.38 Spl. powder
Yes, I knew full well that I would get some flak with the loads using SR4756, as there has been more than a little speculation over the chacteristics over this old, and time proven powder. Before I launch into any defense of this, or any other powder, let me set something straight here. I did not state that the Speer #12 maximum load was 7.0 grains. Their max load was given as 4.8grs. The 7.0 grain load is MY load, not Speers.
When the Speer #9 manual came out, there was a great reduction in a lot of charges that were previously given by Speer, besides just SR4756. I contacted Omark Industries about this, and their letter back (which I no longer have) indicated a variety of reasons for this, one of which was due to the lowering of SAMMI specs. This was done about the same time the industry was receiving increasingly bad press over various gun issues. Liability became a more pressing concern.
Another reason given was the advent of new and improved pressure measuring equipment. This "new" equipment revealed information that until this time was not known. I find it rather ironic that some sources still provide pressure readings in copper units of pressure (CUP) and others in PSI.
While they did not "condemn" any currently used powder, they recommended that handloaders follow information given in their latest manuals, and disregard data given in their older manuals. Keep in mind also, the long stated warning that they cannot control the condition of all firearms, especially older guns chambered for the .38 Special cartridge.
With that in mind, I conducted my own tests again with a new lot of SR4756 powder, and loaded them up to the limits I imposed upon myself many years ago. My new data ran very close to that that I had found before. My old Smith 28 still works like new, and the loads that I have given are safe in my 605, which BTW is chambered for .357 magnum. As stated before, I have not found this powder to be load density sensitive.
The original author was looking for a single powder that could be used in the .38 Spl. cartridge as a low velocity practice round as well as a service round. Most posts were telling him that it was either not possible, or at the very least, not practical. That is simply not true. Others mentioned Bullseye. I would rather introduce a new handloader to a medium burning rate powder, than a fast burning powder, as it is so easy to double (and even triple) load fast ones like Bullseye and others. And has been said, the handloader can load whatever he/she wishes~~~that is the beauty of handloading. But safety remains the responsibility of each handloader. The basic rule is to start low, and work up your loads slowly, looking for any signs that you might be getting goofy.
I respect all views and opinions here, and am merely expressing my own. As stated above, I knew this would ellicit some feed back, and that is good. I am now going to the Taurus web site to see what the heck a 650 snubbie is.
Radaray