38 short colt loaded to 38 spc?
- Thread starter Slowbalt
- Start date
I sure wouldn't start there. it is possible that the case and action would be strong enough, but the case being shorter would definitely impact pressure. I would start at a mid-range 38 SC load and work up very slowly, just to make sure there are no pressure signs.
Really depends on the rifle. Falling block and bolt action rifles can handle 65,000 psi cartridges all the time. Single shot break actions are good to at least 60,000 psi. If it's a lever action the type matters. An 1894 action I know is good up to 36,000 psi (.44 mag) but there is a good reason none are chambered in .460 S&W or .500 S&W as they are both in the 50,000 psi territory.
With shrinking case volume the pressure curve can be pretty brutal so I would definitely work up from a known safe load.
I've always followed the philosophy of if you want a more powerful cartridge, buy a gun that fires a more powerful cartridge. Don't try to hot rod a weaker cartridge. In this case if you have a .357 rifle why don't you just use .357 ammo? Or is it that you have a big pile of .38 short colt brass lying around? Personally I'd just use .357 mag brass for everything to avoid dirt rings in the chamber and reduce bullet jump which improves accuracy. In my .44 mag lever it doesn't matter if I'm loading .44 mag, .44 special, or .44 Russian data; I always use .44 mag brass.
With shrinking case volume the pressure curve can be pretty brutal so I would definitely work up from a known safe load.
I've always followed the philosophy of if you want a more powerful cartridge, buy a gun that fires a more powerful cartridge. Don't try to hot rod a weaker cartridge. In this case if you have a .357 rifle why don't you just use .357 ammo? Or is it that you have a big pile of .38 short colt brass lying around? Personally I'd just use .357 mag brass for everything to avoid dirt rings in the chamber and reduce bullet jump which improves accuracy. In my .44 mag lever it doesn't matter if I'm loading .44 mag, .44 special, or .44 Russian data; I always use .44 mag brass.
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Alright for the details :
The why : To provide my lever action with a much higher round count that the current 10.
The how :
Brass : 38 short colt Starline brand. Or if someone can prove to me that it would make a difference, cut down 38 or 357.
I understand that the freebore may lead to accuracy problems, but if you don't try you never know.
Researching more makes me think about perhaps 9mm power level or mid 38 spc.
The why : To provide my lever action with a much higher round count that the current 10.
The how :
Brass : 38 short colt Starline brand. Or if someone can prove to me that it would make a difference, cut down 38 or 357.
I understand that the freebore may lead to accuracy problems, but if you don't try you never know.
Researching more makes me think about perhaps 9mm power level or mid 38 spc.
Most lever actions are fussy about the length of cartridge they will feed from the magazine tube. Added magazine capacity will mean nothing if the rifle won't feed reliably.
You may want to do up some dummies weighted to approximate a live cartridge and try feeding a dozen through your rifle at both slow and fast speeds.
fingers284
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Alberta Cowboy Ranges
^^^^ good advise^^^
Some of my observations of different lever actions with short cartridges ;
Any Win. or Uberti toggle action... absolutely will not work unless the elevator is modified or changed to a "short cartridge" model. to my knowledge no elevators built that would accommodate the .38 s&w.
Any Win. ,Rossi, Italian copy of a 92 action...I can see all sorts of frustration with stove pipe & fully ejected live rounds. The shorter you go with the rounds in these guns the less the bullet weight can counter-act the inertia it takes to stand the round up, creating a stovepipe situation.
Win. 94 actions...same as 92's only worse. The 94's work wonderfully with the long cartridges they were designed for, the 30-30, 32 sp, 38-55 ect. When they tried to make pistol caliber main match cowboy guns with the same action most were a dismal failure at best. I say "most" as some of the ones chambered in 44 mag or 45 lc worked passably. that is because the large, heavier bullets used in these calibers counter-acted the inertia to easily flip up (as described in the 92 para.)
Some of my observations of different lever actions with short cartridges ;
Any Win. or Uberti toggle action... absolutely will not work unless the elevator is modified or changed to a "short cartridge" model. to my knowledge no elevators built that would accommodate the .38 s&w.
Any Win. ,Rossi, Italian copy of a 92 action...I can see all sorts of frustration with stove pipe & fully ejected live rounds. The shorter you go with the rounds in these guns the less the bullet weight can counter-act the inertia it takes to stand the round up, creating a stovepipe situation.
Win. 94 actions...same as 92's only worse. The 94's work wonderfully with the long cartridges they were designed for, the 30-30, 32 sp, 38-55 ect. When they tried to make pistol caliber main match cowboy guns with the same action most were a dismal failure at best. I say "most" as some of the ones chambered in 44 mag or 45 lc worked passably. that is because the large, heavier bullets used in these calibers counter-acted the inertia to easily flip up (as described in the 92 para.)
fingers284
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Alberta Cowboy Ranges
Forgot to mention the Marlin 94 yesterday. Probably the best bet for what you are trying to achieve although a lot of what I call "double clutching the lever" is usually required when feeding "short" .38 sp ammo thru a rifle set up for .357 mag. If it won't work with the super short .38 S&W, there is a gunsmith in the states that does conversions /modifications to the Marlins so that they feed the .45 cowboy rounds (.45 lc rounds shortened to the same length as .45 auto). Google ".45 Cowboy" or "Levermatic" and you should find out all you need to know.
good luck with this project, I find it interesting and may have to try some of the wife's .38 S&W ammo out myownself.
good luck with this project, I find it interesting and may have to try some of the wife's .38 S&W ammo out myownself.
