38 S&W loads needed

Craig0ry

Craig0ry

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Hey guys, Just picked up some .361 200gr lead bullets, have my brass ready, powders I have to work with are bullseye, clays, Titegroup, and unique, Its for a enfield revolver... And go!

Thanks in advance
 
With the heavy bullets you have for yoru Enfield it's not really considered as being .38S&W any more. When I google for ".38-200 loading data" there's an impressive number of good looking links that come back. Have you tried this yet?

Many of the links also come back with references to the ammo name being 38/200. So try "38/200 loading data" for your keywords as well.

I know for sure that Bullseye and Tightgroup will both be good options for the lower pressure and low velocity loads that were used in these guns as a service load. The other two I can't say for sure.
 
I never shot 200 grain bullets out of any of my 38 S&W (158 grain cast at the heaviest), but I do recall Titegroup getting very erratic at the bottom end, velocities all over the map. I don't recall the load at this moment, but I do remember shooting it over a friends chronograph, and seeing the bullet! It was 390 or 420? fps or something absurdly low.

I found Unique to work best for good velocity and low pressure, and yes, burns dirty. You sure can pep up the cartridge over factory fodder.
 
saskgunowner101 said:
I never shot 200 grain bullets out of any of my 38 S&W (158 grain cast at the heaviest), but I do recall Titegroup getting very erratic at the bottom end, velocities all over the map. I don't recall the load at this moment, but I do remember shooting it over a friends chronograph, and seeing the bullet! It was 390 or 420? fps or something absurdly low.

I found Unique to work best for good velocity and low pressure, and yes, burns dirty. You sure can pep up the cartridge over factory fodder.
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It wasn't the powder. That has the hallmarks of too low a charge, probably in the order of 1.5 grs or less. If you had upped the load by 0.1 gr increments (each time ensuring that there was no bore obstruction), I think that by the time you got to 2.0 grs, you would have been getting over 600 fps, and consistent MV's.
 
Andy said:
It wasn't the powder. That has the hallmarks of too low a charge, probably in the order of 1.5 grs or less. If you had upped the load by 0.1 gr increments (each time ensuring that there was no bore obstruction), I think that by the time you got to 2.0 grs, you would have been getting over 600 fps, and consistent MV's.
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Like I say, my notes aren't right by the computer, but it was indeed in the 1.5-1.7 grain range ball park. And I do remember it sorting itself out with higher charges. It is fairly comical to actually see a bullet fly out of the barrel on the way to the target.
 
I happen to have been shooting Short and Weak earlier today, and there's unburnt powder filth all through my shooting bag now. Depending on the powder, it's just going to happen. I am not using heavy bullets, but I worked up to an accuracy load and there's still unburnt crap by the time the groups clean up. I'm interested to find out how the heavies do. My impression is that faster powder will give better groups, but that might only be in smaller bullets. 1.5-1.7ish seems right for 200 gr, 2ish seems about right for 145-158 gr and 2.3-2.7? seems right for 125-130 gr. 2 gr with light bullets and they go through the target sideways, so there isn't a lot of margin on this round. I haven't listed powders because I'm totally off the books for what I actually like to use. It's easy to tell when you've worked up to a good load by sound and feel, because you will be a few tenths below max when it gets consistent.
 
that figure of 2.0 bullseye was from memory - please check a reloading manual

sorry if i led someone wrong

that may have been for the 158 grainers

either way i do not have unburnt powder with bullseye

also for an enfield check your OAL very carefully with 200 grainers - can stick out of cylinder
 
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