38/44 Research Project, Help Needed?

[Peter M. Eick]

I am setting up to run an experiment on the 38/44 loads. I have been able to buy some 1930 vintage 38/44 ammo that I want to actually test and compare with "conventional" ammo. The stuff looks pretty good and appears in good shape externally. Here is my current plan:

I plan to chrono (Oehler 35P) at least 6 rnds per gun of the 38/44 ammo (UMC 158 grn metal capped lead) in the following guns:
38/44 Pre-war Heavy Duty (5")
38/44 Post-war Heavy Duty (5")
38/44 Post-war outdoorsman (6.5")
357 Registered Magnum (6.5")

At the same time I plan to chrono the following from each gun:
Several available +P 158 grn commercial ammo, (corbon, buffalo bore or the like)
Several available 158 grn lead conventional (non-+P) rounds
Conventional 357 magnum ammo out of the Registered.
Several different 158 grn reloads.


My thoughts are that this would allow me to do the following:
1) Benchmark 38/44 ammo speeds in different guns,
2) Compare modern +P to 38/44 ammo
3) Give some relative comparison to modern 357 magnum ammo
4) Give some calibration to the power and speed of my reloads compared to the 38/44's.
5) Have a lot of fun shooting off 74 year old ammo.

Concerns I have:
1) Will the stuff fire?
2) Possible pressure problems from storage?
3) Inconsistency in the power?
4) Possible squibs and bore obstructions?
5) Hard to judge accuracy and chrono at the same time?

Anyone have any suggestions or thoughts? I am about 2 weeks away from running this test and I want to have a bit of time to think about it.

Also, anyone want to donate (or sell) ammo to the project? I am also looking for 1935 vintage 357magnum ammo to test out my Registered with original "fodder".

 

[griz]

That sounds like a project I would be interested in. Unfortunately I have none of the proposed ammo in stock. I could help you out with handloads, but I suspect that you, like me, are not short of that commodity.

As far as your concerns, I believe that it should perform pretty much as it did when new unless it was stored in some bad conditions for a while. And I don't understand the issue with chrono and accuracy at the same time. I've never had a problem with it, just take the time to line up the chrono with the target frame.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

The problem with the accuracy and chrono is the public range I shoot at. Given a 30 minute time period between target changes, it is hard to set the chrono in line to get the targets and speed at the same time.

Sometimes I wish I had a private range.....

Thanks for the reload offer, but I have plenty to play with.

 

[cxm]

Peter,

I too have been working with 38/44 ammo by chronographing it. My goal is to develop loads to duplicate the old 38/44 product.

Over the past year I have found UMC, Peters, USCC, Dominion and Federal rounds.

Im not too far from having the initial chrono work done.

Don't think you will have any problems with the ammo firing... I have shot pre WWI ammo with no problem at all, though storage conditions would be a factor. As to squibs, just listen for anything that sounds strange or recoil that seem light.

Please share your results as you progress.

/r

Chuck

I am setting up to run an experiment on the 38/44 loads. I have been able to buy some 1930 vintage 38/44 ammo that I want to actually test and compare with "conventional" ammo. The stuff looks pretty good and appears in good shape externally. Here is my current plan:

I plan to chrono (Oehler 35P) at least 6 rnds per gun of the 38/44 ammo (UMC 158 grn metal capped lead) in the following guns:
38/44 Pre-war Heavy Duty (5")
38/44 Post-war Heavy Duty (5")
38/44 Post-war outdoorsman (6.5")
357 Registered Magnum (6.5")

At the same time I plan to chrono the following from each gun:
Several available +P 158 grn commercial ammo, (corbon, buffalo bore or the like)
Several available 158 grn lead conventional (non-+P) rounds
Conventional 357 magnum ammo out of the Registered.
Several different 158 grn reloads.


My thoughts are that this would allow me to do the following:
1) Benchmark 38/44 ammo speeds in different guns,
2) Compare modern +P to 38/44 ammo
3) Give some relative comparison to modern 357 magnum ammo
4) Give some calibration to the power and speed of my reloads compared to the 38/44's.
5) Have a lot of fun shooting off 74 year old ammo.

Concerns I have:
1) Will the stuff fire?
2) Possible pressure problems from storage?
3) Inconsistency in the power?
4) Possible squibs and bore obstructions?
5) Hard to judge accuracy and chrono at the same time?

Anyone have any suggestions or thoughts? I am about 2 weeks away from running this test and I want to have a bit of time to think about it.

Also, anyone want to donate (or sell) ammo to the project? I am also looking for 1935 vintage 357magnum ammo to test out my Registered with original "fodder".

 

[swifter]

Peter,

There is a discussion ongoing at The Reload Bench on 200 gr .38 bullets that has some bearing on your post. I'll try to post a link.

http://www.reloadbench.com/cgi-bin/...l+Cartridges&number=2&DaysPrune=10&LastLogin=

Tom

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Concerns I have:
1) Will the stuff fire?
2) Possible pressure problems from storage?
3) Inconsistency in the power?
4) Possible squibs and bore obstructions?
5) Hard to judge accuracy and chrono at the same time?

1) Most likely -- the only way to know for sure is to try it, though. Some ammo stored improperly may not fire.

2) Unlikely. Improper storage normally resultes in duds or squibs, not increased pressure.

3) Not likely -- powder will be consistent if it has been stored under any reasonable conditions.

4) Maintain awareness of what you're doing. Reduced recoil or a strange sounding report should cue you to check the bore.

5) Not hard to do. Set up your chronograph so the target is properly aligned when you look through the screens. If the cronograph shifts (from muzzle blast), set it right before continuing.