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Old August 10, 2000, 01:16 PM   #1
Grapeshot
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Location: WV
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Hi, will be picking up my NIB Bright Stainless Colt .38 Super tomorrow and was just wondering...
1) How fast can you push a 125 gr. or 115 gr. bullet SAFELY? Any tricks to this? Any load data would be helpful.
2) What are the best powders for hot loads? (I have Bullseye, Blue Dot, and Unique handy)
3) Which dies? I have a Hornady progressive and was going to buy Hornady dies because I like them.
4) Are Win. cases ok to use for hot loads? I hear the Remington is most desirable.


Thanks!
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Old August 10, 2000, 07:03 PM   #2
WESHOOT2
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1) Define 'safe'......Alliant says a 115g JHP at 1360fps using Blue Dot, Winchester has same bullet at 1340fps with WAP, Hodgdon has a 115g XTP at 1314fps with HS6, and Vihtavuori shows a 115g XTP at 1420fps using 3N37.

2) Best is nebulous, but of your three stick with Unique and Blue Dot.
I like WAP best, followed by V3N37 and Power Pistol.

3) Any dies. I like the Lee seat die because it's so easy to change OAL.
Finish using a Lee Carbide Factory Crimp die.

4) W-W or R-P new cases are both good. So is Starline.

Hope this helps, and start low and work up.

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"All my ammo is factory ammo"

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Old August 11, 2000, 04:40 AM   #3
Kaliburz
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Bright Stainless 38 Super? Hummmmmm, sounds just like the one I've been drooling over....mind if I ask what the final $$$$ were?

Try MD Smith's page: www.reloadammo.com
He has a few 38 Super loads listed, lead and FMJ.

This has some too: http://www.again.net/%7Esteve/page8a.htm

I've seen some other pages w/ really hot loads...actually printed them out, but the web address isn't there.

Here's what the printout lists....the hottest in vel from what I saw.
Alan Long
125gr D+J JRN bullet
9.2gr VV-3N37 1470fps posted on the USPSA BBS

Layne Simpson
124 gr Horn FMJFN
9.0gr VV-N350 1506fps from "Bench Topics" column in Handloader# 167

The printout says that they should be used in barrels that fully suport the cartridge...and start at 10% less.

I shoot a stock 38 Super, old, old model (1947 year made-still head spaces on the rim!!!) I'm feeding it 147gr bullets right now...plan on "retiring it"....and get a replacement. Haven't tried 125gr yet.




[This message has been edited by Kaliburz (edited August 11, 2000).]
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Old August 11, 2000, 09:06 AM   #4
Grapeshot
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Thanks guys!
Kaliburz, I am a dealer and was lucky enough to find it for $579 + $20 shipping. I considered myself lucky to be getting a new Colt like that in ANY calibur, so I bought the Super despite knowing little about the cartridge. From what I have seen so far, I think I can handload the 115 gr. jhp's in an unsupported barrel to 1350 or maybe even 1400 (my goal).
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Old August 11, 2000, 09:04 PM   #5
WESHOOT2
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Grapeshot,

Easily (if you, like I, believe in Major 9).

1350-1400fps can be obtained without fear; it's when you push past that goal that you want to examine your fired cases VERY carefully.

Enjoy!



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Old August 13, 2000, 09:39 PM   #6
SKR
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http://www.again.net/~steve/page8.htm and go to table #1.

Then...
http://www.again.net/~steve/page8a.htm
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Old August 14, 2000, 03:33 PM   #7
EchoFiveMike
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Well, if all you need is 1400fps with 115 bullets and you have Blue Dot you are all set. I use 10.0gns of Blue dot and a 115gn Rem JHP and it comes in at 1405 fps average from my full size 1911. And this is the listed max load in several different manuals, Nosler and Speer come to mind. I can't recommend pushing much harder than this in an unsupported chamber, but this load works great in my stock Colt. Brass lasts very well. OAL is 1.260 and I use Winchester primers. Semper fi...Ken
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