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Thread: 38 s&w

  1. #1
    In Remembrance bikerbeans's Avatar
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    38 s&w

    Anyone load shot for the 38 S&W? Looking load data and component ideas.

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  2. #2
    Boolit Grand Master Outpost75's Avatar
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    In my S&W Victory Model .38 S&W I use the Speer shot capsules with 2.7 grains of Bullseye, seated to 1.20" OAL and light taper crimp using a 9mm taper crimp die.
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  3. #3
    Boolit Buddy
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    If it is for a Webley they won't work. The cylinder is about the length of a 357 case. You will have to load without the Speer capsule.

  4. #4
    Boolit Grand Master
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    I made some for my father-in-law's Iver Johnson using the Speer capsules, number 9 shot and 2.5 grains of Bullseye. He killed a couple of rattlers stone dead with them.
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  5. #5
    Boolit Master
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    A buddy asked me if I loaded 38 S&W; so I got in a set of dies, checked Hatcher's Textbook of Pistols and Revolvers and loaded up some with 2.3 grains of Bullseye, and mixed boolits - 148 grain HBWC's and pulled 38 Special lead round nose, and swaged Speer swc's. Fixing to try some of the Speer capsules.

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  6. #6
    Boolit Master
    Scrounge's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JoeJames View Post
    A buddy asked me if I loaded 38 S&W; so I got in a set of dies, checked Hatcher's Textbook of Pistols and Revolvers and loaded up some with 2.3 grains of Bullseye, and mixed boolits - 148 grain HBWC's and pulled 38 Special lead round nose, and swaged Speer swc's. Fixing to try some of the Speer capsules.
    Decades ago, I had one of the Iver Johnson break-tops in .38S&W, the Speer shot capsules worked nicely with small shot. You'll probably want to do some test loads to see what works best for you. I think mine were 3 grains of Bullseye, but it's been a long time, and none of my load data from then has survived. I think if I were to do it again, I'd start at 1.5 grains, and work up by tenths.
    Last edited by Scrounge; 11-13-2020 at 12:10 PM. Reason: remove photo

  7. #7
    Boolit Master
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    Nozombies.com Practical Zombie Survival

    Collecting .32 molds. Please let me know if you have one you don't need, cause I might "need" it!

  8. #8
    Boolit Bub everybodydiesintime's Avatar
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    This post is a life saver,I got a Iver Johnson safety hammerless a couple weeks ago and finding bullets seems to be a task where I am. So some shot shells seem to be a great idea for now.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
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    I have several .38 S&W handguns, but never loaded shot shells for any. The case is so short that the payload would be smaller than for the .38 Special or .357 for which I do load rattler loads. Here in snake country in rural PA, my loads are Unique, a gas check cup up a dose of #6 or #7.5 shot, a gas check cup down and a roll crimp over the case mouth.

    ALWAYS wear eye protection when firing snake loads! The fine shot will bounce back from hard ground or rocks and can cause injury!

    Adam

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

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