Special loads in Magnum cases.

[Dudedog]

I don't have exact vels handy but as I recall with the same 158gr LSWC it took .1 or .2gr more of HP38 to get the same velocity as I did in a .38 case if you are trying to match velocities.
I checked once just for the heck of it but if I am loading light .38 power loads in .357 cases I don't really care what the velocity is. (within reason of course) so with 3.6 in the .38 case it took 3.7-3.8 in the .357 case to match vels.
YMMV

 

[LoonWulf]

Matching velocity for me isnt going to be super important. Mostly i just want to shoot lighter recoiling, reduced noise loads to practice in the revolver.
Ive got a pretty decent flinch that i need to iron out, so volume of shooting i can do without fatigue is priority.

The lighter loads for the lever gun are mostly gonna be for use when hunting with dogs, or putting down pigs in the traps. Also burning 1/2 as much powder is a good thing in a gun ill happily shoot 200 rounds out of in a sitting.

I really dont wanna have to deal with two case lengths, so it sounds like im just ordering a couple more bags each of magnum brass and going from there.

 

[knot4reel]

For you loaders that load in the 357 brass, has anyone found a difference between using reg or mag primers? I've only used sp and it seems to work fine for me.

 

[Walkalong]

It depends on the powder, not the case.

 

[Rule3]

"...bump the lower caliber charges up by 10%..." Absolutely not. Just use .38 or .44 Special data in the longer case.
"...My Rossi will cycle them fine..." Yeah. Think it depends on the rifle or maybe the brand. I see a lot of posts on forums about it. Dunno for sure. S'why it was declared a rumour.

38 special loads were developed for the case capacity of that case
44 special loads """"""""" for that case.

A load for a 38 or 44 special in a larger case would then be lower than it should be.

Using Hodgdon data for say HP 38

a 38 special is 3.1 to 3.7 for a 158 LSWC

a 357 mag is 3.4 to 5.0 for the same bullet

110% x 3.1 is = 3,41gr so what is the big deal?

Of course one must take into consideration of the actual case volume in distilled H2O variance in specific brands of brass and the case wall thickness of 357 mag brass vs that of 38 special.

If you want under powered mouse fart loads than don't up the load a whole whopping 3/10 of a grain

YMMV
Different powders will vary
different bullets will vary
temp and altitude will vary
Use at your risk

Someone will be along with a better answer.

 

[knot4reel]

It depends on the powder, not the case.

Thanks. I normally use Unique but have been having a lot of fun with Trail Boss lately.

 

[LoonWulf]

Did some loading last night, ive still got 20 44special brass so i made some duplicate loads to see what tye difference in velocity is. Now I just need to remember the chronograph.