Keith's heavy .38

[Wayne Dobbs]

Keith mentioned another heavy .38 Special load that may have more application. It was his 358429 over 5.0 Unique. Has anybody run that one and what did you find?

[TiroFijo]

Keith mentioned another heavy .38 Special load that may have more application. It was his 358429 over 5.0 Unique. Has anybody run that one and what did you find?

That one is listed on Lyman's 47th ed reloading handbook, it is a 168 gr SWC, 4" vented barrel, 860 fps, 16,700 CUP (normal SAAMI pressure).

I've tried other 158-160 gr lead bullets, SWC or FP over 5.0 Unique, and it works very well, accurate and powerful. For snubbies I prefer to load a bit milder, 4.6 to 4.8 gr.

[Wayne Dobbs]

That one is listed on Lyman's 47th ed reloading handbook, it is a 168 gr SWC, 4" vented barrel, 860 fps, 16,700 CUP (normal SAAMI pressure).

I've tried other 158-160 gr lead bullets, SWC or FP over 5.0 Unique, and it works very well, accurate and powerful. For snubbies I prefer to load a bit milder, 4.6 to 4.8 gr.

I've read some other places the idea that that load is +P or more. I recall in my much younger days running a 155 grain SWC (358477) over 5.5 grains of Unique and it was very capable for .38 Special.

[TiroFijo]

[TiroFijo]

This is from the 1995 printing, well into the era when pressure was meticulously measured, not guessed.

[okie john]

I’d be VERY careful with data published prior to the advent of reliable pressure and velocity testing. I’ve seen writers of that era make claims that defy the laws of physics.


Okie John

[TiroFijo]

I’d be VERY careful with data published prior to the advent of reliable pressure and velocity testing. I’ve seen writers of that era make claims that defy the laws of physics.


Okie John

Pressure "reading" by eyeballing fired cases and primers...

[okie john]

Pressure "reading" by eyeballing fired cases and primers...

coughBobHagelcough


Okie John

[jtcarm]

I switched to Power Pistol for a medium rate powder when I couldn’t find unique a few years back

6 grains behind that bullet clocks between 950 & 1000 FPS from a 4” barrel.

[Tom Duffy]

Of course Buffalo Bore has their 158 grain swc pushing 1200fps in a legit .38 load.

The first time I shot this bullet out of my N frame, I was very surprised at how potent it felt.