Bullseye 38 spcl

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area51

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Loaded some 38 spcl with 2.7 grains 158 swc which were really nice to shoot. How many fps would I get out of 2.5gr load ? Anyone recommend going that low ? My Lyman 45th edition shows 519 fps with 2.0 grains and 826 fps with 3.5 grains..
 
Don't press your luck.

By your own admission, the 2.7 load is doing perfectly fine.

Don't mess with success.
It was the winning powder and charge with 148 grain target bullets for most of the 20th. century.
It will work as well fairly safely with 158's, but 3.0 - 3.5 will work better.

Especially when it could mean a lodged bullet in the barrel when you least suspect it, and a ruined gun if you go too low.

rc
 
If you go too low with your load, the primers will back out and lock up the cylinder, since it's the pressure inside the case that reseats the primer after it backs out of the primer pocket upon detonation. The burning powder's gases need to build up enough pressure to do this, and if you go much lower, there won't be enough.

The other problem you'll face is sticking a bullet in the barrel, since there won't be enough pressure to drive it all the way to the muzzle. If you don't notice that you've got a bullet stuck, and fire the next round, there's a good chance you'll bulge your barrel.

I think you're about as low as you want to go, though I've fired literally thousands and thousands of round with that powder charge and the 148 gr. HBWC bullet, but the volume of the case is reduced considerably when the bullet is seated flush with the case mouth.

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
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