Light .357 or 38/44 Load Recipe?

[Mr. Smith]

I'd like to work up a light .357 Magnum load, something similar to 38/44 ballistics.

I want to use the 358156 cast bullet, with gas check, or the RCBS 150 SWC. Have them run about 1100 to 1150 fps from a 4" barrel S&W Model 19.

Any favorite recipes?

I've used Unique before to get to around 1000 fps; not sure if Unique is satsifactory for an 1100 fps load.

I've got plenty of 2400 and H110 powder. I haven't used less than 13.5 grains of 2400, so I'm not sure how a smaller charge would perform.

Thanks!

[felix]

Use your RCBS boolit because gas check is not needed for what you are looking for. Also, use any powder faster than Unique on the powder burn charts. The powder to use would be cheap and available to you without hassle. Part of the fun is to make your powder selection work with the intended boolit and gun. ... felix

[James C. Snodgrass]

I've been using 12 or 12.5 of wc 820 which in my lots is the same or close to 2400 and I've been getting the speed your looking for . James

[454PB]

My favorite: 8 gr. of HS-6, or 9 gr. of Alliant Bluedot, both with CCI 550 primers.

[txbirdman]

Try 7 gr. of Unique with the 150 gr. RCBS bullet

[beagle]

Take a look at the article "High Speed .38 Special Loads" on castpics.

Should be what you're looking for./beagle

[Mr. Smith]

beagle:

Thanks, but I'm new to the site. I'm not exactly sure where I should be searching for this article.

[Denver]

Skeeter Skelton used a heavy 38 Spl load that consisted of the Lyman 358156 over 13.5 grains of 2400 in 38 Special cases with the boolit seated and crimped in the second crimp groove. He claimed the load gave around 1150 fps. He warned that this load was better suited to heavy frame revolvers such as the 38/44 and guns chambered for the 357 mag, but said that he used it occasionally in K frames without ill effects.
I recently bought a Lee mold that drops a boolit very similar to the Lyman 358156 that lacks the second crimp groove. I've been shooting it loaded in 38 spl cases over 11 grs of 2400 through a couple different K frame Smiths and I don't think I would go much higher with it. Extraction is normal and primers are a bit flatter than loads that are factory equivilent, but definitely not a J frame load. I haven't chrono'd it yet, but I'm guessing it would exceed 1000 fps in a 4 inch barrel.

:castmine: :Fire:

[StanDahl]

beagle:

Thanks, but I'm new to the site. I'm not exactly sure where I should be searching for this article.


Go down to the bottom of this page and find the CASTPICS link. Once you are there, find the "Articles by Members" link on the left. In there, at the top left you'll find the "High Speed .38 Special Loads". I just found it myself, looks like I've got some reading to do. Stan

[GP100man]

4grs of clays
4grs titegroup
works for me& clean too

GP100man:cbpour:

[beagle]

http://www.castpics.net/

Look for the article under "Articles by Members"

/beagle


beagle:

Thanks, but I'm new to the site. I'm not exactly sure where I should be searching for this article.

[9.3X62AL]

In 357 cases, 12.0 grains of 2400 with #358156 yields right around 1100 FPS in my 686 x 4". These loads are seated with boolit crimped into top crimp groove, enabling use in my pre-Model 27 N-frame 357 Magnum.

[AlaskaMike]

7 grains of unique gives a little over 11 fps in my 4" model 28 and is a good load. I like 8 grains of Alliant Power Pistol a little better though, for about the same velocity with the RCBS 38-150-SWC.

Mike

[theperfessor]

AlaskaMike-

Gotta be a typo in your velocity, I can't go that low with Trail Boss! Just kidding, what velocity were you really getting?

[AlaskaMike]

Umm... yeah! You wouldn't believe how hard it is to get 11 fps consistently and NOT lodge a bullet in the barrel every other shot! :-)

Heheh. Better make that 1100 fps, not 11! Thanks for catching that.

7.0 Unique gave me 1103 fps (with Lyman 329477)
8.0 Power Pistol gave me 1143 (with Lasercast 158 grain swc)

Since I cronographed those loads I've shot a bunch of both loads using the RCBS bullet, but I haven't actually shot them over the crono.

Mike

[vanilla_gorilla]

I've got a bunch of 158 LSWC loaded over 12.5 grains of 2400 and a standard primer in .38 Special cases. From a 6 inch Model 28-2, they trip the chrono at around 1150 (IIRC). I haven't tried from the 4 inch yet, but I expect 1050-1100. This load is quickly becoming my standard "do-everything" load.

My only other .38 load is the same bullet on 3.8 grains of Titegroup for around 850 fps.

[rugerman1]

http://www.castpics.net/

Look for the article under "Articles by Members"

/beagle
direct link to article:
High Speed .38 Special Loads (http://www.castpics.net/memberarticles/High%20Speed%20.38%20Special%20Loads.htm)

[Mr. Smith]

Thanks!

[sniper]

VERY good article! So far, I use Unique and Blue Dot.

When I was shooting the RCBS 150 KT over 5.5 gr. Unique in 357 Mag. cases, it chronographed 860 fps. No leading, with what I hoped was an approximation of Lyman #2 alloy. 7 gr. Unique should give close to 1100 fps. I never did chronograph the Lyman load for Blue Dot, but use it for mostly jacketed bullets.

I have the RCBS 150 gr Kt SWC again, as well as the 162gr. gas check SWC, that I am anxious to try. If that doesn't work, I'll probably go to the Lyman 358166, seeing as how that has been around since forever, and people seem to universally have good luck with it.

[NoDakJak]

I can't give you better advice than Denver or 9.3x62AL. My favorite load is 38 Special cases with 11.0 grains of 2400 behind the 173 grain Keith 358429. This provides 1,040 fps in my six inch Colt 357 Magnum. Elmer Keith gave me this load in the early sixties and I haven't found any better since. It was designed for the 38-44 but i have fired umpty thousands of them in K Frame revolvers and many hundreds in the J frame Chief Specials. I was probably kept out of trouble with the Chief Specials because most of the powder burnt out in front of the barrel. Truly ipressive six to eight foot flames after dark. Not a good load as far as efficientcy goes but very accurate. During many unofficial mathhes I outshot many four inch 38 and 357's with that revolver and load. Very good rifle load1 My Rossi 92 sort rifle loves it. Never the less, try 358156. Fantastic bullet! Use lots of 2400. After all these years there isn't anything better Neil

[Old Ironsights]

I thought you were looking for a LIGHT .357/.38 load...

I shoot 158gr LSWCs in my basement over 1.5gr Titegroup... ;)