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Old September 26, 2006, 08:03 PM   #1
Lazarus777
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Need Help...170gr SWC loads needed and fast!

Hello all,

I need some tested and true loads for a Keith Style (Lyman #358429) semi-wadcutter lead hard cast bullet. The gun is a Taurus model 85 with a 3 inch barrel and the load will be used for personal protection will hiking in the mountains. A 38 special is all this person will be carrying, so please, no advice on carrying a bigger gun! I need the hardest hitting 170gr load I can find that will be safe in his gun. So far I've come up fairly dry in my reloading manuals. I've found a few possibilities but would like all the information I can get my hands on before I load him up a few to try.

Thanks people,

Laz.
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Old September 26, 2006, 08:28 PM   #2
arkie2
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Don't reload. Just go buy some Speer Gold Dot HP's.
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Old September 26, 2006, 08:54 PM   #3
Sarge
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These are +P and I make no warranty that they are suitable in this gun.

John Taffin on the.38 Special.

Tell your friend 'good luck.'
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Old September 26, 2006, 09:06 PM   #4
Lazarus777
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Let me be a little more specific...I've been to Handloads.com and similar sites, also all of the powder manufacturer sites. I've looked in the reloading manuals that I own and haven't found much. No gun shops sell anything over a 158gr bullet and my friend doesn't want anything below that. He specifically wants a 170 grain bullet driven at +P velocites. I have my own ideas as to what I'm going to load it to but I would like another reloaders experienced opinion or loads specifically for this bullet. It's the Lyman #358429 Keith style semi-wadcutter. Those who seriously would like to help please post away, all others need not waste my time.

Thank you,

Laz.
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Old September 26, 2006, 09:26 PM   #5
Sarge
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From handloads.com-

173gr LSWC 13.5 gr 2400 1,326 fps 1.48" WSP Admin +P+ load!

Elmer Keiths 38/44 Heavy Duty 38 Special load. This load should ONLY be used in 357 Magnums even though it uses a 38 Special case. Using the Dry Creek Bullets 173gr LSWC in 38 Special cases this round works great in my GP100 and M27 and is very accurate.

173gr LSWC 5.5 gr Unique Unknown CCI SP guest
velocity is 900-1000+ from 4-6" barrels using an original 358429

*edited; resolved via PM. Please accept my apology. Thank you, Laz.
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Last edited by Sarge; September 26, 2006 at 10:17 PM.
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Old September 26, 2006, 09:27 PM   #6
Jim Watson
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Elmer Keith loaded that bullet with 5 grains Unique for .38 Special.
Lyman 44th of 1967 says 5 gr Unique or 10.5 gr 2400
Brian Pearce in the new Handloader Magazine says you can go to 5.5 gr Unique at +P pressure. He has .38-44 data with heavier loads of that and other powders but I would not put them in a T-85.

I doubt you will find many loads with newer powders, the real Keith heavy SWCs are not common.
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Old September 26, 2006, 10:13 PM   #7
Rimrod
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It's listed in Lymans 47th and 48th manual as well as all three pistol manuals and the Cast bullet handbook (3rd edition).

The only +P load listed is 4.8 grains of Universal.
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Old September 27, 2006, 08:25 AM   #8
Lazarus777
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I appreciate the information guys, excellent data. The best I found on my own before I posted this was the 173gr SWC load from handloads.com, I wanted to see what there was available in other powders, like 2400 and that's what popped up, not to mention a few more using Unique.

Thanks to everyone,

Laz.
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Old September 27, 2006, 11:48 PM   #9
Scott5
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more choices

Hey Laz,
Try this site:
http://stevespages.com/357p_7_170.html

He has everything that anyone might want.

Happy shooting
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Old September 28, 2006, 01:14 AM   #10
Lazarus777
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Thanks Scott,

I've been to Steve's page I couldn't find any loads specificly for the 170gr SWC. Some guy from the firing Line hooked me up with Steve's page about a month or two ago. Thanks for looking out anyway. have a good weekend everyone.

BLB.
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