A Little Help to a Newbie to CAS

Tanker6 · December 16, 2010, 10:50 AM

Howdy all. I normally hang out over at the Reloading section, but thought I'd ask some advice from folks who shoot SASS/CAS.

I've been reloading .38 and .40 for about a year and half (about 3,000 rounds to date), but I've recently caught the CAS bug. I'm purchasing some pistols this weekend for me and my daughter to begin shooting CAS. I've decided to stay in the .38 variety because I already have experience with that round (and have brass, dies, etc.) plus my daughter has proven she can handle that round.

My question is this. I've been loading .38's, but I obviously need to "tone it down" some for CAS shooting. My previous loads were fired from my .357 and according to load data (no, I don't own a chrony), were around 900-950 fps. I've loaded with Unique, Silouette (the old WAP), and recently with SR7625 (which was the best option available at the time I last bought powder

). I've been using 125 gn lead purchased from Missouri Bullet Company and have been pleased with the results. They are 12 BHF.

Anybody have some advice as to a good load recipe for .38 for CAS which will get my velocities down in the 750 fps range?

Also, I'll say that I'll probably get into black powder in the not-so-distant future because one of the things about CAS that intrigues me is the history. For example, the pistols I'm purchasing this weekend are open tops

. I love the look of 'em. It's only a matter of time until I bite off on an 1851 Navy or 1860 Army.

I appreciate the advice in advance.

zippy13 · December 16, 2010, 11:39 AM

As you are aware, the majority of the load data for 125-gr .38 Spcl loads are for jacketed bullets. The typical soft-recoiling .38 Spcl load is the classic match round with a 148-gr LWC over 2.7-gr of Bullseye at around 730 FPS. With Missouri's 125-gr TCFP, 3.1-gr of Bullseye will give your young lady about 775 FPS.

With respect to your first BP C&B revolver: the Colts sure are pretty; but, the simpler Remington '58 may be a better choice for the beginner.

Tanker6 · December 17, 2010, 01:23 PM

Thanks for the reply. Bullseye is normally easy to find around here, so that's a good idea.

I've never been a big fan of wadcutters....probably because I mostly shoot steel (I've got a small target range on my property), but that combo (Bullseye) with the 125 MBC's should be just fine. She's been handling the hotter loads of .38 I've loaded fine as well as my full power target loads in .40 S&W. She even fired another SASS member's 45LC without batting an eye last weeekend, so I'm thinking this will be fine.

As for the 1858 Remmies, I've also heard that comment before. Whatever decision I make on a 1st C&B, it will be a "side" project to the cartridge weapons, so I'll have lots of time to work out what I don't know.....(which reminds me of an old Army LTC I used to work for..."We're so dumb we don't know what we don't know.")

December 16, 2010, 10:50 AM	#1
Tanker6 Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 193	A Little Help to a Newbie to CAS Howdy all. I normally hang out over at the Reloading section, but thought I'd ask some advice from folks who shoot SASS/CAS. I've been reloading .38 and .40 for about a year and half (about 3,000 rounds to date), but I've recently caught the CAS bug. I'm purchasing some pistols this weekend for me and my daughter to begin shooting CAS. I've decided to stay in the .38 variety because I already have experience with that round (and have brass, dies, etc.) plus my daughter has proven she can handle that round. My question is this. I've been loading .38's, but I obviously need to "tone it down" some for CAS shooting. My previous loads were fired from my .357 and according to load data (no, I don't own a chrony), were around 900-950 fps. I've loaded with Unique, Silouette (the old WAP), and recently with SR7625 (which was the best option available at the time I last bought powder ). I've been using 125 gn lead purchased from Missouri Bullet Company and have been pleased with the results. They are 12 BHF. Anybody have some advice as to a good load recipe for .38 for CAS which will get my velocities down in the 750 fps range? Also, I'll say that I'll probably get into black powder in the not-so-distant future because one of the things about CAS that intrigues me is the history. For example, the pistols I'm purchasing this weekend are open tops . I love the look of 'em. It's only a matter of time until I bite off on an 1851 Navy or 1860 Army. I appreciate the advice in advance.

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December 16, 2010, 11:39 AM	#2
zippy13 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,442	As you are aware, the majority of the load data for 125-gr .38 Spcl loads are for jacketed bullets. The typical soft-recoiling .38 Spcl load is the classic match round with a 148-gr LWC over 2.7-gr of Bullseye at around 730 FPS. With Missouri's 125-gr TCFP, 3.1-gr of Bullseye will give your young lady about 775 FPS. With respect to your first BP C&B revolver: the Colts sure are pretty; but, the simpler Remington '58 may be a better choice for the beginner.

December 17, 2010, 01:23 PM	#3
Tanker6 Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 193	Thanks for the reply. Bullseye is normally easy to find around here, so that's a good idea. I've never been a big fan of wadcutters....probably because I mostly shoot steel (I've got a small target range on my property), but that combo (Bullseye) with the 125 MBC's should be just fine. She's been handling the hotter loads of .38 I've loaded fine as well as my full power target loads in .40 S&W. She even fired another SASS member's 45LC without batting an eye last weeekend, so I'm thinking this will be fine. As for the 1858 Remmies, I've also heard that comment before. Whatever decision I make on a 1st C&B, it will be a "side" project to the cartridge weapons, so I'll have lots of time to work out what I don't know.....(which reminds me of an old Army LTC I used to work for..."We're so dumb we don't know what we don't know.")