38 Special+2400= ??

[easyrider604]

So i would realy like the help. I have a feeling that it is a unsafe load but just want to put it past everyone.

As most everyone has said, it is not unsafe. OTOH, why not reserve your 2400 for full magnum loads and just use economical Titegroup, Bullseye, W231 or 700X for 38 spcl. They are cleaner and probably more accurate than 2400.

 

[Trumpetman]

Amen to everything you said, Ben. My 10.4 grain load was worked up from somewhere under 9.0 grains of 2400. It was very unpredictable at the sub-9.0 level, and left unburnt powder in the barrel as well as the star extractor.

At 9.4 grains, it was getting better, and then much better when I used a modest amount of pressure with a 9MM Lee Factory Crimp Die before finalizing the crimp with a .38 Special crimp die. The 10.4 grain load is more consistent, but it's also a real handful to hold onto and develops leading in the bore quicker than with the 9.4 grain load.

Also, my loads use a Speer SWC HP lead bullet, which SHOULD generate less pressure per velocity than the original Speer SP bullet used in the #8 manual. I do not recommend this load. I offer it only as information. However, I like it and will continue to use it for defense practice.

 

[Trumpetman]

Easyrider, I agree with you about .38 Special accuracy, especially when it comes to Bullseye and 700X. They are great in just about every .38 Special situation I can think of.

I was very surprised to find out that a slow powder like 2400 can generate so much velocity with a 158 grain bullet through a 2" barrel. That doesn't mean 2400 is accurate in .38 Special loadings, though. My 2400 defense load is only good at short distances. I do use 2400 for heavy hunting loads in a 4" .357 Magnum gun with good success, but I use Bullseye for medium .357 Magnum loads too.

 

[dagger dog]

The first rounds I reloaded were for a Ruger Service Six in three fifty seven caliber the loader was a Lee loader, the one you pound with a hammer, the load data for it with the supplied dipper was 11.5 gr Hercules 2400 under a 158 gr semi wad cutter.

I know the data was anemic for Lees sake but, I don't know how It fairs in the 38 special, 10 gr may be a little hot with 150 gr bullet.

 

[kostner]

Skeeter Skelton and 2400

In his book 'Good Friend Good Guns Good Whiskey' Skeeter claims that using 38 special cases and loading them with 13.5 grains of 2400 in a 357 he has take eveerything from turkeys to deer. being very accurate and with a velocity 1200-1300 fps.

 

[zxcvbob]

In his book 'Good Friend Good Guns Good Whiskey' Skeeter claims that using 38 special cases and loading them with 13.5 grains of 2400 in a 357 he has take eveerything from turkeys to deer. being very accurate and with a velocity 1200-1300 fps.

Lately I've been using 10.0 grains of AA#7 in .38 Special brass or 11.0 grains in .357 Magnum brass with 158 grain SWC's. Warning! do not accidently shoot these in a .38 Special. They are accurate, leading is much less than with similar loads using Blue Dot, and the recoil feels about the same as S&B brand .357 factory ammo with 158 grain JSP's. The cases fall out of the chambers easily.

 

[easyrider604]

Skeeter Skelton and 2400
In his book 'Good Friend Good Guns Good Whiskey' Skeeter claims that using 38 special cases and loading them with 13.5 grains of 2400 in a 357 he has take eveerything from turkeys to deer. being very accurate and with a velocity 1200-1300 fps.

kostner, looks pretty much .357 magnum territory doesn't it?

Trumpetman, Bullseye and 700X in .38 spl is indeed accurate. I currently load 4.3 grains 700X under 158 grain Lee TL SWC sized to .357, LLA lubed and get 1,000 fps from 6" 686 with almost zero leading. Normal looking primers and easy extraction as usual. 4" inch groups at 50 meters. Sorry if I'm OT.

 

[jaholder1971]

I bought a set of lyman 38/357 mag dies the other day from the local ham radio repair man who had them donated to him to support our local repater group.

Guns and Ham Radio! Gotta love it.


73,
N0OFG

 

[Ben Shepherd]

Trumpetman-Check your PMs.

 

[Trumpetman]

I've found that Bullseye, 700x, Herco, and 2400 are much more versatile than the current manuals would lead you to believe. I've used all four powders for a variety of loadings from .38 special to shotgun loads, with each powder excelling at a different level. (Don't punish me for using Bullseye in light 12 target loads. I got the recipe straight from an Alliant employee.)

700x and Herco are the only two of these powders I would atually recommend for shotgunning, and I always stay spot-on with the published data. I have used Herco and 2400 for heavy 20 gauge hunting shells, but they are not so good for run-of-the-mill medium and light target and field loads. There are much better powders out there for shotgunners to use, but the point is -- these four powders are more versatile than we might think. A long talk with the old timers at the range where I shoot verified that these powders, and many others, have been used for a great variety of metalic and shotshell loads in times past. A glance through some antique reloading manuals will verify this.