Author Topic: CAN ANYONE HELP ME FIND LOAD DATA FOR ..38 SW ..?? (Read 1084 times)

opatriot · « **on:** April 22, 2006, 11:48:25 AM »

Gday friens .....i cant find any load data for my ..38 S&W...such as....overall maximum length ,overall case length,. width ,etc.??..hogdan,accurate,imr ...doesnt even list this round ...?? is there a source on the net where i can find load data for this round ..??..................thankyou ...davey

JBMauser · « **Reply #1 on:** April 22, 2006, 11:57:17 AM »

I will take a look at my data when I get home. My first question is what pistol is this load for, something strong like a Webley or a cheap little pocket belly gun? JB

opatriot · « **Reply #2 on:** April 22, 2006, 12:32:35 PM »

GDAY JB ..WOULD APRECIATE ANY LOAD INFO , OVERALL BULLET LENGTH MAX., ETC..........POWDER COMPANIES DONT EVEN LIST IT .....WEAPON IS VERY SOLID ...
COLT POLICE POSITIVE ..GREAT COND..................THANX ..DAVEY

GypsmJim · « **Reply #3 on:** April 22, 2006, 02:19:14 PM »

Per my Pacific loading manual:
bullet dia = 0.356
max case length = 0.775
max OAL = 1.180

Internet data can be found:

http://www.reloadammo.com/38sw.htm

Mikey · « **Reply #4 on:** April 22, 2006, 03:13:25 PM »

OPATRIOT - try the following two sources: Lyman Reloading Manuals and Steve Ricciardelli's web-site from a number of Grayberad's forums. If you search for his name on Graybeard's you should find him - I believe he may have data on the 38 S&W and also hopefully on the 38-200. Mikey.

opatriot · « **Reply #5 on:** April 22, 2006, 04:45:25 PM »

Thankyou kindly folks ....some good info to follow up on .....with the price of store bought ammo ....I think im going to get back into reloading ....i shoot fairly often ....308,45-70,38 S&W..............thanx ..davey

buffermop · « **Reply #6 on:** April 23, 2006, 03:37:45 AM »

Try reloadersnest.com

JBMauser · « **Reply #7 on:** April 23, 2006, 04:33:19 AM »

opatriot, you have been given data sites to visit. I just wanted to point out that since you have a "modern" weapon you may be able to load to the .38 S&W Super police which is the same cart as the .38S&W with a 200 gr. bullet and loaded to OAL of 1.240 in. Your cylinder will give some guidence here. I have an old top break so I just load a few grains of bullseye. I use my 9mm dies to load the .38 S&W as recomended by Nonte. Here is another site to check out. he has data for top breaks as well. http://www.reloadammo.com/38sw.htm Best of luck, JB

opatriot · « **Reply #8 on:** April 23, 2006, 07:09:40 AM »

Gday friends ......whent scouting ...and found a recipe at reloadersnest.com .....for 38sw with 195 grain bullet , 2 gr bullseye....I was just wondering what the benifits are to loading 200gr bullets verses 140gr......more stopping power ?? do you lose acuracy with slower speed??........ordered carbide dies from midway ....they also carry a hard cast 190gr.and 195gr....flat nose .357 dia and .358 dia...."cheep"......................and also carry ..cast 200gr. wide long nose gas check .358 dia....."expensive" ......wich would you recomend ..???.........couldnt find info on british 38-200........thanx for your help ...davey.

JBMauser · « **Reply #9 on:** April 23, 2006, 10:22:59 AM »

Acording to Ken Waters in Pet loads, the 200 gr bullet is loaded to a longer OAL as I mentioned above. The heavier bullet (1929 US loading .38 S&W Super Police) was to give the rather anemic 38 S&W more stopping power by an increase of 22 percent as calculated by Hatcher. The Brits held the heavier 200 gr. bullet as the US went to the .38 special. Their Mark II .380 Rim cart was very effective in the hands of commandos in WWII Webleys nd Enfield revolvers. JB

Mikey · « **Reply #10 on:** April 23, 2006, 03:38:25 PM »

OPATRIOT - I think the factory duplication load was either the 2 gns of Bullseye or 3 something grns of Unique.

Please recall that the 200 gn 38-200 did not move fast at all - about 600'/sec from the barrel of a 4" service Webley revolver. But, that was all it needed. The Us loading in 200 gns for the 38 Special cartridge was to give detectives who favored the 2" snubbies a little more power than the standard 158 gn rn did when fired from a snubbie.

The 147 gn loading in the 38 S&W made the cartridge about as weak as it could ever have been made. The 200 gn load in the 38-200 was a favorite of Col. Charles Askins, a hardened combat veteran and LEO. He was very fond of the 38-200 during WWII. He preferred the 200 gn loading in the 38 Special, as it moved just a bit faster and was just as effective. His two favorite cartridges for law enforcement and anti-personel were the 200 gn 38 Special load and the 230 gn 45 acp.

You should be able to load either the 190 or 195 gn 357/358 slug in the 38 S&W cases over 2 gns of Bullseye without problem. Your accuracy may not be premier as your slugs might be a bit undersized for your bore but they may also shoot just fine in that Colt revolver. Someone once told me years ago that Colt used only one diameter in all their 38 spl, 357 magnum, 9mm and 38 Super barrels and that it was .355. If that is anywhere near accurate at all then your Colt revolver might shoot those 358s just fine. The rifle bullets might be gas chekced and you wouldn't need to spend your money on the rifle bullets as you should be able to do what you want with the lesser expensive handgun bullets. HTH. Mikey.

opatriot · « **Reply #11 on:** April 23, 2006, 06:04:46 PM »

Great info fellows.....thanx a bunch .....appreciate your help .....ill go ahead and order some of the 195gr bullets ...will letcha know how they work out ....really enjoy this little gun...........thanx ..davey

Questor · « **Reply #12 on:** April 24, 2006, 04:44:37 AM »

I wonder if SASS or Cowboy action forums will be able to help you in your search for data. Some of those guys are very knowledgeable about loading obsolete cartridges.