38 Short Colt recipes

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jski said:
Like I mentioned on another thread, these Lehigh all copper bullets seem to be the rage these days. Part of a “lead is dead” movement of some kind.

(Don’t tell the guys at http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forum.php)

They have gotten rave reviews on some of the gun channels but I have no personal experience with them.
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I am not against lead bullet and still shoot a lot of them but I have been using copper bullets in my 450 Bushmaster and 300 Blackout and the performance has been excellent. I am a fan of them because they work for me. I have not tried Lehigh yet but am speaking of copper in general. I am using Barnes and Maker.
 
Interesting! This is Starline brass:

9mm: 0.748 - 0.754 O.A.L.
38 Short Colt: 0.754 - 0.761 O.A.L.
​
The result being the 38 Short Colt actually has slightly greater case capacity than the 9mm.
 
jski said:
Interesting! This is Starline brass:

9mm: 0.748 - 0.754 O.A.L.
38 Short Colt: 0.754 - 0.761 O.A.L.
​
The result being the 38 Short Colt actually has slightly greater case capacity than the 9mm.
Click to expand...

Yeah a lot of UPSPA guys start with mild 9mm data to work up their loads.

There was a short lived rimmed 9mm called 9mm Federal that was basically a rimmed 9x19 case and use the same loads and pressures. It did not make it but was an interesting cartridge nearly identical to our modern 38 Short Colt such as you are playing with.
 
mcb said:
Yeah a lot of UPSPA guys start with mild 9mm data to work up their loads.

There was a short lived rimmed 9mm called 9mm Federal that was basically a rimmed 9x19 case and use the same loads and pressures. It did not make it but was an interesting cartridge nearly identical to our modern 38 Short Colt such as you are playing with.
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Thought you’d appreciate this:
upload_2020-5-26_22-18-51.jpeg
 
jski said:
Thought you’d appreciate this:
View attachment 919449
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Yeap the funny thing is in that post is I now that person above the one you highlight personally. Ed Henry is a personal friend of mine. I took his 327TRR8 as my backup revolver to the USPSA Revolver Nationals in 2014.

mxpYxeEm.jpg
My 627 PC top, Ed's 327 bottom.
 
Last edited:
Saw this on another website/forum:
Loading 38 short colts to 9mm pressures for use in ICORE and USPSA is very common. Most guys running a S&W 627 are doing it. Use a target powder like Sport Pistol, Clays, Bullseye, 231 and heavy bullets. I use 135 and 160 grain. Don’t try to get magnum performance. Don’t run them in non 357 mag guns. Anything over 1000 fps and you’re pushing the bounds of safety.
The jump of the bullet down the cylinder does affect accuracy, but less than you would think. From sand bags my 627 will hold a 4 inch group at 25 yards using 38 short colts.
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jski said:
  1. Those are 38 Short Colts racked & stacked?
  2. Using Starline brass?
  3. Oh yeah and BTW, what weight bullets are you using and which powder and how much of it?
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Yes those are 38 Short Colt. I have a mix or Star Line and Remington. I actually like the Remington slightly better as it fits a touch tighter on my Revolver Supply moonclips. The load is listed in my second post near the beginning of the thread.
 
mcb said:
Yes those are 38 Short Colt. I have a mix or Star Line and Remington. I actually like the Remington slightly better as it fits a touch tighter on my Revolver Supply moonclips. The load is listed in my second post near the beginning of the thread.
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Would you have any reservations about shooting them in a 38 Special +P rated wheelgun?
 
jski said:
And why do you prefer the heavier bullets in your 38 Short loads?
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When required to make a specific Power Factor, such as in USPSA, most shooters find that a heavier bullet will have a more pleasant recoil impulse then a light bullet when both are loaded to similar Power Factors.
 
Just called Starline and spoke with their ballistician. I asked if their 38 Short Case were designed to handle 9mm +P pressures.

His answer: “Absolutely!”.
 
jski said:
Just called Starline and spoke with their ballistician. I asked if their 38 Short Case were designed to handle 9mm +P pressures.

His answer: “Absolutely!”.
Click to expand...
Sure it basically the same case as their 357 Mag just cut short.
 
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