Black powder cartridge

[AZAndy]

I just got some dies, brass, and bullets for .38S&W. I'll get some black powder substitute this morning, probably Pyrodex FFFg. I'll be reloading for an H&R top break that was apparently made between 1887-1889. I'll be using a lead 145 grain RN and small pistol primers.

I've seen a couple of mentions on the internet that a good load for this round is 10 grains, but I figured I should ask to see what your experience is. Sound about right to you?

 

[MEHavey]

Load the volume of powder that lightly compresses....
...whatever that weight may turn out to be.




postscript: anyone have opinion on pyrodex in 1880s munufacture revolver cylinders?

 

[Col. Harrumph]

What MEHavey says. The original load was 15 gr. of black...

But you won't fit that in modern brass without a lot of compression. You'll have to use trial and error.

I would approach the problem by measuring from bullet's base to crimp groove. Then trickle powder into a case until the level reaches that same distance from the rim. Dump & weigh that and you'll have a starting point. Adding a little more to get slight compression will improve standard deviations. (I assume you are only a standard deviant.)

For reference, as I recall I could fit 13 gr. of FFFg into a 38 S&W (Winchester brass) and then seat a 146 gr. .358 Hornady HBWC with some compression; much more than that bulged the case.

Of course my memory ain't as sure-fire as it used to be. So be cautious about taking advice from used-up old grumps. As to your question about using Pyrodex... what are you, a commie hippie?