.38 Special 180 gr and 200 gr loads

[ironhead7544]

Anyone loading these weights? Im looking for standard and +P loads, thanks. My barrel is 7 and 1/2 inch. What speeds are you getting?

[Landric]

I load the 358430 to about 675 fps with 4.3 grains of Trail Boss and to about 900 fps with 9.5 grains of 2400 out of a 4" barrel, both should be faster from a 7 1/2" tube.

[ironhead7544]

Landric: Thanks for the info. Is the 2400 load accurate? It is just what I was looking for.

[Landric]

Its accurate, but I haven't found a load yet using the 358430 that wasn't at least reasonably accurate.

[Ohio Rusty]

I need to ask to be sure .... 9.5 grains of 2400 in a .38 special ??? Over on another site, it was posted that 7.5 grains of 2400 in a .38 special with a 180 grain boolit was a max load ...... I was going to start 10% less.... about 6.8 grains.
Ohio Rusty ><>

[Landric]

9.5 grains is Lyman data from the 1970s. It shoots nicely and has no over pressure signs, but then again, its easy to exceed .38 Special pressures without pressure signs. 12.5 grains of 2400 with a 173 grain Keith didn't have any pressure signs in my .357 revolver, but the velocity suggested it was way overpressure for .38 Special.

[EDK]

LYMAN data from the '70s is probably a little hot for the "new 2400." I'd drop back about 10% for starters. Go to lasc.us and look for the article A BULLET FOR ALL SEASON....it is on LYMAN 358627, but you can derive a starting point to work from.

Elmer Keith developed his loads in 38/44 SMITH & WESSONS...a 44 frame gun that was the predecessor of the 357 magnum. He blew up a few guns and probably spent a little money tightening up the ones that he shot a lot...and shook loose! There is some anecdotal information on chronographing and pressure testing some of his...and his contemporaries'...loads. I don't recall where, but I ain't as brave as Elmer was. We have the same initials and both like 44s, but he was an experimenter in an era where "you flew by the seat of your pants" and data was pretty scarce. I like mid range ammo...hot for the specials; low end for the magnums.

:Fire::cbpour::redneck: