38 special shorts,and buckshot

ar15man2009 · March 8, 2009, 12:55 PM

i have an old colt police positive with some brass that i would like to reload for it.but the problem is it is chambered in 38 special short only.and i cannot find any load data for the 38 short.does anybody know one or two i can try out?

next,i just purchased sme buckshot and plan to start reloading some tommorow,but everybody told me you cannot load it to short brass hulls.does it matter what kind i load it into?

any help would be greatly appreciated.thanks

Gazzmann · March 8, 2009, 05:51 PM

From Speer manual #9.
2.4 min to 2.7 max grains Bullseye 158 grain LRN or
2.8 min to 3.1 max grains Unique 158 grain LRN.
Same for 158 grain lead semi-wadcutters
I've shot both out of my Webley. Nice pop.
John

armsmaster270 · March 8, 2009, 06:02 PM

I have seen High Base loads done in Low Brass cases I am not too sure of the Safety I have heard that the cases are the same and that the brass is just an indicator of the load in the shell. Activ Brand shells are all plastic with no brass so see what someone else says before making up your mind.

SL1 · March 8, 2009, 08:01 PM

ar15man2009,

By "38 special short" I am assuming you mean "38 Smith & Wesson". Yes, Colt made revolvers that shot cartridges with that name, but changed the name to something like "38 Colt New Police". It is the same cartridge, with a case that is only 0.775" long. Please be sure that is what you have before loading it with anybody's data.

The old Speer manuals had some data for that cartridge. Gazzmann gave you some data he said is from Speer manual #9 in the second post, above. It is a little different from what I have in Speer manual #10, so I will give you that:

148 grain wadcutter SEATED OUT SO THAT CRIMP IS IN THE TOP LUBRICATION GROOVE (same cartridge oveall length as the round nose and semiwadcutter bullets)

Code:

Bullseye:  start 2.5 gr  701 fps
              max  2.7 gr  784 fps

Unique:    start 3.1 gr  673 fps
              max  3.4 gr  747 fps

158 gr roundnose or semiwadcuter:

Code:

Bullseye:  start 2.2 gr  629 fps
              max  2.4 gr  693 fps

Unique:    start 2.9 gr  630 fps
              max  3.2 gr  702 fps

Velocities are from a 4" barrelled S&W revolver.

SL1

March 8, 2009, 06:02 PM	#3
armsmaster270 Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2008 Location: California Posts: 1,951	I have seen High Base loads done in Low Brass cases I am not too sure of the Safety I have heard that the cases are the same and that the brass is just an indicator of the load in the shell. Activ Brand shells are all plastic with no brass so see what someone else says before making up your mind. __________________ http://www.armsmaster.net-a.googlepages.com http://s239.photobucket.com/albums/f...aster270/Guns/ Retired LE, M.P., Sr. M.P. Investigator F.B.I. Trained Rangemaster/Firearms Instructor & Armorer, Presently Forensic Document Examiner for D.H.S.

March 8, 2009, 08:01 PM	#4
SL1 Senior Member Join Date: November 8, 2007 Posts: 2,001	ar15man2009, By "38 special short" I am assuming you mean "38 Smith & Wesson". Yes, Colt made revolvers that shot cartridges with that name, but changed the name to something like "38 Colt New Police". It is the same cartridge, with a case that is only 0.775" long. Please be sure that is what you have before loading it with anybody's data. The old Speer manuals had some data for that cartridge. Gazzmann gave you some data he said is from Speer manual #9 in the second post, above. It is a little different from what I have in Speer manual #10, so I will give you that: 148 grain wadcutter SEATED OUT SO THAT CRIMP IS IN THE TOP LUBRICATION GROOVE (same cartridge oveall length as the round nose and semiwadcutter bullets) Code: Bullseye: start 2.5 gr 701 fps max 2.7 gr 784 fps Unique: start 3.1 gr 673 fps max 3.4 gr 747 fps 158 gr roundnose or semiwadcuter: Code: Bullseye: start 2.2 gr 629 fps max 2.4 gr 693 fps Unique: start 2.9 gr 630 fps max 3.2 gr 702 fps Velocities are from a 4" barrelled S&W revolver. SL1 Last edited by SL1; March 8, 2009 at 08:09 PM.

March 8, 2009, 12:55 PM	#1
ar15man2009 Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Location: Harlan County,Kentucky Posts: 81	38 special shorts,and buckshot i have an old colt police positive with some brass that i would like to reload for it.but the problem is it is chambered in 38 special short only.and i cannot find any load data for the 38 short.does anybody know one or two i can try out? next,i just purchased sme buckshot and plan to start reloading some tommorow,but everybody told me you cannot load it to short brass hulls.does it matter what kind i load it into? any help would be greatly appreciated.thanks

March 8, 2009, 05:51 PM	#2
Gazzmann Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2007 Location: South Florida Posts: 133	From Speer manual #9. 2.4 min to 2.7 max grains Bullseye 158 grain LRN or 2.8 min to 3.1 max grains Unique 158 grain LRN. Same for 158 grain lead semi-wadcutters I've shot both out of my Webley. Nice pop. John