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Old February 7, 2013, 12:30 AM   #1
deleterman
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reloading for 38 spl .

Hi all its been some time but here goes. I have a old colt 6 shot and i was looking to use up some unique power so this is the deal- i want to get about 900 fps with 148 gr wc i was thinking 5.2 grs unique , any thoughts on this setup ? any help would be great . thanks H.B.
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Old February 7, 2013, 12:42 AM   #2
SIGSHR
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Ye Olde Standby of a 148 gr WC over 2.7 of Bullsye has always worked great for me. You would really need a chronograph to determine your velocities.
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Old February 7, 2013, 12:46 AM   #3
deleterman
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Reload for 38 spl

Thanks ,but trying to use up this unique power. H.B.

Last edited by deleterman; February 7, 2013 at 01:49 AM.
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Old February 7, 2013, 12:52 AM   #4
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About 3.2 or 3.3 grains of Unique. You won't get to 900 fps but you might get 800. 5 grains is almost a .357 Magnum load.
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Old February 7, 2013, 01:49 AM   #5
deleterman
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reloads for 38 spl

thanks for the responce , what reloading book shows that is just about mag load? i have some old reloading books and i didn't see that ,but thats Y iam here . thanks for your help. H.B.
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Old February 7, 2013, 02:47 AM   #6
Hammerhead
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What kind of wadcutter?
swaged HBWC? cast DEWC? cast button nose? plated? (I like them all)
I seat cast DEWC's long so I can get more powder and velocity.
I know there are plenty of recipes out there to get better than average velocity from cast wadcutters.
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Old February 7, 2013, 09:34 AM   #7
Edward429451
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My load manual shows 4.2 gr of Unique to be max, so No don't load them with more than that. I've shot plenty of 148 gr WC loads with 4.0 gr of Unique and they were ok. I didn't chrony them so have no idea on the velocity. I doubt that you will get 900 fps unless you have a 6" barrel.
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Old February 7, 2013, 09:45 AM   #8
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I'd be hesitant to try and push a wadcutter to 900 fps, the round is seated deeply so there's not much room in the case. reloadammo.com and handloads.com both show 3.3 gr. of Unique for 815 fps (source Alliant), that sounds a lot more reasonable. No point pushing an old Colt to its limits, they don't make them any more after all. If you have a gun chambered in .357 you might be able to push the velocity higher without fear of an "event".
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Old February 7, 2013, 10:41 AM   #9
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I have shot thousands of 148's with the 2.7 gr Bullseye load.

Factory 148's chronographed 800 fps out of my 4" Colt Police Positive. The 148 LSWC's that I have used did not have extensive grease grooves and pushing them fast will probably cause nasty leading.

These 148's are target bullets and they were not meant to be pushed to +P levels, at least in my opinion.

And older Colts, they were not meant to be used with +P loads. You will batter it out of time with hot loads, and try to find a gunsmith who works on the things.
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Old February 7, 2013, 11:41 AM   #10
deleterman
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reloading for old colt.

Thanks for all the responces, one thing i didn't think over was leading up !! so i will rethink the 900 fps and just stick with 4.1 grs of unique with 148 gr wc.thanks all.H.B.
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Old February 7, 2013, 12:27 PM   #11
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Even 900 fps wouldn't lead up your gun as long as it's sized correctly. (.001-.002 over bore size.
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Old February 8, 2013, 08:21 PM   #12
deleterman
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.38 spl loads

Thanks all, I guess that answers my question. H.B.
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Old February 9, 2013, 12:38 PM   #13
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Pushing the Hollow Based WC any harder also runs the risk of blowing the hollow skirt apart from increased pressures especially at the muzzle. Accuracy at that point begins to rival muzzleloading buckshot loads. Solid based bullets are necessary beyond target load pressures.
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Old February 12, 2013, 05:03 PM   #14
deleterman
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.38 sl reloads

thanks all for the great responce, it looks like i will dump the unique and go with the bullseye power. any thoughts on useing 3.1 gs bullseye with 148 gns wc.?? some place i seen 4.1 bullseye power for 148 wc.any thought on that ? thanks H.B.
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Old February 12, 2013, 05:12 PM   #15
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I have an older manual that shows the load you mentioned. However, 3 grains of unique is all I load on 148HBWC.
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Old February 12, 2013, 05:47 PM   #16
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5gr. Unique makes a pretty good load in a DEWC, but it will blow the skirt off a hollowbase. A solid wadcutter needs to upset just a little, so that's pretty close to 5gr Unique. Speer 14 is probably the manual that shows that as a .357 magnum load. If I go over those levels, I wouldn't flush seat the DEWC.
It's probably a compressed load at 5 gr.
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Old February 12, 2013, 08:47 PM   #17
deleterman
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.38 spl loads

thanks guys but i have dumped the unique load idea.moveing on to bullseye power now.any thoughts on the load ??
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Old February 12, 2013, 10:26 PM   #18
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Less than 3.0 grains of BE, but not much less.
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Old February 13, 2013, 09:15 AM   #19
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Current Alliant data shows 3.1 gr. of Bullseye as max with the Speer 148 HBWC.

That said, my Lyman 46th edition shows 3.0 to 4.1 gr. as the range for Bullseye with that bullet.

My current favorite load for 38 Special is 3.4 gr. Bullseye under a 148 gr. DEWC seated to an O.A.L. of 1.420". This shoots very well in everything I've tried it in and certainly seems mild enough. My K-38 loves it.
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Old February 13, 2013, 12:59 PM   #20
deleterman
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.38 si loads

thanks for the info on bullseye power loads , i was thinking 3.1 grs bullseye foe 148 g dewc also 4.0 bullseye for the same 148 g dewc.on the high end. let me know what you think. H.B.
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Old February 13, 2013, 01:17 PM   #21
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Why do you wnt to push those target loads to the high end of the pressure range? 2.7 grains of Bullseye is the standard for 148 wad cutters. That's an older gun too.

And don't throw away that Unique. It's a very useful powder in almost any handgun caliber.
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Old February 13, 2013, 04:35 PM   #22
WaywardSon
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I agree with Axelwik...no need in pushing those bullets or stressing an old gun. The 148 gr. wadcutter was designed as a short range target bullet and probably will lose accuracy after 50 yds. There is no upside in trying to push them IMO.
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Old February 13, 2013, 07:13 PM   #23
deleterman
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thanks guys for the info. looks like i'm on the right track now.H.B.

Last edited by deleterman; February 13, 2013 at 10:55 PM.
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