38 Special Disc Load

[jh45gun]

OK I have not tried these yet but I read an article in the ABCs of Reloading 5th edition by Dean Grennell about Multi Projectile hand gun loads. He states you can get 5 flattened #2 buck (0.28) shot in a 38 Speer capsule or 3 of the buck shot. I had enough #4 buckshot (0.24) on hand to make up 39 capsules and I got 7 flattened disc shape buck shot in each capsule. The capsule would take 6 of the flattened buckshot and I slightly flattened one more to insert in to the base wad for a total of 7 number 4 buckshot made into discs in the load. The weight of the load with the Speer Capsule is 140 grains.

Not sure what I am going to use for powder yet I have unique and red dot and HP38 on hand.

The load data is for 109 grains which is right in the ball park for a capsule filled with a mixture of reclaimed trap range shot a mixture of 8's and 7.5's. Mine weighted 104.1 grains.

The Load Data Suggested by Speer is:
5.5 Grains of Unique for a 109 grain load
4.5 grains for 700x
4.5 grains for HP 38
4.5 for Bullseye
5 grains for 231.

Since these loads are 36 grains heavier I will use the load data for a 148 grain bullet.

[rintinglen]

I have tried the flattened disc thing, but was underwhelmed by the results. Low penetration, poor regulation of sights and worse accuracy left a bad taste in my mouth. IIRC, I used 5.0 grains of Unique, but don't quote me on that.
I had better results using a 75 grain WC and a 115 grain SWC. I used the load data for the 358-430 195 grain boolit.

[ReloaderFred]

I did it back in the early 1970's, but abandoned the project when I found out how little penetration there was with flattened 00 buck. I even greased a thin cardboard wad and put one between each of the flattened 00 buck, but still got lots of leading. I concluded that a well placed shot with a regular bullet was much more effective on hard targets.

I reserved the plastic shot capsules for snake loads when I lived in rattlesnake country and had small kids. The rattlers would sometimes be resting in the shade by the back door, which didn't set well with the kid's mother..........

Hope this helps.

Fred

[jh45gun]

Thanks I guess I will load them with shot.

[jh45gun]

Changed my mind as long as they are loaded I will shoot them and see what they do. The balance of the capsules I will load with shot.

[ReloaderFred]

You might as well play with them and see for yourself what they'll do or won't do. That's what I did many years ago. They just didn't suit my needs, but who knows, you may find them to your liking. The only way you'll know for sure is to give it a try.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[jh45gun]

Yea that is what I thought Fred

[jh45gun]

Well just loaded them up with 4.5 grains of HB38 but probably will not shoot them to try them out until the middle of Sept when I go out hunting. Season opener starts then and I will be out where I can try them out.