How low can I go? (.38 Colt Short)

[Shivahasagun]

I'm going to stop using .38 Colt Short cases but still have about 300 new ones. I'm just going to load them, shoot then, and discard.

I was loading them to higher pressures using 160 gr bullets and 2.7 gr Titegroup seated long. But I want to load the remainder at .38 special pressures or less.

I have some nice, BNH 12 140 gr LFN .358 bullets from Missouri Bulllet Co. I ran some calculations through Quick Load and came up with 2.2 grs of Titegroup. I was wondering what a .17 cc dipper would give me so I tested that and if get all the Titegroup I can heap on it it measures 2.1 grs.

I also checked 700x and the .3 cc dipper gives 2.1 gr, too, coincidentally.

Will that be enough? I don't want any stuck bullets. My guns have 3 inch barrels.

 

[Blue68f100]

You should not have any problems at min load and your short barrel. Lead has less friction than jacketed so it will be faster than a jacketed round. Normally if your velocity is above 600-650 fps you will not sick a bullet in a handgun. I've done reverse load workup to see how low I could go. I've been a full 0.5 gr below start on 45acp. without sticking a bullet.

 

[Shivahasagun]

Oh, yea, this thread!

I'll update. I did shoot and reload & shoot the .38 Colt Shorts.

I used 2.7 gr of Titegroup to load those 140 gr lead bullets with a 1.115" OAL and averaged 600 fps from my 3 inch barrels. Accuracy was only fair and they shoot up and right from my Sp-101, and straight from my King Cobra. I should have loaded them a little shorter, to get a little more velocity, but I was trying to keep the unknown pressures low for anticipated use in S&W Airweight or LCR .38 Spl. snubs.

Anyway, while they are great for moon clips, I have speed loaders and I plan to use them alot more. I still like heavyish bullets, a good crimp, and a good burn for accuracy, so I'm moving to .38 Colt Long for practice ammo.