Winchester 38 Spl +P LSWCHP

[Hi-Speed]

Got back from the range. Chronographed new box of Winchester 38 Special +P 158 gr LSWCHP “FBI” load from my S&W 642 1 7/8 inch barrel - 10 shoot string avg 803 FPS.

I duplicated the Winchester load, for all practical purposes, using Speer 158 gr LSWCHP, WW primers and 5.0 grs BE-86 - 788 fps avg.

Left range early too many folks there on the weekend, and still too dry to comfortably shoot in the high desert.

[Outpost75]

Cylinder gap has as much influence as barrel length on velocity. Here is older data on several loads from 1993:

.38 Special Velocity Vs. Barrel Length_________S&W Mod. 10, 4,” 0.005” cylinder gap 6-22-93
Federal 125 Nyclad HP____________________ 852 fps, 25 Sd
Remington 148 HBWC ____________________747 fps, 6 Sd
Winchester 148 HBWC ____________________742 fps, 13 Sd
WCC87 Ball M41 130-gr. FMJ_______________748 fps, 21 Sd
Winchester X38SPD 158-gr. LHP__________+P 920 fps 21 Sd
Winchester Q4196 158-gr. LRN______________793 fps, 10 Sd
Federal HydaShok 147-gr. JHP +P+LE_________965 fps, 33 Sd

.38 Special chronograph data, Colt Detective Special 2,” 0.005” cylinder gap 6-22-93
_____________________________________Velocity_____ Loss of 2” vs. 4” barrel:
Federal 125-gr. Nyclad SWCHP ____________772 fps, 33 Sd___80 fps
Remington 148-gr. HBWC ________________702 fps, 12 Sd___45 fps
Winchester 148-gr. HBWC ________________697 fps, 18 Sd___45 fps
WCC87 Ball M41 130-gr. FMJ _____________718 fps, 31 Sd___30 fps
Winchester X38SPD 158-gr. LHP +P ________831 fps, 10 Sd__89 fps
Winchester Q4196 158-gr. LRN____________728 fps, 24 Sd__65 fps
Federal HydraShok 147-gr. JHP+P+ LE______920 fps, 6 Sd___45 fps

Column Mean__________________________Avg. vel. loss__57 fps, ~29 fps/inch.

[Hi-Speed]

Great info. Looks like my tests are pretty close (but 30 FPS lower) to your the Win +P LHP X38SPD loading.

That is impressive velocity in 2 inch for the old Win 38 Spl 158 gr rnl. I avg always below 700 FPS with similar Rem 38 Spl 158 rnl loading.

Also, the BE-86 5.0 grs loading had less noise and perceived less recoil compared to my Power Pistol FBI load duplicate (5.6 grs). Alliant has no 158 gr lead 38 +P data using BE-86, they have 5.7 grs +P loading using a jacketed bullet and 4.6 grs BE-86 with a 158 gr cast bullet as its max standard velocity loading...I figured that 5.0 grs with 158 gr LSWCHP is in +P territory. Velocity proves it.

I’ll have to check the cylinder clearance if I can find where I put my gauge a few months ago!

[Forrest r]

FWIW:

Alliant's data for the be-86 & power pistol is on the mild side. Last year I did a little testing using be-86 in a 2" bbl'd ca under cover. 10 different bullets were used with a load of 5.7gr of be-86. That 5.7gr be-86 load averaged 845fps for the 10 different bullets/50 shot string. The 5.7gr be-86 load was comparable to the 5.5gr unique load. 5.5gr of unique produced 833fps for the same 10 different bullet/50 shot string.

I'm sure there's more to be-86 then that 5.7gr load. But it would take someone like handloader magazine to find out what be-86 can really do. HL mag did an article testing 38slp p+ loads and used a rimrock 158gr lead gc'd hp with 6.3gr of power pistol and got 1000+fps out of a snubnosed ruger lcr.

[Hi-Speed]

Spot on Forrest r...Handloader should do some tests (38/357) with BE-86. As always, thank you and others for the wealth of information. I started reloading in the late 1970s primarily 38 Special...what a great cartridge in my humble opinion from target loads to 38-44 thumpers!