w30wcf
07-04-2008, 09:54 AM
A number of years ago I acquired an early UMC (<1911) box of Mid Range .38 S&W Special. The box was in fairly good condition and contained 46 fired cases.
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o25/w30wcf/38SpecialMidRangeJPG.jpg
As the box lid indicates, the bullet weighed 116 grs., and according to U.M.C. records, the factory powder charge was 2.3 grs. of Bullseye. Note the higher position of the case cannelure used with the lighter bullet.
As luck would have it, a friend had the correct bullet mold, an early Ideal 36072. I made some bullets from it in w.w. + 2% tin alloy.
I have some Bullseye made in 1917, and loaded the 2.3 gr. charge into the U.M.C. headstamped cases after priming them with Rem 1 1/2 pistol primers. Since these cases were originally fired with mercuric primers, I was a little concerned about possible case failure, but with the low pressure of this loading, they were aok.
Groups @ 50 feet are in the 1" range from my Ruger Security Six (.357) and velocity runs 680 f.p.s. from it's 6" barrel. It's a neat plinking round.
It's kind of neat, stepping back in time to shoot ammunition that was used 100 years ago.
w30wcf
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o25/w30wcf/38SpecialMidRangeJPG.jpg
As the box lid indicates, the bullet weighed 116 grs., and according to U.M.C. records, the factory powder charge was 2.3 grs. of Bullseye. Note the higher position of the case cannelure used with the lighter bullet.
As luck would have it, a friend had the correct bullet mold, an early Ideal 36072. I made some bullets from it in w.w. + 2% tin alloy.
I have some Bullseye made in 1917, and loaded the 2.3 gr. charge into the U.M.C. headstamped cases after priming them with Rem 1 1/2 pistol primers. Since these cases were originally fired with mercuric primers, I was a little concerned about possible case failure, but with the low pressure of this loading, they were aok.
Groups @ 50 feet are in the 1" range from my Ruger Security Six (.357) and velocity runs 680 f.p.s. from it's 6" barrel. It's a neat plinking round.
It's kind of neat, stepping back in time to shoot ammunition that was used 100 years ago.
w30wcf