Loading .38 special

[Tilos]

TonyAngel, Something I've done with 38 cases

I too have used 38 cases in a Blackhawk instead of 357 for easier ejection.

I have used 148 grain DEWC because I aquired a lot of them as cast.
I used the different lube grooves to crimp into, using a 38 case and extending the OAL.

With a 38 case, by increasing the OAL and crimping in a lube groove you can "almost" duplicate the case VOLUME of a 357 case.

These extended OAL hybred 38s will not chamber in a 38 cylinder (too long), so there's no danger with that.

This load is the most accurate in my blackhawk, a great paper puncher and groups well out to 50 yards.

I am not saying to take a 38 case to max 357 loads but somewhat above 38 loads with additional case volume.
Rather than post load data here, I can pm you if interested.

No need to defend your interest in doing this to me and I commend you for cautiously thinking outside the box.

Tilos

 

[TonyAngel]

Sorry, I knew that, but forgot.

 

[TonyAngel]

Tilos,

Go ahead and PM me with what you've cooked up. I've wanted to do what you are but haven't found an appropriate projectile. I've become rather loyal to MBC for some reason and haven't shopped any other vendors.

I've gotta tell ya, I'm not always in the mood to deal with shooting .357; but also want to have more fun than shooting the pop gun .38 special loads. If I just wanted to shoot for accuracy, I'd grab one of my stupid accurate .22's.

 

[TonyAngel]

Just an update. I got my order from PV today and it included a couple of pounds of 2400 as well as Alliant's manual. Imagine my surprise when I found that there is NO data for loading a 158gr. LSWC in .38 +P or .357 with 2400.

The "Complete Reloading Manuals" that I have for .38 and .357 show data from Alliant (must be older data) and lists a charge weight of 7.8gr of 2400 for .38 +P and 15.3gr for .357. Does this sound right to you guys? My book also calls for standard primers for the .38 and magnum primers for the .357.

I'd imagine that the rule is to start with a 10% reduced load and work up to the listed charge weight. From what I've read, I should also stick to standard primers, but I don't like unburnt powder.

Any comments?

 

[Jesse Heywood]

M.D. Smith shows 2400 14.9 gr. 1,232 near max for the 357, no list for the 158 gr. in 38 Special. www.reloadammo.com

Ken Waters says to always use the magnum primer with 2400 & 4227, the powders don't ignite that easily.

I haven't tried 2400 yet, can't buy it locally.

 

[fecmech]

I'd imagine that the rule is to start with a 10% reduced load and work up to the listed charge weight. From what I've read, I should also stick to standard primers, but I don't like unburnt powder.

If you don't like unburned powder than stick with .357 mag loads, 2400 doesn't really clean up till you get up in the 25-30K range. At one time I used an old Lyman load of 10 grs of 2400 behind the Lyman "Keith" 173 gr bullet. It was a good accurate load( 1000 fps) but when you dumped the cases into your hand you got a bunch of powder particles with it. Also if you extracted cases with the muzzle down the powder got under the extractor star and tied up the gun. Burns nice and clean in the 13-14 grain range but that's .357 territory.

 

[TonyAngel]

Jesse, I am seeing conflicting data, but I guess that's true of all data. 14.9 isn't that far off from 15.3, considering the overall charge weight. I'll start at 14gr and see what that gets me. As for the primers, I've heard the exact opposite of what you're saying. I'm being told that 2400 is really easy to light off and that most are recommending that you use standard primers. That's why I'm asking. ALL of the load data that I've seen calls for magnum primers.

fecmech, I didn't get the 2400 to load mild. LOL. I wanted to load some +P .38 and some semi cookin .357. I wasn't getting what I wanted when following the load data from accurate and the numbers published for 2400 were where I wanted to be. I'm going to be shooting these out of a Blackhawk.

 

[fecmech]

Tony--That load I mentioned in the previous post would be slightly in excess of today's +P loadings. I don't think you will find any 1000 fps 170 gr loads for .38 spl. Good luck with your loading endeavor.

 

[zxcvbob]

Just an update. I got my order from PV today and it included a couple of pounds of 2400 as well as Alliant's manual. Imagine my surprise when I found that there is NO data for loading a 158gr. LSWC in .38 +P or .357 with 2400.

Start at 12.0 grains and work your way *down* in small increments (in the .38 Special) until you find something you like. Start at the same place in the .357 and work your way *up* to a maximum of 15.3 grains. Use whatever primer you want; it doesn't really make any difference as long as you use the same one throughout the load development. Herco or HS-6 might have been better powder choices than 2400, but use what you got.