Reduced Mr. Keith's .38 special load

[Rex]

I have a 4" L frame Smith that I am very fond of. I tried Mr. Keith's load of 13.5gr 2400 under his 173 grain bullet and found the extraction a bit sticky in my revolver. Next I reduced the load to 12 grains and it shot fine with a few granules left in the barrel. So today I loaded some 358665 bullets that drop at 165 grains with Wheel Weight lead over 12.5 grains of 2400 with a magnum primer as I have lots of them. The barrel was clean, the primers rounded and it hit a 4" plate at 25 yards with satisfactory regularity. These shot with a two hand hold standing on my hind legs. Bullets lubed with Lar's 50-50 and out of a .38 special case. They shot so well that I will make another trip with the chrony and see what they do.
My 67 year old eyes said they couldn't do much more.
Rex

[Heavy lead]

These shot with a two hand hold standing on my hind legs.
Rex

As opposed to your front legs? :kidding:
Sorry, couldn't resist.
Which magnum primer are you using if you would be so kind?

[Rex]

CCI Mag primers. During the recent insanity they were all I could find so I adapted. I now have standard primers but will use these up.
Rex

[Heavy lead]

I've been using 12.5 under a RP 5.5 spmp with the NOE Keith that's been good, but in 357 brass not 38. I found 250 once fired Federal brass (I knew it was just once fired as it was all in one pile and there was still a loaded wadcutter still in it after pulling it was obvious it was virgin brass), so I'm thinking of loading it up and using it.
Thanks

[Rex]

Heavy Lead, I don't own a .38 special revolver or even a K frame Smith so I don't worry about having hot .38 special loads laying around.
Rex