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[Mikunan]

I have some 38 special ammo that I got from a cousin that belonged to my other cousin who passed away many years ago. I was told it may be too much for my new snubby s&w 438 , maybe risky too.
Here are the notes in the box.
.38 Special
Bullet: 148 gr. Wadcutter, Speer
Powder: Bullseye 3.2 gr.
Primer: CCI1500
Velocity: 1375 fps
Date: Mar 1990

I did extract a bullet to confirm , it is a HBWC . I don't know if the velocity is from a Chrono or just projected and I was told it may be too high and may cause issues. I did fire some of these in a range gun , (K frame, 4" barrel). I couldn't sense a problem. They grouped very well , even for me. I did notice on an old post load recipes similar , in target shooters; but usually a little less bullseye powder.
Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.
thanks

 

[LiveLife]

I never shoot anyone else's reloads in my pistols and would pull them.

Just because a few rounds you shot were OK will not guarantee the next rounds are not overcharged/squib rounds.

Also, I have shot my reloads that were stored intentionally for 5, 10, 15 years loaded with Winchester 231 and Winchester primers without issues but usually prefer to shoot my reloads within one year.

YMMV

 

[vaalpens]

This is from the Alliant site and it is 3.1 grains but only 799 fps. Bullseye must have changed or the quoted 1375 fps is a bit high:

38 Special 148 gr Speer HBWC Speer 1.155 6 CCI 500 Bullseye 3.1 799

 

[rcmodel]

Yea!
Somebody was way optimistic or very mistaken on that velocity with a 148 grain wad-cutter & 3.2 Bullseye for sure!

No Possibly way!

3.2 is perfectly safe, but may cause bore leading with soft-swaged HBWC becuse they are very soft.

If I were you?
I would disregard the velocity written on the boxes.

Then I would pull down several more of them to confirm the powder charge weight is what it says it is.

Then, if it is?
And You Feel Lucky?
And fully trust your cousins older brother, who made the big mistake writing down the wrong velocity?
(What else did he do wrong is the question you have to ask yourself?)
Do you feel Lucky?

Choot'm Elizbet! Choot'm!
But don't come back whining if your gun blows up!

rc

 

[Mikunan]

Thanks all for the advice...

I did see the Alliant Powder recipes, so I guess it makes sense; and I have a lot shorter barrel if that should matter. I think I would trust the consistency of my cousins loading capabilities; but I will pull many other rounds out and weigh out to make sure. I suspected the velocity noted was in question, from others I have talked to.
I must be a punk, because I feel lucky.......at the moment.

 

[LiveLife]

Just so you know, we had quite a lot of "Funny thing happened at the range today" threads ...

Be safe and hope things work out for you.

BTW, welcome to THR!

 

[Walkalong]

Yep, no way they were getting a HBWC to 1300+ FPS.

As posted, it all boils down to trust. Hm, he messed up on the velocity when he wrote it down. You could try a couple in a .357 revolver.

 

[Mikunan]

Thanks bds , I'll check it out.

 

[Mikunan]

Thanks, Walkalong,
He did use a .357 for those loads, Uh Oh .

 

[LiveLife]

Good thing you shot them in a "K frame range gun".

At my range, we can only shoot factory ammo or reloads sold by the range.

I would check your range policy before I shoot anymore of the reloads.

 

[gamestalker]

I don't EVER shoot someone else s reloads, EVER!

Years ago I came very close to learning the hard way, when a friend gave me a bunch of 9mm reloads that he claimed were from a well trusted reloader. I loaded a couple magazines and began shooting them, in which the first few functioned normal, but then one squib-ed.

Needless to say, I pulled the remaining couple hundred and used the bullets and brass. But curiosity lead me to check the loads, and even though I didn't know what load he used, I could at least check the consistency of the charge weights. I almost fell over when came across not one, but 3 that had been double charged, and several more that didn't have any powder in them at all.

GS

 

[Sunray]

Pull 'em. 3.2 is over current max(3.6 in 1970) and 1375 is a hallucination.

 

[Rule3]

Bottom line is how many of these gems do you have?

If it is a box of 50 or 100 why risk it. No matter how many it's not the price of a gun or personal injury.

I bought a box lot of loaded ammo. Major quantities of 40sw, 45 ACP, 44 Mag and 357 mag All loaded with new nickel brass and Hornady bullets From the guys equipment and plastic reload boxes all new brass great bullets I figured he knew what he was doing.

Only thing was not one box was marked with any data!! No way was i breaking them down with a hammer so I bought RCBS collet pullers, Well those bullets were crimped so hard I could barely pull them. Left major dents in the bullets.

Spent a whole day pulled all the damn things. Dumped the mystery powder. I still have mystery primers but that does not concern me,

I learned my lesson a long time ago with some rifle rounds. They must have gotten wet or something as it blew the primers out. The powder was a solid brick inside. Had to use a screwdriver to scape it out. Jammed the rifle twice and i quit!

 

[Mikunan]

Good thing you shot them in a "K frame range gun".

At my range, we can only shoot factory ammo or reloads sold by the range.

I would check your range policy before I shoot anymore of the reloads.

Yea , I didn't realize it would be a safety issue. I should have known 38 spl s are not all the same. I have to review the rules, for sure. I saw a guy practicing a holster draw on the firing line in the crowded indoor range with a concrete floor. I was surprised that wasn't an issue.

 

[Mikunan]

Pull 'em. 3.2 is over current max(3.6 in 1970) and 1375 is a hallucination.

Sunray, Could you clarify the current max , ....3.6 in 1970?

 

[Mikunan]

Bottom line is how many of these gems do you have?

If it is a box of 50 or 100 why risk it. No matter how many it's not the price of a gun or personal injury.

I bought a box lot of loaded ammo. Major quantities of 40sw, 45 ACP, 44 Mag and 357 mag All loaded with new nickel brass and Hornady bullets From the guys equipment and plastic reload boxes all new brass great bullets I figured he knew what he was doing.

Only thing was not one box was marked with any data!! No way was i breaking them down with a hammer so I bought RCBS collet pullers, Well those bullets were crimped so hard I could barely pull them. Left major dents in the bullets.

Spent a whole day pulled all the damn things. Dumped the mystery powder. I still have mystery primers but that does not concern me,

I learned my lesson a long time ago with some rifle rounds. They must have gotten wet or something as it blew the primers out. The powder was a solid brick inside. Had to use a screwdriver to scape it out. Jammed the rifle twice and i quit!

Rule3 , I think there are about 300 rounds in all I shot a box of 50 with the K frame , I admit i didn't check the barrel..after. There was no indication of a problem and factory loads had more recoil. That box din not have notes . Just" 38 special". I guess I should just save the brass.