Those marlins are finicky aren't they?Round nose Lee mold for the Marlin, and A Few others… I have Some Semi wadcutter nice old Lyman molds for the Hog legs. Just got a 173gr Old Lyman mold… Have some good Mag lead shot to use and I’ll PC them. Highly regarded- yet it will not work in my Marlin most likely- unless Single loaded Most likely. That 173 and a Good amount of Lil Gun would be a real shooter.
Keith - So often many hold his name and what he did to Levels of Sainthood. He blew up many guns- took pressures to the limit of danger. I don’t think I’d follow that person to the gun range today as I don’t want metal impacted into my face.
Skeeter or Taffin , A good bit safer… along with few others. Now no need to flame me about my opinion- or try and change it. He and Others… had a tremendous amount of involvement in handguns a long time ago. Yet in my opinion- To many Set old Elmer up next to the Pope. Jack O’Connor or as some called him “270 Jack” Did very well with a Modest smaller caliber, Wrote about it also and Didn’t think Highly of Elmer. He wasn’t someone who was considered different than the average normal guy…. as I believe that is where I am- a average safe Reloader.
If you're on the right track for hot 38s.Alright, I better get serious and buy the right bullets. Very hard cast .358 125g, got a bottle of lil-gun and ready to rock and roll
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Not trying to change your opinion, but A) so far as I know Keith was documented to have blown up a single gun, in his early 20s, and B) Keith was considered more of a "regular guy" compared with college professor O'Connor - and in fact, supporters and detractors could be divided up fairly well along the lines of white-collar guys for O'Connor and blue-collar guys for Keith.
Found this from a member on another Post years ago. Very informative 38 spl - Heavy Boolet with Unique. Gotta be great from a 38spl trail Gun that you want penetration on.
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never understood the term “Boolet”Sound advise- excellent information to the Novice and Experienced reloader.
Unique dosnt work well in throws from time to time. Yet that 173gr out of a Model 10, model 60 would be formidable…. yet I’ll try it in my 686 first, Or Marlin for that matter. Great trail ammo in a smaller revolver. A Hard cast 173gr 38 spl from 800-950 Fps depending on barrel length.
Ps- someone certainly would offer that boolet to someone that dosnt cast themselves.
“Hot 38spl” Ya I like that one.
Here - 170 hardcast available
I avoid bullets lighter than 135gr. in .38Spl. It's a waste of valuable resources.What the hotties .38 Special have you loaded?
I’m thinking 125gn plated round nose
9.5 grains of 2400 under a 158 gr JHP/JSP
Should - if you put the bullet where it needs to go. I tend to go for back-side-looking chest shot, try and rip up the heart muscle, and for that I prefer a heavy WFN-GC bullet in the 170-200gr. range - but, both the Sierra and Speer 158gr. JSP/JHC/JHP are all good bullets at 1200+fps inside 50 yards. 9.5gr. is at the top of the data for .38Spl but well inside safety margins, in my experience. I have pushed it higher with 200gr. gas-checked/hard-cast but there was no benefit. Waste of powder.I've got it on my mind to use the 1866 and one of the above loads to deer hunt with this fall. There's a good spot that offers shots under 50 yards not too far from the house, and I think that either one of the loads I mentioned would kill a deer just fine given proper application.
9.5gr. is at the top of the data for .38Spl but well inside safety margins, in my experience.
I have used 2400 heavy loads meant for the rifle or long-barrel revolver in a Detective Special. It don't hurt the gun. 9.5gr. of 2400 in a snub nose is just wasted hot gas.It's pretty peppy, to be sure. But I've not noticed any ill effects on either gun or brass when using it. Well, except on one occasion when I had a case break in the chamber of my 1866; I attribute that to cheap, thin brass rather than the loading since I had it happen one other time, using 3.5grs Bullseye under a 158 LSWC. Not a heavy load by any means, but it still resulted in a broken case. I personally feel that it's a safe load in any 38 Special gun, but I wouldn't subject an Airweight to a steady diet of them and label the boxes accordingly. My current label states "38/44 Heavy Duty; Not For Use in Light Revolvers" to hopefully keep me or anyone else from sticking them in a M10 or Airweight J-frame.
Mac
9.5gr. of 2400 in a snub nose is just wasted hot gas.
I like the MBC 180 WFN. I want to get the same mold so I can cast them softer. But they are the most accurate load I've shot from my Rossi.Should - if you put the bullet where it needs to go. I tend to go for back-side-looking chest shot, try and rip up the heart muscle, and for that I prefer a heavy WFN-GC bullet in the 170-200gr. range - but, both the Sierra and Speer 158gr. JSP/JHC/JHP are all good bullets at 1200+fps inside 50 yards. 9.5gr. is at the top of the data for .38Spl but well inside safety margins, in my experience. I have pushed it higher with 200gr. gas-checked/hard-cast but there was no benefit. Waste of powder.