38 super 38 auto

[shdwlkr]

Ok
I need some input on using 38 acp or 38 auto brass in my 38 super. What I need is what powders and charges can I use so as not to ruin the 38 auto cases.
I will be using jacketed and one lead round nose 125 grain bullet. Jacketed will most likely be 115, 124 and 125
thanks.
I have looked in my old manuals and they don't go back far enough to even list the old 38 auto or 38acp.

[JIMinPHX]

Off the top of my head, I think that the .38acp & .38 super have the same physical dimensions but different pressure ratings. I know that .38 super ammo will destroy a regular .38auto. I'll have to look that up when I get home though. Right now, I'm out on the east coast. I should be back tomorrow. I'm pretty sure that I have at least some loading data for that cartridge.

[shdwlkr]

Jiminphx
Yes the brass is different strength and that is why I am asking for loading info as i don't want to over load the brass.
thanks

[JIMinPHX]

Page 299 of Cartridges of The World #9 lists the following for 38 Automatic (38acp)

115fmj - 5 grains Bullseye 1150fps source Hornady
125jhp - 4.7gr Bullseye 1100fps source Hornady
130fmj factory load 1040fps
***This sounds a tad hot to me for an antique gun***

My Lyman book says to use a cast boolit of 133 grains or less & start 1/2 grain below the STARTING powder charge for a .38 Super, then work up slowly to the starting load. Some starting loads for the Super with a 133 grain boolit are as follows -
Bullseye 4 gr 1000fps, 19,800CUP
Unique 5.1 gr 1045fps, 21,000CUP
Blue dot 6.8 gr 1042fps, 18,500CUP
630 8.4gr 1054fps, 18,100CUP
****Start 1/2 grain below each of these for a .38acp according to Lyman***
Lyman also lists data for smaller boolits. Please let me know if you need it.

[JIMinPHX]

My Lee book lists the 38acp too. The data it shows pretty closely matches the speeds shown by Cartridges of The World. A bunch of different powders are listed.

[shdwlkr]

Jiminphx
thanks that will do and the pistol is a 38 super that is only maybe 3 years old the brass is what is the kicker. It is for the 38 auto because no one had the 38 super brass and I needed to know what was safe for the brass not the pistol as it will take some really hot loads which I would never use.

[JIMinPHX]

Grafs has several varieties of 38 super brass in stock - http://www.grafs.com/metallic/509
The Star-line would be my preference.

[Boz330]

IF the chamber is fully supported you should have no problem with the brass. When I started shooting the Super in IPSC you couldn't find Super brass and had to use the 38 ACP brass.

Bob

[shdwlkr]

bob
Since the pistol is only 4 years old I am quite sure it is fully supported.
Now to make things really interesting I called winchester and they said that the brass for the 38 auto couldn't be loaded to fire in a 38 super. Yet from you guys i am finding that all I need is enough powder to work the action which is where I shoot most of the time with super brass and that is why I started asking questions as I sure don't want to have metal parts coming back at me when I pull the trigger and I don't hot load anything anymore and haven't for the better part of 40 years as it just seems to use to much powder for to little in return.

[Grapeshot]

From my years as a commercial reloader I found that the .38 Super cases are nickled and the .38 ACP are yellow brass. I have never seen a difference in the internal or external dimentions between the two cartridges.

If you are trying to duplicate .38 ACP using .38 Super brass, I don't see a problem.

Last time I looked Star-Line has .38 Super Brass.

Good Luck.

[ra_balke]

I used to have about 300 baloon head 38 auto factory loads.
The really old stuff, copra nickle bullets.

After they were fired, I simply loaded then as usual in my 38 super.

Truth is, if memory serves, they nailed tin cans about as often as any other load.

If memory serves, I think they were thinner at the case mouth, but I never really had any trouble with them.

I had that ammo in and out of loaded condition for years, and in truth, the stuff still pops up every once in awhile.

[shdwlkr]

thanks for the replies as it is making it much easier for me to load my 38 auto brass with lead bullets and shoot in my 38 super. I didn't think there would be an issue but it is so much easier to ask before eating metal parts because I missed something.