38 ACP And Red Dot

BossHoss · January 22, 2010, 05:30 PM

I want to load the relic low power cartridge 38 Auto ---38ACP

I have 38 Super Dies.

38 Auto brass.

I want to use Red Dot and 155gn LSWC heads. I have tons of 155gn LSWC heads, as this what I use in the Super, but wouldn't dare shhot those loads in my 100+ year old 1902.

Does anyone have a load for Red Dot in 38 Auto that might be adjusted for the 155 LSWCs I have??

Peter M. Eick · January 23, 2010, 08:06 AM

Why not take your standard super load and knock the load back about 25% and work your way up?

You could get it modeled in quikload if you were curious or you could fire them in your super and tweak the load down till you get the correct velocity for the ACP with that bullet weight.

I would probably start with the correct weight and work the problem in the other direction though. I would start with a loading manual, correct bullets and then see what is the response of the powder changes to velocity then start working my bullet weights up. That would be the cautious approach to an older gun.

Qtiphky · January 23, 2010, 10:12 AM

My sierra manual doesn't list any bullets over 115 grns and says that the 380 ACP does better with 95 grainers.

Jim Watson · January 23, 2010, 06:21 PM

My old (1967) Lyman book says to reduce the .38 Super starting load by .5 grain and to work back up to the Super starting load as a maximum.

HOWEVER, Lyman recommended not loading heavier bullets than 133 grains.
Laser Cast shows only a 124 grain.

If you persist in loading 155s, the 1967 Lyman starting load for a 158 in Super is 3.5 gr Red Dot, so the ACP load would be 3.0.

Later Lyman editions don't want to talk about loading .38 ACP at all. Afraid you will hurt your obsolete gun and/or yourself.

**Unclenick** · January 23, 2010, 06:53 PM

Don't try it with the 155 grain bullets. They are too long for that stubby little case and will contain the powder so tightly that charges too small to get useful velocities from will reach maximum pressure. You'll easily accidentally load to damaging pressures. Small charge variances of a couple of tenths of a grain will cause the pressure to vary substantially. Not worth risking the damage to the gun or to yourself.

January 22, 2010, 05:30 PM	#1
BossHoss Member Join Date: January 22, 2010 Posts: 25	38 ACP And Red Dot I want to load the relic low power cartridge 38 Auto ---38ACP I have 38 Super Dies. 38 Auto brass. I want to use Red Dot and 155gn LSWC heads. I have tons of 155gn LSWC heads, as this what I use in the Super, but wouldn't dare shhot those loads in my 100+ year old 1902. Does anyone have a load for Red Dot in 38 Auto that might be adjusted for the 155 LSWCs I have??

January 23, 2010, 08:06 AM	#2
Peter M. Eick Senior Member Join Date: August 3, 1999 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 2,991	Why not take your standard super load and knock the load back about 25% and work your way up? You could get it modeled in quikload if you were curious or you could fire them in your super and tweak the load down till you get the correct velocity for the ACP with that bullet weight. I would probably start with the correct weight and work the problem in the other direction though. I would start with a loading manual, correct bullets and then see what is the response of the powder changes to velocity then start working my bullet weights up. That would be the cautious approach to an older gun. __________________ 10mm and 357sig, the best things to come along since the 38 super!

January 23, 2010, 10:12 AM	#3
Qtiphky Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2008 Location: Upper Michigan, above the Mackinac Bridge Posts: 568	Not the right bullets My sierra manual doesn't list any bullets over 115 grns and says that the 380 ACP does better with 95 grainers.

January 23, 2010, 06:53 PM	#5
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	Don't try it with the 155 grain bullets. They are too long for that stubby little case and will contain the powder so tightly that charges too small to get useful velocities from will reach maximum pressure. You'll easily accidentally load to damaging pressures. Small charge variances of a couple of tenths of a grain will cause the pressure to vary substantially. Not worth risking the damage to the gun or to yourself. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

January 23, 2010, 06:21 PM	#4
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	My old (1967) Lyman book says to reduce the .38 Super starting load by .5 grain and to work back up to the Super starting load as a maximum. HOWEVER, Lyman recommended not loading heavier bullets than 133 grains. Laser Cast shows only a 124 grain. If you persist in loading 155s, the 1967 Lyman starting load for a 158 in Super is 3.5 gr Red Dot, so the ACP load would be 3.0. Later Lyman editions don't want to talk about loading .38 ACP at all. Afraid you will hurt your obsolete gun and/or yourself.