MarineTech
Member
I recently picked up a 2.5" S&W Model 19 that I had originally bought so that I could get in some practice with a short sight radius similar to to the 638 Airweight that I occasionally carry. I quickly fell in love with the mild recoil of the M19 even with .357 Magnum loads. I was so impressed by this gun that I bought a second M19 with a 4" barrel off Gunbroker.
My intention was to work up some "Light" .357 loads for the snub to use for home defense that would better ensure expansion of a hollow point. I'd then work up some heavier loads for the 4" to carry when I went into the woods. I know that the M19s would wear heavily with a steady diet of magnum loads, so my practice is going to be with standard .38SPL ammo.
I currently reload for rifles, but I haven't loaded pistol ammo yet. This is going to be my first foray into that area.
In another thread, there is talk that 125gr. loads have a tendency to wear on an M19 more than 158gr. loads.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=42028
So, I'm wondering where to go on this.
The load I had originally intended to use for the snub was from the Lyman 48th Edition manual. It was a "starting" load and showed a 125gr GDHP over 21 grains of H110 giving a velocity of 1357fps and 33,500 CUP out of a 4" barrel. I figured that even with the loss of velocity from the snub, it would still give me enough velocity for reliable expansion. Assuming that the discussion in the above post is correct, would I be better served using 158gr. bullets to reduced wear? The same manual lists a 158gr. GDHP over 16.3 grains of H110 for a velocity of 1178fps and 31700CUP. Would this give me enough velocity out of the snub barrel for reliable expansion?
My original plan for a load in the 4" was a slight modification from a Lyman load. They list a 158gr. GDHP over 16.3 grains of H110 as a starting load (see above) and working up to 17 grains of H110 for a velocity of 1309fps and 38400CUP. Would there be any problems with substituting a 158gr. JSP bullet instead of the Gold Dot HP assuming that I work up from the starting load?
Any input on the situation is welcome.
My intention was to work up some "Light" .357 loads for the snub to use for home defense that would better ensure expansion of a hollow point. I'd then work up some heavier loads for the 4" to carry when I went into the woods. I know that the M19s would wear heavily with a steady diet of magnum loads, so my practice is going to be with standard .38SPL ammo.
I currently reload for rifles, but I haven't loaded pistol ammo yet. This is going to be my first foray into that area.
In another thread, there is talk that 125gr. loads have a tendency to wear on an M19 more than 158gr. loads.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=42028
So, I'm wondering where to go on this.
The load I had originally intended to use for the snub was from the Lyman 48th Edition manual. It was a "starting" load and showed a 125gr GDHP over 21 grains of H110 giving a velocity of 1357fps and 33,500 CUP out of a 4" barrel. I figured that even with the loss of velocity from the snub, it would still give me enough velocity for reliable expansion. Assuming that the discussion in the above post is correct, would I be better served using 158gr. bullets to reduced wear? The same manual lists a 158gr. GDHP over 16.3 grains of H110 for a velocity of 1178fps and 31700CUP. Would this give me enough velocity out of the snub barrel for reliable expansion?
My original plan for a load in the 4" was a slight modification from a Lyman load. They list a 158gr. GDHP over 16.3 grains of H110 as a starting load (see above) and working up to 17 grains of H110 for a velocity of 1309fps and 38400CUP. Would there be any problems with substituting a 158gr. JSP bullet instead of the Gold Dot HP assuming that I work up from the starting load?
Any input on the situation is welcome.