2015 .357 magnum load data vs 1994 .38 spl load data

[mamigor]

According to Hodgon's official website, the starting and maximum loads for a 158 gr. cast LSWC, .357 mag, go from 3.4 to 5.0 grains, under W231 powder.
Nonetheless, on "Lyman 47th Reloading handbook" (1994), maximum and starting loads for 158 gr. Linotype .38 spl are virtually the same for the same powder. (3.5 to 4.9 gr. [+P 5.2])

Can you explain me, why they are so similar? Is this caused by the difference in alloys (lead and linotype)?

Thanks

 

[mongoose33]

According to Hodgon's official website, the starting and maximum loads for a 158 gr. cast LSWC, .357 mag, go from 3.4 to 5.0 grains, under W231 powder.
Nonetheless, on "Lyman 47th Reloading handbook" (1994), maximum and starting loads for 158 gr. Linotype .38 spl are virtually the same for the same powder. (3.5 to 4.9 gr. [+P 5.2])

Can you explain me, why they are so similar? Is this caused by the difference in alloys (lead and linotype)?

Thanks

There's some evidence that over time, loads have declined as lawyers look for less powerful charges.

I guess the question I'd ask is what the load is for .38 special in W231. Well, never mind, I looked it up: 3.1 to 3.7 grains.

Clearly lower, by quite a lot.

 

[Buck13]

You might find this of interest:
http://www.shootingtimes.com/ammo/ammunition_st_cuppsireloaddata_200905/
Nervous engineers may be a better explanation than nervous lawyers. Bean counters ignoring nervous engineers is what blew up the space shuttle Challenger! No lawyers required.

OTOH, Hodgdon may have determined that those cast bullets simply performed poorly with higher loads. Their other cast table has slightly higher velocities for MEI bullets, but none of their cast bullet data exceeds 34,000 PSI. But their jacketed bullet loads have quite hairy-chested loads at circa 43,000 PSI for 4227 and Longshot powders. So, clearly their "lawyers" are not worried about blowing up guns with chamber pressure. Maybe the guys writing the manuals simply realize that blasting those lead bullets too hard and stripping the rifling clean off the bullets is not conducive to good shooting? And, yes, that might have something to do with the lead alloy, but any lead alloy has its limits.