Need a Powder Weight for 164 Grain GC Lead Slugs for the ole .38 S&W

[Graybeard96]

Howdy everybody,
Right now I am loading for my old Lady,s Gun which is a 1906 DA Model Colt Police Positive in .38 S&W. I always thought my self cast Slugs where 158 Grain and loaded them without GC over 2.3 Grain Winchester 231 Powder without any issues.

Now I like to load the same Slugs but this time with Gas Checks and found they actually scale out 164 to 165 Grain with Gas Check installed.

Wondering if someone can suggest a safe starting Load. Powders on Hand are 231 Winchester, Red Dot, Herco, Unique. Because Wife is small, I like to keep recoil to a minimum.

Thanks in advance for all replays.

Cheers


a Powder Weight for 164 Grain GC Lead Slugs for the ole .38 S&W

[Outpost75]

Your 2.3 grain load of 231 is safe up to 178 grains. You don't need a GC with .38 S&W at 600 fps.

[Graybeard96]

Your 2.3 grain load of 231 is safe up to 178 grains. You don't need a GC with .38 S&W at 600 fps.

Thank you very much, that helps.

Cheers

[sigep1764]

1.8 to 2 grains of Red Dot should be fine. I shoot 2.8 grains in 38 special under a 150 grain slug

[gwpercle]

RCBS Cast Bullet Manual number 1
38 S&W
mould RCBS 38-162-SWC
Unique: start - 3.0 grs. @ 642 fps / max. - 3.5 grs. @ 769 fps
HP38 : start - 2.1 grs. @ 563 fps / max. - 2.6 grs. @ 717 fps
W231 : start - 2.2 grs. @ 561 fps / max. - 2.7 grs. @ 716 fps
Bullseye : start - 2.0 grs. @ 566 fps / max. - 2.5 grs. @ 695 fps
700X : start - 1.9 grs. @ 562 fps / max. - 2.4 grs. @ 704 fps

Here is some additional data ... I know 38 S&W data doesn't grow on trees and the RCBS Manual had data for a 162 grain cast SWC with a gas check ! But they didn't state if the GC was installed.
The photo shows a cast unlubed , unsized and unchecked boolit and only says Size: .358" and Pistol Lube used ... try them both ways and see what sticks best .
It at least gives you some other powders to look at ... this RCBS Manual comes in handy sometimes .
It even has data for a 175 gr. RN boolit in 38 S&W !!!
Gary

[Graybeard96]

Again, much obliged for the additional Data.

Cheers

[quail4jake]

Thrilled to hear from a fellow .38 S&W loader! Our cadre is small but elite.... I've been through high and low with the NOE 363-150 RN designed to duplicate the original .38 S&W bullet of 1884 (?) maybe earlier. Every fast burning high energy pistol powder finds the same sweet spot for me, 2.5 gr. Bullseye, Titegroup, HP38, Trail Boss. No matter how I tried it they all grouped best at 2.5 gr. although velocities varied somewhat, all were around 620 fps with mild recoil and great grouping. This is in a S&W Perfected Double action (1909) and a 6" New Departure (1900). Good luck with your gas check bullet adventure, please keep us updated!