Heavy .38 Super loads

wilkup · May 11, 2011, 03:39 PM

What's the heaviest bullet you carry for SD in this caliber?
What bullets work the best?
I've read a few places that it's possible to fire .357 bullets through these guns even with the added diameter... is this true?
I think it'd be awesome to get some of Speer's GDHP 158gr in the .357 Mag Short Barrel variety and use it as my SD load. What do you think? Is this even a possibility?

Loader9 · May 11, 2011, 09:09 PM

My 38 Super is a Colt Special Combat that I use as a carry piece occasionally. I load the 124 gr Golden Sabres at 1300'ps using HS-6 powder. That's a max load so work up to it. Because of the design of the GS bullet, you'll get a little more velocity out of them than a similar bullet weight due to less bullet drag. Terminal performance is as good as anything you'll buy.

Yes, you can use the .357 bullets providing you have the correct data to do so. There is more bullet drag therefore more pressure versus the correct diameter. I doubt you'll like the 158's out of a Super-just not enough velocity to make the bullet perform. I would expect velocities around 1050'ps max.

youngunz4life · May 11, 2011, 09:18 PM

the 180gr hollows are fun too if you're interested in the heavy loads. I always have on hand some 300gr hollows for my .44 and 180gr hollows for my 357.

youngunz4life · May 11, 2011, 09:22 PM

...I didn't realize you were speaking of .38's

CherokeeT · May 12, 2011, 12:22 PM

I have use the Hornady 357 XTP's in 125 and 140 gr in both my 38 Super guns. Both have .355 barrels. Performance is good. AA7 for the 125 and AA9 for the 140.

wilkup · May 12, 2011, 12:27 PM

So the bigger 158gr bullets aren't going to be moving too quickly? I wonder how fast they have to be moving to expand effectively. Maybe I'd just load up some 147gr 9mm rounds at .357 Sig velocity instead =)

May 11, 2011, 03:39 PM	#1
wilkup Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2009 Location: Pacific North West Posts: 190	Heavy .38 Super loads What's the heaviest bullet you carry for SD in this caliber? What bullets work the best? I've read a few places that it's possible to fire .357 bullets through these guns even with the added diameter... is this true? I think it'd be awesome to get some of Speer's GDHP 158gr in the .357 Mag Short Barrel variety and use it as my SD load. What do you think? Is this even a possibility?

May 11, 2011, 09:18 PM	#3
youngunz4life Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2010 Location: United States of America Posts: 1,877	wilkup the 180gr hollows are fun too if you're interested in the heavy loads. I always have on hand some 300gr hollows for my .44 and 180gr hollows for my 357. __________________ "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" -Admiral Farragut @ Battle of Mobile Bay 05AUG1864

May 11, 2011, 09:22 PM	#4
youngunz4life Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2010 Location: United States of America Posts: 1,877	my bad... ...I didn't realize you were speaking of .38's __________________ "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" -Admiral Farragut @ Battle of Mobile Bay 05AUG1864

May 12, 2011, 12:22 PM	#5
CherokeeT Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2008 Location: Medina, Ohio Posts: 273	I have use the Hornady 357 XTP's in 125 and 140 gr in both my 38 Super guns. Both have .355 barrels. Performance is good. AA7 for the 125 and AA9 for the 140. __________________ God Bless America US Army, NRA Endowment TSRA Life, SASS

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May 11, 2011, 09:09 PM	#2
Loader9 Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2008 Posts: 949	My 38 Super is a Colt Special Combat that I use as a carry piece occasionally. I load the 124 gr Golden Sabres at 1300'ps using HS-6 powder. That's a max load so work up to it. Because of the design of the GS bullet, you'll get a little more velocity out of them than a similar bullet weight due to less bullet drag. Terminal performance is as good as anything you'll buy. Yes, you can use the .357 bullets providing you have the correct data to do so. There is more bullet drag therefore more pressure versus the correct diameter. I doubt you'll like the 158's out of a Super-just not enough velocity to make the bullet perform. I would expect velocities around 1050'ps max.

May 12, 2011, 12:27 PM	#6
wilkup Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2009 Location: Pacific North West Posts: 190	So the bigger 158gr bullets aren't going to be moving too quickly? I wonder how fast they have to be moving to expand effectively. Maybe I'd just load up some 147gr 9mm rounds at .357 Sig velocity instead =)