38-44 reloads with or without magnum primers ??

[rojo]

hi guys , I just bought a old S&W heavy duty .38 special and would like to load up a bunch of Elmer Keith style load with starting 10 grs of 2400 [ a little shy using 13.5 gr or more ]. would I need to use a magnum primer with this load ??
opps I plan I using the Keith 173 gr SWC 358429 .

[Outpost75]

Current guidance from Speer and Aliant both state that magnum primers aren't necessary with #2400. I use standard Winchester small pistol primers in mine.

The 10 grain load with #358429 seated and crimped into the crimp groove of .38 Special brass is a good load and I see no reason to increase it further, as replacement parts for the pre-1957 Hand Ejectors are scarce and heavier loads will wear out the gun faster. I use 10 grains with the Accurate 36-178D bullet in both my Ruger Vaquero and Marlin 1894 Cowboy, about 1050 fps from 4-5/8" barrel and about 1200 in a 20" carbine.

[Tim357]

That 10 grain 2400 load is a waste of good powder, in my experience. If you have Unique or some other medium burner, use that instead. 10gr 2400 with Lee 158 rnfp gave 912 fps from a 4" bbl. you can duplicate this with 5.4 gr Power Pistol, and that is a standard pressure load. For the upper end, 12.5 gr 2400 and Lyman 357446, crimped in the center groove, gave 1219 fps.

edit: velocity measured using 4", 357 revolver, not 38 Sp.

[rojo]

well , I have 20 lbs of 2400

[Tim357]

I'm bloody well jealous... I'd still up the charge to at least 11 grains. 2400 burns better at higher pressure. Better internal ballistics as well. The 12.5 load I referenced had ES of 11, SD of 4.

[pme166]

I load a lot of 38/44's for my Heavy Duty's and Outdoorsman's. I don't use magnum primers but I normally used SR4756. 2400 is still too scarce for 38/44's. I save it for my 357 Magnum loads. Like Tim357 posted above, when I shoot 2400 in the 38/44, I am normally in the 12.5 grn range. Work your load over a chrono and a target and find the right combination you like. Right around 1200 to 1175 FPS seems to hit point of aim with a 5" heavy duty "in general".