovered the leadge in the barrel I looked all over the place for info on identifying if it was what I suspected and I couldn't find any info. The link you provided just gave me the info I was looking for. BTW I have had pretty good accuracy with the stock barrel as long as I'm not trying to shoot .355 diameter bullets.
That's the kind of thing that convinced me to join THR. You guys & gals are great.
That's the kind of thing that convinced me to join THR. You guys & gals are great.
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