Need a load for .38LC

[fiatmom]

Does any one have a load for .38 long colt? I would like to use Unique, Trail Boss or a Black powder substitute.
Thanks

[rintinglen]

most data for the 38 S&W can be used in the 38 LC, but first, what bullet are you going to use? Second, what gun are you shooting it out of? If this is just a reduced load thing for cowboy shooting out of a modern 357 or 38 special, then just about any starting load for the 38 special could work just fine. If, on the other hand, you are hankering to shoot great grand dad's old Colt Lightning, then only the lightest loads should be considered.
All this aside, the only time I reloaded any, I used 2.5 grains of bullseye under an RCBS 150 grain SWC. I loaded 50 rds using my 38/357 sizer die to size and decap, my 38 super expander and seater dies did the trick. I let my daughter shoot them out of a 3 inch J-frame with the thought that the reduced recoil would help her shooting, but regular WC loads in 38 cases were about the same and were a lot easier to make in quantity. For a Unique Load, I would try 3.3 grains.

[fiatmom]

Thanks Rintinglen ,I will be using a 158 gr swc . The loads you gave agree with the data I had using Unique. I will start using 3.0 gr and will be shooting an Ebair from Spain. I tried Trail Boss and was not very happy with 1.8 to 2.0 gr..

[BerdanIII]

.38 Long Colt Data

Hodgdon Triple 7 - No compression should be used
125-gr LRN - 15.0 grs VOLUME - 808 fps - 5.5K CUP
150-gr LRN - 12.0 grs VOLUME - 740 fps - 6.0 K CUP

Trail Boss
125-gr LRN - 2.0 to 2.4 - 622 to 705 fps
150-gr LRN - 1.8 to 2.0 - 541 to 575 fps

The .38 Special - Pet Loads, Ken Waters
"…150-grain round nose bullets and only 18 grains of black powder…"

The Complete Guide to Handloading, Sharpe
148-gr Factory Lead - 3.0 - Bullseye - 810 fps - 12.0K psi
The above is the only load listed using a current powder.
"It is advisable to use .38 Special cases if your gun will chamber them and load to Long specifications."

Description of the Colt's Double Action Revolver, Caliber .38, 1917
Weight of powder charge: 16 grains (I'm assuming this is black powder)
Weight of ball: 150 grains

The cartridge drawing shows a solid-head case, so maybe Waters' 18-grain load is from the old balloon-head case, but I don't know for sure.

"The muzzle velocity of this weapon with the Frankford Arsenal cartridge, with about 3½ grains of smokeless powder and 148-grain bullet, is 750 feet per second."

The Army performed penetration and danger space tests to 200 yards, but the manual states that with a lateral drift of 2.24" at 100 yards and 7.80" at 150 yards, "The result of these firings indicated that but little reliance could be placed on results obtained at over 75 yards. A very slight variation in the ammunition produced such widely varying results at the longer ranges as to render even an average of many results unreliable and misleading."