Snub nose 38 spl muzzle velocities

[ralph2]

I have a 1.87 in barrel 38 special. With 158 grain lead Magtech ammo my muzzle
velocities are about 650-700 fps. When I hand load with 158 lswc bullets and
a starting load of 3.6 grains of AA # 2 I get velocities just over 700 fps and at
the max of 4.0 of AA # 2 I get around 780 fps. Is the 780 fps to hot or is the
Magtech ammo just on the weak side ?

 

[rcmodel]

You might do better with AA #5, or something else slower then AA #2..
AA #2 is going to reach max pressure before max velocity.

4.0 AA #2 is listed as a max standard pressure load in my Accurate manual giving 868 FPS in a 8 3/8" S&W.
AA #5 max is 5.9, giving 940 FPS.

Of course you won't get those velocities in a snub-nose, but the slower powder will still beat the faster powder without exceeding standard .38 Spl. pressure.

rc

 

[ralph2]

rcmodel - I have over 5 lbs of #2 and I am happy with the 780fps I can get with 4.0 of AA # 2.
I just don't know if the 780 fps is too hot considering the factory Magtech ammo barely gets
700 fps on the hotter rounds. At my age I most likely won't live long enough to shoot up all
the # 2 I have.

 

[rcmodel]

Again, AA lists 4.0 as a max standard pressure .38 Spl load.

My Speer manual lists 4.0 as standard pressure, and 4.3 as +P pressure.

4.0 should not be too hot.

I'd say Magtech is just loaded light in the shorts a little bit.

rc

 

[Slamfire]

I have a 1.87 in barrel 38 special. With 158 grain lead Magtech ammo my muzzle
velocities are about 650-700 fps. When I hand load with 158 lswc bullets and
a starting load of 3.6 grains of AA # 2 I get velocities just over 700 fps and at
the max of 4.0 of AA # 2 I get around 780 fps. Is the 780 fps to hot or is the
Magtech ammo just on the weak side ?

Uh, 780 fps out of a snubbie is way too hot.

The data below is with a snubbie and a 4” 357. Notice that the factory ammo and my reloads are under 700 fps in the snubbie.

In the 4” barrel my reload is 764 fps and a freaking +P round is 877.

It is my considered opinion that 780 fps out of a two inch barrel is at least +P.

[SIZE="3"]Taurus M85 B2UL  2" Barrel  		
					
158 LSWC 3.5 grs Bullseye thrown, Mixed Brass WSP 11-Dec-04 T = 54 F
Ave Vel =	686.3		 		
Std Dev =	13.63		  
ES	58.48		 
High	718.8		 		
Low	660.3		 		
N =	30		 		
shot little high and centered	

			
158 LRN  Master Factory Ammo 30-Dec-04  T = 56 F
Ave Vel =	698.2		 		
Std Dev =	20.56  		
ES	105.8		
High	753.5		
Low	647.6		 		
N =	50
shot 6" high centered, until barrel leaded

[ATTACH=full]514895[/ATTACH]

4" M66-2


148gr LBBWC 2.7 grs Bullseye CCI 500 primers
17-Oct-93 T = 65-70°F				
Ave Vel =	704	fps		
Std Dev =	18			
ES =	57	 		
High  =	742			
Low  =	685			
N =	6			
				
			
				
					
Zero  Factory 158gr LSWC-HP + P	16-Aug-92   T = 75°F
Ave Vel =	877	fps	 		 
Std Dev =	23		 		
ES	77		 		
High	923		 		
Low	846		 		
N =	6		  3		
				 	

			 	
158gr LSWC 3.5 grs Bullseye CCI 500 primers, Dillon Loads17-Oct-93 T = 65-70°F
Ave Vel =	764	fps			 
Std Dev =	13				
ES	40				
High	776			
Low	736				
N =	6

[ATTACH=full]514896[/ATTACH] [/SIZE]

 

[ssyoumans]

I get about the same results, 158gr LSWC, 3.4 gr Bullseye, 74 degrees, 681fps, 163 ft-lbs out of a 2" Colt Cobra and 818fps & 235 ft-lbs out of a 6" GP100.
I also have some old Winchester 158gr LSWC HP +P, "Treasury Load", they clocked in at 748 fps 196 ft-lbs out of the snubbie.
Best load i've found for SD is the Corbon 110gr +P DPX. It screams out at 1056 fps for 272 ft-lbs out of the snubbie!!

 

[ironhead7544]

Id say you are lucky to get 700 fps from factory 158 gr lead ammo. Most runs about 700 fps in a 4 inch. Some guns will give higher speed than others. In the Speer manual theres an article about S&W 6 inch 357 mag revolvers. Gave as much as 200 fps difference with the same ammo. Your 780 fps load would work ok with one of the 158 gr swaged SWCHPs.

 

[243winxb]

The fps depends partly on how big the gap is between the cylinder and barrel. My S&W M60 averages 794fps 38special, 5.3gr Alliant Unique , 158 gr cast lswc. A maximum loading, start low and work up.