How versatile is a good load

AJC1 said:

I have two loads one in 38 and one in 357 that work well in a colt 4" and a 16.5 marlin carbine. Because the factory creates loads that are very versatile, I'm curious if it also happens in hand loads. I have a 24" cowboy marlin at my parents and I'm hoping those loads also work well in that.... reasonable or no way...

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never knew you for a Colt Cowboy guy. Following this thread closely. I’m getting a Colt or a repo SAA to match my Winchester 73 .357. Let see what you guy come up with.

AJC1 said:

24" cowboy marlin at my parents and I'm hoping those loads also work well in that.... reasonable or no way...

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That long barrel might like a slightly slower powder than say a really fast pistol powder. There was a thread on here a while back and I think they had good luck with HS-6.

It depends on what powder you are using (in your handgun version...) and what you expect your rifle to do.

I have my .41MAG pistols... the generic load is 8.5grn Unique under a 215grn cast SWC. This load also shoots well in my 20" Marlin... but it also depends on how I'm using the rifle. If I'm poking paper at 50yds, the Unique load is fine, but if I'm trying to reach that 400yd steel... not so much. Same same with the pistols... that Unique load won't reach the 500yd steel out of my 4" S&W... but my rifle load, 20grn IMR4227 under that very same 215grn bullet... does. In fact, I hit 6 for 6 twice... at 500yds. The caveat to that is... of course... I don't always want to shoot big boomers in my pistols, so my pistol load works well in my rifle, and my rifle load works well in my pistols... but I have 2 different loads at the end of the day.

I would say that if you are trying to work up a good load to work in both a rifle and pistol, and particularly that long Cowboy Marlin... I would start with powders in the Unique burn range and slower. W231 and Bullseye make dandy .38 plinking loads... but I don't know how well they would work in that long Cowboy... if you see what I mean.

Docendo Discimus said:

That long barrel might like a slightly slower powder than say a really fast pistol powder. There was a thread on here a while back and I think they had good luck with HS-6.

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I like HS-6

John, let me know if you need me to plug any values into QuickLoad.

AJC1 said:

I have two loads one in 38 and one in 357 that work well in a colt 4" and a 16.5 marlin carbine. Because the factory creates loads that are very versatile, I'm curious if it also happens in hand loads. I have a 24" cowboy marlin at my parents and I'm hoping those loads also work well in that.... reasonable or no way...

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Perfectly reasonable depending on your expectations. I have personally found very few factory loads which were satisfactory in revolvers and carbines. My 1894 was a 20” and my Blackhawk was the 4-5/8” but the same green and yellow box loads the Marlin liked were disappointing in the Ruger. Funny enough, any box loads the Ruger liked were fine if less than spectacular in the Marlin

Actually, that Silhouette load would probably be very workable in the rifle.

Most factory .38 Specials reach their max velocity at around 16-17 inches of barrel, and then velocity drops off slightly with additional barrel length. You can mitigate this loss of barrel length by using slow pistol powders, but then you run the risk of losing velocity in your revolver due to unburned powder inside the barrel. Look at a burn rate chart, and choose a powder probably between Unique and IMR 4227 and play around with different loads to optimize a load for both. At least that’s been my experience.

Mr_Flintstone said:

Most factory .38 Specials reach their max velocity at around 16-17 inches of barrel, and then velocity drops off slightly with additional barrel length. You can mitigate this loss of barrel length by using slow pistol powders, but then you run the risk of losing velocity in your revolver due to unburned powder inside the barrel. Look at a burn rate chart, and choose a powder probably between Unique and IMR 4227 and play around with different loads to optimize a load for both. At least that’s been my experience.

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That covers a lot of powder, including Blue Dot and Accurate No.7. I’ve typically gone for the slow pistol/fast rifle powders - 2400, 4100, IMR 4227, and that range - but there’s no reason to think the magnum shotgun powders won’t work as well - 800x, Blue Dot, Steel, Lil’Gun, and some of “Blackout” powders. I use a lot of 2400 and IMR 4227 so I may be biased.

Walkalong said:

I have loads for .32 Long, .32 Mag, 9MM, .38 Spl, .357 Mag and .44 Spl that work in multiple guns.

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I am with Walkalong when it comes to making universal-type loads for rifles and multiple handguns. Most are using Unique, but Ill use AA 7 and HP-38, too.

I will create a specialty load for specific guns or uses as well, but the versatile ones make overall range trip logistics easier.

Stay safe..

GeoDudeFlorida said:

That covers a lot of powder, including Blue Dot and Accurate No.7. I’ve typically gone for the slow pistol/fast rifle powders - 2400, 4100, IMR 4227, and that range - but there’s no reason to think the magnum shotgun powders won’t work as well - 800x, Blue Dot, Steel, Lil’Gun, and some of “Blackout” powders. I use a lot of 2400 and IMR 4227 so I may be biased.

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I didn’t see where a bullet type or weight was mentioned in the original post, so it’s hard to narrow down a best powder or load. I’m with you though. I like both 2400 and IMR 4227. I managed to find a few published loads and toyed with H110 in .38 Special, but abandoned it because it was too erratic. I absolutely love IMR 4227 in 38 Special in my Henry, especially with 158 gr coated RNFP, but it is a little dirty in my revolvers. 2400 is nearly as good, but it’s hard to find right now. I’ve been meaning to try Blue Dot, but it’s kind of elusive right now too.

My favorite is an old standby 5.0 Grains of Unique .38 Special 158 RNFP. Used in the only lever I own a Rossi 92 Saddle Ring Carbine 16”. This round always performs in my revolvers and works just as good in the carbine. I have never put it on a chronograph in the rifle but it is a 840 fps average in my revolvers. I would guess it picks up some speed in the carbine but not enough to lead with the 12-14 brinnel cowboy bullets. This was not a special project just rounds that in already loaded. Super accurate to 100 yards. The .38 Special runs smooth in this handy little carbine. I have always intended to add a .44 version but prices just got crazy on lever action rifles.
I would think that in following with the Cowboy tradition of soft lead that anything sub 1100 fps will work well. 44-40 is a good example of the classic revolver/carbine combo.

Do the two Marlins have the same rifling twist? Probably not if one is purpose made for lead bullets. That may change things no matter what you try.

357 mag loaded with AA#9 and 158 gr Hornady XTP’s shoots great in my pistol and Marlin rifle. So does 240 XTP’s with Win 296 in a Ruger Super Blackhawk and Win Trapper rifle. I believe a big part of the accuracy with different loads and in different guns lies with consistently good bullets?