Light 38sp load for a Henry Big Boy

Status
Not open for further replies.

peterk1234

Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2017
Messages
272
I have a nice plinking load for my SW 686 plus performance series handgun. 3.5 grains of HP38.

I have never verified the speed of the load so I am hoping you guys may be able to help. Do you think there is enough oomph to push this through a 20 inch barrel?

Thanks. Pete
 
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say yes. I've shot both .38 Short Colt and .38 Long Colt loaded with 125 gr lead bullets and Trail Boss powder out of my Henry. You may have different results though, depending on the bullet.
 
I’ll use HP-38 on occasion, it’s a good powder. That mild load will feel like you’re shooting .22 magnums out of your rifle. :thumbup:
Stay safe.
 
I have a nice plinking load for my SW 686 plus performance series handgun. 3.5 grains of HP38.

I have never verified the speed of the load so I am hoping you guys may be able to help. Do you think there is enough oomph to push this through a 20 inch barrel?

Thanks. Pete

Yes those will work. around 7 to 800 fps but be puff loads I would bump the load up however.

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol
 
My favorite .38 Special load is a 158gr LSWC over 4.0gr W231/HP-38. I would use the same charge with a coated bullet too. I think it's best for your levergun but that's just my opinion.
 
I'm running some 5 grains HP-38 with a Penn 158 TC (hard alloy version) through my Henry Single with no issues (22"barrel if memory serves). This is my heavy !!.357 Mag usage only!!! .38 revolver load for field pistol silhouette. I have found superior accuracy with this bullet and HS-6 in my rifle however. Away from my notes at the moment, but the HS-6 load follows Hodgedon data. I've also run this bullet up to max with IMR 4227 and accuracy in my rifle is ridiculous.

Your 3.5 grain load should work, but I think you might see better performance with a heavier charge of HP-38 (if your alloy is appropriate) or a slower powder.
 
Last edited:
My standard cowboy action .38 Special load is 3.2 grains of Red Dot under a 105 grain TCFP bullet. It averages 710 fps from my revolvers. Lots of fun from a rifle.
 
158 gr round nose hi tek coated
I see that 3.5 gr HP-38, lead 158 gr, is a tenth of a grain below Lyman Cast's minimum, while their max of 4.0 (837 fps) is rated as their most accurate result for that weight bullet in lead.

I think the question of whether the bullet will come out the barrel has been answered. Examining the premise though with a related anecdote, I have a good load with HP-38 and a 125 grain bullet, but my 158 gr usage is still working off my supply of the defunct SR-4756, Lyman's max of 5.5 rated at 872 fps and 15.8k CUP pressure, picked for its relatively high VMD and view ability in the case, when placing a bullet for seating. I wonder if the inertia of the heavier bullet would indicate a slower burn than HP-38, especially for a rifle. I shoot my 38s only in a revolver.

I plan to use BE-86 when the SR-4756 is gone.
 
You might want to try Trailboss. It is a flake powder with really good case fill. It burns clean but doesn't meter well. I use a dipper and get very repeatable results.
 
I too use HP-38/231, and shoot 4.0 grains under a 158 gr. RNFP and it shoots well in my Marlin 1894C and Ruger GP-100. An easy shooting load in either gun.
 
I would probably load it in a .357 case to use in a Henry. The only complaint I've ever heard about a Henry is problems feeding .38 Special ammo. If yours will fee the .38 ammo well, then that is fantastic and your load will work well. The only bullet I would be concerned with is a plated bullet because of the extra friction in the long barrel might cause a problem. When I was shooting plated, I had a few real light loads that worked well in a 4" barrel and would get close to the end of an 8 3/8" barrel and actually stop. First time it happened, I thought I had a squib. It happened several times before I stopped using that load and did some research. Plated bullets run a lot slower than lead, coated lead and jacketed.
 
There has been some good advice and suggestions already posted.

I'd approach the use of your handgun load in your rifle with caution.

I did some loading of 148 WC for handguns a few years ago and at first, the powder charge was too light for a 6" barrel revolver but I could shoot them out in a 2" revolver. At least I was able to shoot out the light charged ammunition as opposed to disassembling it.

I increased the powder charge so that the bullet would exit the 6" barrel and all is well.

So, be careful in your testing.
 
I put about 100 rounds through thr gun with my light load. No problem. Everyone had fun plinking at steel with it. I also loaded some hp38 at 3.9. Shot very nicely so that will become my new light load. Now, Shooting 357 rounds with 14.0 gr of 2400, that was truly fun!

What a great gun.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top