Load Data Check .38 Sp with 180 Gr TCFP and HP-38

[JesterGrin_1]

I was planning to load some .38 Sp with some 180 Gr TCFP (Truncated Flat Point) and 4.0 Gr of HP-38?

Any Thoughts?

[rintinglen]

Load Data for the 180 grain Boolits in 38 Special is just slightly more common than toothed Hens.
The nearest thing I have is for the RCBS 175 Grain RN which is listed in the RCBS CAST BULLET MANUAL as having a range of 3.8 - 4.2 grains of WW-231, which these days is Identical to HP-38. An older Lyman Manual Lists 2.0-2.7 grains of Bullseye with a 195 grain RN.
Unless you are shooting them out of an Airweight Snubby, you should be ok. If you are shooting them out of a Snubby, hope you have a good Orthopedic Surgeon.

[JesterGrin_1]

So I take it the 4.OGr of HP-38 is Ok. And really I do not think they would be that bad in a snubby. As I am sure they are nothing like a Snubby in .44 Sp. :)

[JesterGrin_1]

Really Nobody has any other thoughts?

[runfiverun]

just haven't gotten round tuit yet.
i have the 180 t/c type mold [heck i even have bout 2-k of the boolits made]
i might even have some 38 special empty brass.
just hain't done it.
i'd probably start a little lower though in the 38 cases.

[JesterGrin_1]

These will mainly be fired out of a Ruger Security Six of which as we all know is a Tank lol. And maybe a S&W in either the 686 or a Standard Stainless S&W 4" .357 Mag. Just to punch paper for teaching purposes. :)

These are too small for my Marlin .357 Mag and I need to throw together some cheap ammo to help with teaching my Niece to shoot.

Yes I am going to start her with a .22 LR in a Ruger Single Six.

And Before someone says this might be too much. We do not run small in our Family lol. She is as of now 15 and right at 6 foot tall lol.

[runfiverun]

i was gonna use the extra length in the 38 cases to get them to feed in my 92.
shrugging.
just ain't got there yet.
had this mold for about 15 years now, you'd think i might have tried them by now. :lol:
i might even [i can hear the wife saying yeah sure] try them in the 357 max sometime.
they do make good cores for the 44 mag when i swage them though.

[JesterGrin_1]

Should I back them down to the Min charge weight given of 3.8Gr ? The Max charge given is 4.1 Gr of HP-38 for the 170 GR. SIE JHC.

Hodgdon HP-38 .357" 1.450" 3.8 683 12,200 CUP 4.1 752 15,800 CUP

[rintinglen]

That's where I'd start, though in the Ruger or the 686 I'd not worry too much about the gun, they're both very strong. But heavy boolits recpoil more than light boolits, so if you're going to use these for training purposes, I'd go with the starting load, or maybe even a couple of tenths lighter. A flinch, once learned, can be darned hard to cure.

[JesterGrin_1]

I think I agree I will load a few hundred with the Starting load of 3.8Gr of HP-38.

As for weight of Boolits I have found more that the heavy bullets unless pushed really hard tend to push more than a Snap of the lighter Boolits. But it could just be me.

[Forrest r]

For what it's worth, if I can't find any data for the bullet I'm using I do 2 things.

I step up in bullet weight to a heavier bullet that I can find data for.
I compare the seating depth of the bullet in question to a known bullet that I use.

If that 180g bullet gets seated a lot deeper than another bullet you know & use, start low.

There's data out there for 200g lead bullets.
38spl
hp38/w231= 2.8g to 3.2g max 14,900cup
357mag
hp38/w231=3.4g to 4.2g 28,100cup

Let us know what you come up with.