38 Spl rifle load...

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No thanks. Too much of a SWAG and way beyond what 38 was meant to do from what I see. Is there performance data for this? I tried what you suggest, eyeballing a 38 case and bullet, and got at least 11.2 gr, which is within range of the minimum 357 Magnum load. The only load published by Alliant that I found was 7.1 gr for a 200 gr bullet, which I suppose might be about 8 gr for a 158 bullet at similar pressure.

Of course it's over 38 Special pressure, but like I said it's a nice "lever gun load" and won't hurt a thing in a "lever gun".
 
I don't run much 38 spl brass in my lever guns that accept 357 mag, it's just more of a PITA to clean the deposits in a rifle barrel than a cylinder left by the shorter cases. I just load reduced loads in the longer cases, if I want plinkers.

Trailboss is also not my favorite powder for reduced loads either. It works fine but a container of it costs more, contains 9oz vs 1 lb and typical charge weights are more that other "reduced load" pistol powders. They all lead to higher cost per round fired.
 
The longer barrel will take advantage of the slower powders vs the fast powders, but other than that you load for a rifle just like a revolver. Pressure is pressure.

For a nice lever gun load with 38 cases, fill the brass up with 2400 powder up to where the bottom of the bullet will be seated.
This can be a dangerous practice. If the rounds end up in a .38 Spl revolver it would be catastrophic. I am a strong proponent of not overloading a .38 Spl case even when the idea is to fire them from a .357. I know people do it, and that's their business, but they won't always have complete control over those loaded rounds. Just sayin' ladies and gentleman.

YMMV. :)
 
Of course it's over 38 Special pressure, but like I said it's a nice "lever gun load" and won't hurt a thing in a "lever gun".
How about a 200 grain bullet in a .38 Special case seated out to .357 Magnum overall length?

Posting "Data" that doesn't include bullet weight, charge weight or cartridge overall length is irresponsible.

It's also against site policy if you post it without the required notice.
 
How about a 200 grain bullet in a .38 Special case seated out to .357 Magnum overall length?

Posting "Data" that doesn't include bullet weight, charge weight or cartridge overall length is irresponsible.

It's also against site policy if you post it without the required notice.
I learned the hard way how to seat a wadcutter in a 38 case. When not inserted to intended depth, I stuck four in the barrel (revolver) before realizing what happened. I have a replacement barrel now and a very expensive gun. The pressure needed in a 38 is a fine line, so best not to play around with nonstandard reloading of 38.
 
The 94 is a cool gun. But is not as strong as a 1892 action. I cannot see any loads that are or would be safe in a 94 having all that much recoil. I guess I am at odds with why use .38s.
Even full house .357 mags shoot smooth in a full sized 1894 rifle.
I agree that over loading any .38 could end not well. One silly bad move and a revolver could be in your face. Years ago a friend was messing with bullseye for some target loads in a .357. He had no clue he had double charged one. One would think most .357 wheel guns would be strong enough to handle that. It did not. He stopped shooting for some odd years after he got back from the ER. We have loading manuals for a reason.
We do use some .38s for softer target rounds for kids in a bolt rifle. But, as has been already said if loaded to any factory speeds one would never stick a round in a barrel. It is when we reduce .38s to very low PSI we can find issues and stick bullets in barrels. That may not end well. They make .22 rim fires if we want less gun. Reduced .38s in revolvers can be fun. Very accurate and cheap to shoot. I guess I would not see a reason to want that in a rifle. Just sayin.
 
How about a 200 grain bullet in a .38 Special case seated out to .357 Magnum overall length?

Mmm let's see. That would be about 10gr of 2400 behind a 200gr bullet seated out to 357 length would get you about 1245fps and 32,800 psi.
Not that I would ever do that because I like to seat bullets where they are designed to be crimped. To each their own however.
As they say "your results may vary". Reloading data is not a Bible, they are guides. Experimenting with experience behind you and keeping common sense always in mind is half the fun in reloading.
 
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...Experimenting with experience behind you and keeping common sense always in mind is half the fun in reloading.
I agree 100 percent.

Unfortunately, posting a smokeless powder load* on an open forum and not including information on bullet weight, charge weight, cartridge overall length or any warnings about potential pressure issues is about as far from common sense as it's possible to get.



*Trailboss excepted
 
I agree 100 percent.

Unfortunately, posting a smokeless powder load* on an open forum and not including information on bullet weight, charge weight, cartridge overall length or any warnings about potential pressure issues is about as far from common sense as it's possible to get.



*Trailboss excepted
Tricky to characterize a load by its powder volume, since specifically magnum powders also have low density and tend to fill the case. A2400 is one example and certainly Trailboss for the black powder type volume in smokeless.
 
Reloading data is not a Bible, they are guides. Experimenting with experience behind you and keeping common sense always in mind is half the fun in reloading.
This is not good advise on an open forum read by thousands of people with no real experience or knowledge. No, data is not a Bible, nor is it simply a "guide" either. . Y'all be safe out there.
 
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