.38 Sp BP loads

John in B.C.

John in B.C.

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I am looking for some input on loading BP in .38 Sp cartridges. I tried a search but no go.

What has been your experience? Minimum loads? Maximum?

I would like to work up a solid load to knock over the steel at Cowboy Shoots.:)
 
John in B.C. said:
I am looking for some input on loading BP in .38 Sp cartridges. I tried a search but no go.

What has been your experience? Minimum loads? Maximum?

I would like to work up a solid load to knock over the steel at Cowboy Shoots.:)
Click to expand...

I ran BP through an old model S&W hand ejector 38 Spl. years ago.
Anywhere form 13 to 16 grain of FFFg was about all you could stuff in that little case with a 158 SWC.
It was reasonably accurate though I cannot tell you what it would do to steel.
Cheers
 
This is a diff. ball of wax, not like loading smokeless where there is a min. and a max.........just drop tube enough 3fg. black so that there is no air space in case. It would also help alot if the bullets were lubed with a black powder lubricant, so go out and have a ball! the only good way to reduce BP loads would be to fill any void in case with felt wads or some such.
 
:dancingbanana:19Gr fffg. Full case - slightly compressed. Nice solid recoil. Lots of fire and smoke and puts the steel down hard at 25yds. Accurate in both of my Pietta SAA's and my Puma '92. Yahoo!:shotgun:
 
Seems to me Lyman's BP book has loads for cartridges. Don't know if there's a .38 Special load though. According to Guns & Ammo, the original BP load was 21.5 grains of fine BP with a 158 grain bullet.
 
G'day John,

A fellow I was shooting with over at the CAS nationals was using 21 grs of 3F and it was working great for him. He was able to shoot through 5 stages without any cleaning. He claimed the secret is selecting a bullet that holds as much lube as possible (deep wide grooves) - I believe he sourced his molds from custom makers in the states but I can't recal who specifically made them.
 
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