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What was the standard blackpowder load for .38 special? Surely someone has filled a case to the top, seated a bullet, and fired it from a modern handgun.
Been there done that. Most reliable manuals will tell you to load about 24 to 26 grains of fffg,
HOWEVER:
Black powder cartridges should not be loaded by weight, but by volume. There should never be any air space in the case when your done. Any gap between the powder charge and the base of the projo is BAD NEWS
. I have heard it described as being the equivalent of sticking a stick of dynamite into the cartridge.
Ideally, the powder charge should be slightly compressed once the bullet is seated.
You will also want to use lead bullets. Jacketed bullets will work, but they will "iron" the fouling into the grooves on your rifling and you'll soon be shooting a smooth-bore. It is also important to use a soft lube of some type, SPG was designed for this application.
I use a cast lead bullet over a pre-lubed felt wad. Put in enough powder so that once every thing's seated, the powder has been compressed about 1/16th inch.
Sounds more difficult than it is...and the results are a blast to shoot.
BTW: cleaning the gun is a real chore for someone who is used to shooting smokeless.
But, as that little guy on Fantasy Island used to say: "THE FLAME!!!!....THE FLAME!!!!