GeoDudeFlorida
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---I just ran a load for .38 Special using SAAMI pressure limits (17,000 psi) through my Quickload program. Here are the numbers. For SAAMI +P loads, the limit is 18,500 psi, according to Quickload.
Lyman's 358311 LRN bullet wt. of 158 grs. & seated for an overall cartridge length of 1.550".
Using a 4" barrel length I got the following data.
The relative burning rate of Universal lies somewhere between Unique and Herco according to the 49th Edition of Lyman's Handloading Handbook. HTH's Rod
4.0 gr of Hodgen Universal = 762 fps with a max chamber pressure of 13,000 psi
4.5 gr of Hodgen Universal = 822 fps with a max chamber pressure of 16,200 psi
4.7 gr of Hodgen Universal = 860 fps with a max chamber pressure of 17,600 psi
4.9 gr of Hodgen Universal = 887 fps with a max chamber pressure of 19,000 psi
This same manual (49th Edition of Lyman's Handloading Handbook) lists the following data for the same bullet & seating depth, using Unique.
A 4" bbl. gave 801 fps with 4.2 grains Unique and 11,400 psi & 905 fps with 4.7 gr & 15,900 psi.
The old ammunition catalogs from the 1930s usually show the MV of the .38-44 cartridge as being in the low 1100s from a 5" barrel (158gr. LRN or MC). Run that through Quickload and you will most likely find those original loads were into the magnum range, not just +P.