38/44 Load

[Rex]

Not Mr. Keith's load but the old 38/44 High Speed.
Today I loaded 12 grains 2400 in an assortment of 38 special cases along with the 173 grain Keith bullet. (I don't own a K or J frame 38 special, just a 686 S&W)
The loads averaged 1110 FPS from my 4" 686, over my Chrony. These are very accurate from my revolver.
Just curious what others use for a 38/44 load?

[maglvr]

My favorite is Elmers loading of 13.5gr / 2400 under the 358429, occasionally i'll use the same charge under a LEE 165 gr WFN (lapped and base taper step removed from LEE 358-158-RF).
They both feed like greased lightning through my Marlin 1894C, and are crazy accurate!

[Dan Cash]

My replicaton of this load is 12 gr. 2400 under 173-175 gr Kieth. It is very satisfactory in my N frame smiths and good in my 642. I have used it in late, heavy barrel model 10s on a limited basis with no ill effects.

[LowPE]

GLL is a member here with wonderful posts on the 38/44. Do a search on him or outdoorsmen and you will get tons of great reading material and loads.

[357Mag]

Rex -

Howdy !

IF memory serves... Skeeter SKelton liked 7gr I4756 and SP primer, under a
( Lyman ) 158SW.

I've shot the load only in .357Mag brass, from 4,5, 6" "N "-frames.

Regards,
357Mag

[Rex]

Thank you, I'll do the search. Old age makes me forgetful of such features.
Rex

[beagle]

Rex,

Look on Castpics/Articles by Members/High Speed .38 Special Loads.

I was intrigued by those .38/445 loads and spent all summer one year messing with the old listed loads as well as adding some new data to the pile. I even went to the trouble of tracking down the old original moulds.

They're about all that I shoot in my .357s as I have a "tater sack" full of good .38 Special cases./beagle

[excess650]

I've shot some of those. but maybe only 11gr, through my 3" 640 and recoil was brisk. Its rated +P or +P+. A steady diet of those through a newer steel K frame shouldn't be any problem.

The revolvers prior to the advent of the 357mag didn't use the same steels and heat treatment as the later ones did, so that is why the 38/44 was used in the N-frame for its extra 'beef".

[pmeisel]

One more guy using 12g of 2400......