Larry,
Thank you so much for conducting and posting this testing, there really is no replacement for meticulously collected data.
Larry,
Thank you so much for conducting and posting this testing, there really is no replacement for meticulously collected data.
I'm a big fan of data-driven decisions. You want to make me smile, show me a spreadsheet! Extra points for graphs and best-fit predictive equations.
I used to load the 358156 and 2400 in 38 Special cases for my Magnum revolvers. Then, I sold them. A couple years ago a 38/44 HD came to me. What a hoot shooting those loads the way they were intended to be used.
Kevin
Knowledge I take to my grave is wasted.
I prefer to use cartridges born before I was.
Success doesn't make me happy, being happy is what allows me to be successful.
For what it's worth, I believe that I have found a fine load using this bullet and powder combination. I have been trying to come up with a load equivalent to the old .38/44 factory one which is quoted in sources as being about 1100 fps, although my efforts using Unique powder have given less velocity than this and using 2400 powder have been higher velocity (even at recommended starting loads). My revolver is a 5" HD, my bullet 1:16 alloy, my mold a Lyman 358439 HP, sized to .357". The most consistent load for me has been 6.0 grains of Unique which has shown about 1010 fps and the lowest standard velocity variation. It also shoots very accurately. Lower and higher amounts of this powder had higher SD and worse accuracy in my shooting, and sizing to .358 also worse. So for me in my revolver I will be using the 6.0 of Unique load even though the velocity is not up to the published factory .38/44 velocity. I think it will be close enough. Obviously don't use this loading in any revolver except the no-longer-made S&W Heavy Duty or Outdoorsman or similarly extra-strong revolvers.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |