Loading 38 Special

[KarlPMann]

Bullseye should burn in any barrel, it's VERY fast burning. If it wont, then few others would. I use Bullseye for ALL of my reloading, but I'd have to hunt for the data for 38's. Karl.

[michael_aos]

Quickload shows 100% burn with a 19" barrel for 3.5gr of Bullseye and only 10141psi.

But only 91.41% burned from a 4" barrel.

Not bad, but it estimates 100% burn for both 4" and 19" w/3.7gr of Green Dot @ 13115 psi.

Hodgdon HP38 is another one that looks promising. 12104psi and 99.65% burned from a 4" barrel.

I figure I have some "wiggle room" as far as pressure in this S&W Model 67-6 (4"). It's stamped ".38 S&W SPL. +P", but since it's a stainless-steel K-frame I wouldn't be surprised to find it can handle .357 Mag pressures.

I just don't want to "hot rod" this 1866.

Mike

[KarlPMann]

Hmmmm, 10,141psi is real low too. Maybe try a different OAL to get less powder and more burn as well as maybe a little more pressure. I know you want light, but that's REAL light. Karl.

[michael_aos]

Good catch.

I've mostly just followed recipes for other loads, but nothing is jumping out at me here.

The loads I'm finding are either really low "cowboy" or more high-end (relatively speaking). Not a lot in the middle.

I do want enough pressure to seal the cartridge up against the chamber walls.

Maybe Red Dot (14,096 psi) is the way to go...

Quickload lists 17000psi as Pmax.

What's funny is that Red Dot and VV N320 both seem like pretty good choices. TiteGroup is right between them on the burn-rate chart, so you'd think it would be fine.

:?:

Mike

[michael_aos]

The more I think about it, the more I think I need more crimp.

I've noticed some "soot" on the brass, like you'd see on the wimpy low-pressure cowboy loads. It seems to me if I was pushing the limits of pressure, I wouldn't be seeing that.

Probably explains why the velocities are less than predicted and the occasional high-SD on on the chronograph.

Mike

[michael_aos]

Ultimately I'd like to wind up with a single 158gr load that shoots ~750fps from the revolver and ~1000fps in the carbine.

From the numbers I've seen so far, I think that's doable.

Mike

[HunterCO]

I load a ton of .38 special 158 grn. SWC's. I use 3.5 grns of red dot out of my Ruger GP100 4" barrel they chrony at 680 fps. I am sure that 4.0 grns which is still under max load would push them to 750 fps.

I recently have went to the copper plated bullets with the same load but I have not chronyed them yet.