Low powder charge 38 Special

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Exactly.. now I remember. The fellow may well a had mad skilz. They are so "odd" I'd probably not shoot them but keep them as a.. keepsake.

Light loads of Unique and Bullseye are quite common. I personally shoot 3.2 grains of Bullseye behind a 158 frain RNFP out of a Rossi '92 rifle all the time at 50 yards. It's a nice little plinker.
You'll enjoy the wadcutter loads. Their usually loaded fairly low, for accuracy, and make a really nice neat hole in the target.

I don't mean to hijack this thread but could someone (like RC) explain why the low charges the OP is asking about are not a concern because of the "low powder can lead to a 'secondary detonation' or whatever that problem is" thing? Pardon the poor phrasing and lack of knowledge to accurately express my question but hopefully you know what I mean.

I'm certainly no RC but "secondary detonation" was discounted way back in the day.. 2.7gr Bullseye if I remember correctly.

We are half superstitious and pray to Saint Gabriel (may God bless his soul) daily but hold that the written word was written for a reason.

It's only advisable with faster double base powders, which Bullseye and Unique are.

Here is my take on SEE, or Secondary Explosion Effect.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=6976324#post6976324


2.7 Bullseye doesn't, can't, and has never detonated and blown up a gun.

2.7 & a 148 WC was the standard .38 Spl mid-range match load for 75 years.

What blows up guns with light charges of fast powder is double or triple charges, or two bullets stuffed in the case with one charge.

There was an epidemic of it back in the 50's & 60's when progressive loaders first became available.

Then again more recently when the Cowboy Action guys thought if light was good, too light was even better.

Stuck bullets, double charges, and all kinds of other foolish mistakes followed.

rc

I started reloading a year or so ago, at one point I was having fun seeing how light a plinking load I could make for the .38 spcl. I remember being somewhere in the 350fps range with 150gr wadcutters, not having to wear earplugs, being able to easily see the bullet in flight, and having to hold 4' or so over @ 50 yards. It was 2.something grains of unique, don't remember, probably forgot on purpose, lol
I quickly realized the foolishness of that game after I locked up the cylinder of a 28-2 with a bullet stuck halfway between the forcing cone and cylinder.

Thanks to everyone for the replies about the 'too light charge high pressure issue'. Definitely have a much clearer understanding now.

One of my favorite loads is "the load".. go figure.. it's 13 grains of Red Dot behind a heavy cast slug. 30-06.

I hear you and so am I. Though back in the day I'd go pretty low with IMR4895 and cast slugs.

Trent,
As far as the 38 specials go with revolvers being really light loads, I've loaded some mouse fart .38 sp for a friends wife and I made sure my friend (he) understood they were loaded for a 1 7/8"barrel. I told he to not under any circumstances shoot these out of a 6"or longer barrel because they may not exit the barrel.

Be careful when you test these, they may be the same way, especially if loaded with the minumim of Bullseye.

Take care,
TT

Trent said:

I still won't load a big rifle cartridge with a light charge of slow burning powder.

Click to expand...

I won't either. Even Hodgdon doesn't promote downloading anything slower than H-4895.

I use fast powders (like non-magnum pistol powders) for light loads.