We need to ask Starline to cut us some .900 .38 brass

[Shivahasagun]

Ya'll know why.

.38 Colt Short is a bit short for safety/pressure, .38 Special and .38 Colt Long longer than neccessary and don't extract completely from many guns because of too-short ejector rods.

They make other special brass like .41 Special, .44 Colt, .45 auto rim, etc.

Why, they could stamp it .38 Special Starline or .38 Starline or .38 Colt .900 or whatever.

I'll email them my suggestion.

 

[Cheesemaker]

I don't know why. Am I missing something. You want them to create a new cartridge?

 

[Shivahasagun]

I don't know why. Am I missing something. You want them to create a new cartridge?

It can be a long story...

But basically competition revolver shooters often use .38 Colt Short cases, .38 Special cases, less commonly .38 Colt Long cases, and some guys cut .38 Special cases or .38 Colt Long cases down to .900 in length (sometimes a little less) and use .38 Super data as a starting place for handloading/reloading.

It seems there are just as many guys cutting down those cases as guys shooting .41 Special, .45 auto rim, and so on.

Starline even makes a .38 Super with the semi-rim reduced just for guys using double-stack .38 Super race guns.

So, .38 needs some love, too. And there is a niche for a .900 in. length .38 case.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Ya'll know why.

.38 Colt Short is a bit short for safety/pressure, .38 Special and .38 Colt Long longer than neccessary and don't extract completely from many guns because of too-short ejector rods.

They make other special brass like .41 Special, .44 Colt, .45 auto rim, etc.

Why, they could stamp it .38 Special Starline or .38 Starline or .38 Colt .900 or whatever.

I'll email them my suggestion.

The solution to your problem:
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1012951880?pid=817007

I cut down cases for custom applications using a jewelry lathe but this is much simpler for just trimming a few thousandths.

 

[Shivahasagun]

The solution to your problem:
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1012951880?pid=817007

I cut down cases for custom applications using a jewelry lathe but this is much simpler for just trimming a few thousandths.

I hear this is time consuming. I'd rather just purchase.

Here was my suggestion to Starline:

"As you may know, many revolver competition shooters use .38 Colt Short cases. But they are a little short for utmost safety. Some folks trim down .38 Spl. or .38 Colt Long cases to .900". Then they start with .38 Super load data. This provides the benefits of the shorter case with the increased safety margin over .38 Colt Short.
A .38 .900" case would be perfect.
Headstamp suggestions: .38 Starline, .38 Starline Spl., .38 .900, .38 Spl. Comp"

 

[edwardware]

I'll email them my suggestion.

My man, you need a Lee Trimmer, the fixed stud sort, a battery drill, and as few hours. Cut the stud to your spec, chuck the shell holder in the drill, trim/deburr/polish, and go shoot.

 

[AJC1]

Case length is an easy fix... I want some 30-30 small primer and putting brass back in the case head isn't really feasible.

 

[Shivahasagun]

Hmm...case trimmer, eh?

I've got plenty of .38 spl cases to cut.

It just seems like a great length.

A ".38 Spl. Comp" stamp would look cool, though.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I hear this is time consuming. I'd rather just purchase.

Here was my suggestion to Starline:

"As you may know, many revolver competition shooters use .38 Colt Short cases. But they are a little short for utmost safety. Some folks trim down .38 Spl. or .38 Colt Long cases to .900". Then they start with .38 Super load data. This provides the benefits of the shorter case with the increased safety margin over .38 Colt Short.
A .38 .900" case would be perfect.
Headstamp suggestions: .38 Starline, .38 Starline Spl., .38 .900, .38 Spl. Comp"

I suppose another option is to use moon clips and .38Super brass.

Who knows, maybe they’ll do it?

 

[Shivahasagun]

How long would it take using a Lee trimmer to cut 500 pcs of .38 Spl. brass? (To start)

 

[Shivahasagun]

I'm going to check the ejector rod length on my King Cobra and will report back later.

The goal is a case a little shorter than the rod. Pretty sure I checked before and even .38 Colt Long was going to be too long. (I don't have any) But I didn't measure.

 

[EricBu]

The answer to your quest is simple....it just requires that you throw money at it. Starline will charge you 900 bucks to make the headstamp die. Then, you only need make a minimum order of 100,000 pieces to get your specified length, with your custom headstamp. Don't know what you're waiting for, seems an easy solution.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Given how backed up Starline is making normal brass these days I think you're wait will be looooooooooooong, if they do agree to do it.

Not a horrible idea I guess but I don't see them selling a pile of it either though so likely not real profitable for them.

 

[Shivahasagun]

Uses less brass than .38 spl.

Then charge more for it. Boom.

They're producing all kinds of brass. I've bought .357 mag, .38 spl & .38 Colt short from them this year.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I'm going to check the ejector rod length on my King Cobra and will report back later.

The goal is a case a little shorter than the rod. Pretty sure I checked before and even .38 Colt Long was going to be too long. (I don't have any) But I didn't measure.

I’m a little surprised you’re having problems ejecting .38Spl cases from your KC. I haven’t seen anything about people reporting issues ejecting .357Magnum cases either but I could see that happening I suppose. How often are you seeing cases sticking?

 

[Shivahasagun]

I’m a little surprised you’re having problems ejecting .38Spl cases from your KC. I haven’t seen anything about people reporting issues ejecting .357Magnum cases either but I could see that happening I suppose. How often are you seeing cases sticking?

No sticking. But shorter cases are better. Shorter than ejector rod

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

No sticking. But shorter cases are better. Shorter than ejector rod

Well that’s certainly a novel idea. Haven’t heard that since the Webley top break discussions on the old British militaria forums on Mark Bitting’s site (RIP Mark). Okay, as you please but it sounds like a solution in search of a problem.

 

[Shivahasagun]

Well that’s certainly a novel idea. Haven’t heard that since the Webley top break discussions on the old British militaria forums on Mark Bitting’s site (RIP Mark). Okay, as you please but it sounds like a solution in search of a problem.

Not novel, it's a thing.

Here a thread about it from elsewhere (not sure if allowed)

https://forums.brianenos.com/topic/163076-trimming-38-special-cases/

 

[Monac]

Here is thread about this from here, also started by Shivahasagun, back in April: https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/loading-38-colt-short-for-modern-gun-questions.904248/

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Read both threads and it seems this is all about competitive shooting - ICORE and USPSA - but no one in either thread says they are having extraction problems or loading problems. It seems it’s all about speed reloading mostly using moon clips.
@Shivahasagun have you considered moving the question to the competitive shooting forum? You might get some more responses from people who have actually tried it there. The response from the Enos forum seems to be that trimming isn’t worth the time and moonclips are the better way to go. That’s my take anyway.

 

[Rule3]

I hear this is time consuming. I'd rather just purchase.

Here was my suggestion to Starline:

"As you may know, many revolver competition shooters use .38 Colt Short cases. But they are a little short for utmost safety. Some folks trim down .38 Spl. or .38 Colt Long cases to .900". Then they start with .38 Super load data. This provides the benefits of the shorter case with the increased safety margin over .38 Colt Short.
A .38 .900" case would be perfect.
Headstamp suggestions: .38 Starline, .38 Starline Spl., .38 .900, .38 Spl. Comp"

In the space of time it has taken to post threads and replies you could have trimmed hundreds! Only problem is if you are not using moon clips and the brass gets collected with all the others, it is no longer 38 special brass length. You would need to use a semi permanent head stamp marker to ID it,

Starline did not just fall of the brass truck, f there was profit to be made they would have done it, as others mentioned it would be the creation of a "new caliber" not just a head stamp. Not gonna happen.

 

[mdi]

Hmmm. I would question a need for such a case. Is there a market for special brass for snubby 38 Specials?. It would take more than just making a case shorter, like fabricating new tooling, retooling a machine(s), engineering, testing, etc. Reasons why a 100,000 case minimum for custom cases and headstamps orders...

 

[Shivahasagun]

Here is thread about this from here, also started by Shivahasagun, back in April: https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/loading-38-colt-short-for-modern-gun-questions.904248/

Oh, yea, forgot about that! Thanks

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

This is all very informative about how the competitive shooters think about handloading. Certainly very different from my mindset as a hunter and hobbyist. Small difference between custom racing loads and wildcat new calibers.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Case length is an easy fix... I want some 30-30 small primer and putting brass back in the case head isn't really feasible.

Is the young woman in your new avatar your exwife? Huzzah!