38 S&W Enfield Reloading

stevejones

stevejones

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I just picked up one of the Enfield revolvers from Tradex Canada. Its in nice shape and I can't wait to shoot it. My reloading data seems to condemn break action revolvers ....Does anyone reload for theirs? I am using Bullseye and I'm pretty sure if I keep to the starting load of 1.8 grains I should be well within safety limits but I would like to be sure.

Thanks everyone. Steve.
 
Modern Reloading 2nd edition shows 2.2 grains of Bullseye (vel 630 fps/col 1.16) with a 145 grain bullet. I've owned a few Enfield revolvers and they seem solid enough. I recall reading that it's the old Iver Johnson? break tops that have the poor reputation.

If you're worried about pressure, Unique fits the bill just fine in these old girls.
 
I recall reading the same. The Webley/enfields are supposed to be plenty tough enough to handle standard loads.

Interesting to note that my Webley is quite accurate with regular .358 158 grainers. I've not even tried the .361/200 bullets yet, and am not certain whether I will.
 
I cast a bunch of 158 grainers from a Lee mold that drops them out around .360 so I'm hoping they will work. It makes sense that the Enfield revolvers should be strong guns as they are made for battlefield conditions.

thanks, hoping to hear more. Steve.
 
Despite the heavy SA and even more heavy DA I found it nice to shoot with slow deliberation. It's not a bad trigger -just bloody heavy!
 
Fwiw, I use 2.2gr of W231 in my .38 S&W... Not a break top revolver, though. I,m using 160gr .38 Super lead RN bullets.
 
The very heavy hammer spring on my 2 enfields was the cause of primer perforations(light loads with 158 and homecast 200 gn).
Problem solved by using small rifle primers! At least one of the custom order 200 gn molds is defective design, bullet too long, preventing a crimp in the crimp groove(I solve by flattening tip in lube-size die).
 
Mine shoots bullets sized to .360 very well. They're stronger than load data would indicate. Work up to max with no worries until it gets accurate and the powder burn cleans up. You'll feel and hear it before you see the target. You could go higher, but there is no point. The service load would be way off any load chart. At minimum loads I had some bullets tumbling at 20 yards and it was a mess of unburned powder. I haven't used bullseye, but I would expect it to work well.
 
I'm looking to reload for my Enfield revolver and I have the 158gr cast bullets and the following powders on hand..
red Dot, 700X, 800X, SR4756, SR7625 and finally some new Hodgdon CFE pistol powder.. anyone have any loads for those powders? So far I have found 2.2 to 2.5 gr of reddot as a load, and thats been about it.
 
stevejones said:
I just picked up one of the Enfield revolvers from Tradex Canada. Its in nice shape and I can't wait to shoot it. My reloading data seems to condemn break action revolvers ....Does anyone reload for theirs? I am using Bullseye and I'm pretty sure if I keep to the starting load of 1.8 grains I should be well within safety limits but I would like to be sure.

Thanks everyone. Steve.
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Its been my experience that the Enfield revolvers as well as the later Webley revolvers are pretty tough. The same can be said for the S&W lend lease revolvers.

The loading specs as well as the factory ammo available here are set up to take into account the early break action revolvers. I have a mold that I altered to cast 200 grn bullets that drop out at .362. They work well in my revolvers. I tried shooting some 158 grain round nose as well as SWC and hollow base WC all measuring .358. The only bullets that shot reasonably well were the hollow base WC. I also found that at the reduce loads shown in the manuals for the 38S&W round that they weren't able to obdurate properly to fit the lands. Even with max loads this was the case.

My 200grn bullets are relatively soft with a Brinnell rate of 12. I do this to get better obduration. The load I use is over maximum in any books I have so, because there are so many weaker revolvers out there, I will not post it. Same goes for the 158 grn bullets.

Pistols marked 38/200 were built to push a 200grn .360 diameter bullet at close to 700 fps. That is what I based my load on. At 650 fps I stopped adding powder. Surprisingly my revolvers like this load the best. If I were shooting these revolvers more, I would make up a hollow base mold of lighter weight.

The 38/200 was a very effective round in its original loading with relatively soft truncated cone type lead bullets. The penetration on soft targets, which it was intended for would have been phenomenal. The Geneva Convention mandated the use of lead bullets to be illegal so they came up with a lighter, cupro nickel jacketed bullet and of course a copper jacketed bullet.
 
This might seem like an odd question, but would one be able to compete in IPSC or something with an Enfield revolver?

200 grains at 650 fps would make power factor for minor... But can you get whatever other stuff you'd need, speedloaders and a holster for instance?
 
Suther said:
This might seem like an odd question, but would one be able to compete in IPSC or something with an Enfield revolver?

200 grains at 650 fps would make power factor for minor... But can you get whatever other stuff you'd need, speedloaders and a holster for instance?
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I don't believe an Enfield revolver would be a good fit for IPSC. I hold these revolvers dear to my heart, but the trigger pull on the DOA hammer spurless kind, I'm sure the trigger pull is 15-17 lbs. No exaggeration. And it's true, you can turn up the juice with the 38 S&W cartridge, within reason.
 
Anyone know where to find 38 S & W cases? Can you simply cut down a 38 special? From my lyman manual, it looks close, but is it close enough? Anyone with experience with this?
 
Cameron SS said:
Anyone know where to find 38 S & W cases? Can you simply cut down a 38 special? From my lyman manual, it looks close, but is it close enough? Anyone with experience with this?
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I got mine from Rusty Wood.

Check around with dealers who stock Starline brass
 
Mark-II said:
I got mine from Rusty Wood.

Check around with dealers who stock Starline brass
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Placing order as we speak. Now what bullets? I'm just paper punching. Its for an old Smith and Wesson 4th model top break hammerless. Not coming up with a lot of reloading info as well. Any tips?
 
Cameron SS said:
Placing order as we speak. Now what bullets? I'm just paper punching. Its for an old Smith and Wesson 4th model top break hammerless. Not coming up with a lot of reloading info as well. Any tips?
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Lots of people use the standard .358(38 special/357 magnum) bullet with good success, where the true diameter is .361 I believe. Iam about to try out reloading for it with 158gr .358 bullets and some bullseye and see how it goes, My S&W K frame speedloaders work well with the enfield revolver so it should be a good amount of fun
 
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