Crimp grove on rcbs 180 sil

[AJC1]

I would never have thought that a 180 was ment for 38 over 357 but the crimp grove matches up perfectly for a 38 loaded to sammi max length and a trim length of 1.145. The trim length for 357 would fall below sammi spec at 1.180 to meat the 357 max of 1.590. I measured the point to crimp grove at .410 which wouldn't matter as much in a 35cal rifle. I just roll crimp into the front band but I dont find that optimal. I would guess in a contender this would be ok if a plunk test worked. I'm debating seating them long and seeing if the marlin has a fit.

 

[mdi]

I've read of some hunters using 180 gr cast bullets in their handguns. Try a few and get back to us...

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I use a 200gr LWFN-GC in .38Spl loaded to around 850fps from my 6” Official Police for a general purpose hunting load. It shoots hard but ejects easy and I have yet to see anything that bullet hits get up and run away. If you have a revolver with enough barrel and the right twist to stabilize it, there’s published data in some of the pre-pressure test manuals. It’s going to be +P load, at least, so I don’t recommend it for non+P-rated revolvers. I don’t recommend it for a barrel shorter than 6”, either. Won’t stabilize most likely.

 

[AJC1]

I use a 200gr LWFN-GC in .38Spl loaded to around 850fps from my 6” Official Police for a general purpose hunting load. It shoots hard but ejects easy and I have yet to see anything that bullet hits get up and run away. If you have a revolver with enough barrel and the right twist to stabilize it, there’s published data in some of the pre-pressure test manuals. It’s going to be +P load, at least, so I don’t recommend it for non+P-rated revolvers. I don’t recommend it for a barrel shorter than 6”, either. Won’t stabilize most likely.

These bullets all go out the carbine. I'm going to take some accurate measurements and ask for a 20k psi run on quickload. I figure I meat my social obligations by keeping these as +p should an idiot steal my rounds and use them. Really any length between 38 sammi minimum and 357 sammi maximum should feed through the marlin no problem.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

These bullets all go out the carbine. I'm going to take some accurate measurements and ask for a 20k psi run on quickload. I figure I meat my social obligations by keeping these as +p should an idiot steal my rounds and use them. Really any length between 38 sammi minimum and 357 sammi maximum should feed through the marlin no problem.

Should feed. Back when I had a ’94 Marlin I bought bullets from D&M Guns that were 200gr versions of the Lyman’s #358430 made from a medium hard cast and coated with some kind of green wax. I ran them in .38Spl cases over too many grains of 2400 for my own good hunting on the east coast down by Canaveral and old Hwy 3 near Patrick. I tried Red Dot, Unique, and 2400 but settled on 2400 because it was a real rifle powder. It took a few years to figure out I didn’t need nearly as much velocity as I was getting just for pigs and white tails.

 

[AJC1]

Should feed. Back when I had a ’94 Marlin I bought bullets from D&M Guns that were 200gr versions of the Lyman’s #358430 made from a medium hard cast and coated with some kind of green wax. I ran them in .38Spl cases over too many grains of 2400 for my own good hunting on the east coast down by Canaveral and old Hwy 3 near Patrick. I tried Red Dot, Unique, and 2400 but settled on 2400 because it was a real rifle powder. It took a few years to figure out I didn’t need nearly as much velocity as I was getting just for pigs and white tails.

But overkill is the signature of 18-40 year olds the world over. I sure did my part.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

But overkill is the signature of 18-40 year olds the world over. I sure did my part.

Preach it brother !

 

[FROGO207]

But overkill is the signature of 18-40 year olds the world over. I sure did my part.

Been there, done that, got the T shirt, and donated it to Good Will.! Still a recoil junky I am afraid LOL.

 

[mdi]

But overkill is the signature of 18-40 year olds the world over. I sure did my part.

YES! When I got my first 44 Magnum I had a raging case of "Magnumitis" (at that time the 44 was the "hottest/biggest" production cartridge). I reloaded near max/max in every reload, 98% of the time with 250+ grain lead bullets. I guess I liked the wrist breaking recoil and earth shaking muzzle blast (not to mention the looks I got at the range when I touched off one of my T-Rex Killer loads at the range; max loads of WC820 under a 265 gr LRNFP). Went on for several years but I started cooling down after I had to send my 629 back to the factory to have the barrel reset. Was I in my "second childhood" at 50???

 

[AJC1]

This is really the only data I can find that is even close. Seems the slower powder "2400" would develop a safer trial load for a first test. 8 grains may be the least I've ever put in a case of 2400. I'll probably try a PC without gas check first. I have 4227 if someone thinks that's a better idea.

 

[AJC1]

The 38 cases loaded perfectly zero problem right in the crimp grove. If these things shoot I'll be extatic. Oal was 1.550 and the cases were uniformed to 1.150. That's. 005 longer than I normally uniform but I figured I could always cut more if needed. Sammi max case length would give me max oal. 357 on the left 38 on the right.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

The 38 cases loaded perfectly zero problem right in the crimp grove. If these things shoot I'll be extatic. Oal was 1.550 and the cases were uniformed to 1.150. That's. 005 longer than I normally uniform but I figured I could always cut more if needed. Sammi max case length would give me max oal. 357 on the left 38 on the right.View attachment 1056729

Smerfilicious!

 

[AJC1]

Test fired the entire range and they all shot great. Based on data I was provided I will be settling on the 8.8 grain load. It's just below 20k and shoots nice. I did not expect pressure signs even at 9.6 in a 357 chamber. These were not gas checked just powder coated and was a meaningful test showing they were not absolutely required at close range.

 

[Charlie98]

Glad they worked out. 2400 in the carbine barrel... even in a .38SPC case... should be a winner. For giggles, you could try IMR4227, all else being the same 10.5grn tops out at 20K PSI, but I don't know if it would be any better. Neither require Magnum primers.

 

[AJC1]

Glad they worked out. 2400 in the carbine barrel... even in a .38SPC case... should be a winner. For giggles, you could try IMR4227, all else being the same 10.5grn tops out at 20K PSI, but I don't know if it would be any better. Neither require Magnum primers.

Thanks for the data I'll give it a try just because. Interesting that it's much higher than the book.

 

[Charlie98]

Thanks for the data I'll give it a try just because. Interesting that it's much higher than the book.

well, be careful… QL can get a wild hare once in a while. I would start with published data and work up.

 

[AJC1]

well, be careful… QL can get a wild hare once in a while. I would start with published data and work up.

The book load above jives well with what you worked up previously and my experience shooting them. 4227 in pistol seems to like heavy loads, so I might use the same loads I did with 2400 and see.

 

[Charlie98]

The book load above jives well with what you worked up previously and my experience shooting them. 4227 in pistol seems to like heavy loads, so I might use the same loads I did with 2400 and see.

In my experience, IMR4227 likes heavy bullets and/or longer barrels. I roll crimp mine pretty good, too. It worked well enough in my 4" .41 barrels, but really excelled in the 20" Marlin.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

I've got that same bullet, or at least the Lee copy. I've been hankering to try it with HS-6.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

In my experience, IMR4227 likes heavy bullets and/or longer barrels.

Yes it does! And it can be downloaded for use with the really heavy, long nose rifle bullets meant for .35Whelen. Those are no good in a Marlin but when you get a Contender or other SSR, they become small bore big game guns.

 

[AJC1]

Whipped up another batch all at 8.9. It wasn't one of my previous loads but split the difference, and the data puts it right on 20k.

 

[AJC1]

Ran a batch of these today. Used 8.9 grains of 2400, seated to 1.550 out of the freshly cleaned marlin carbine microgrove. The flier was just me as I'm still working on my offhand game.