Dangerous or Safe .38s?

rideauwrangler

rideauwrangler

Regular
Rating - 100%
42   0   0
Location
Eastern Mor-Ontario
A couple months ago I made a batch of 200 .38 specials and realized I was using the wrong charge. I never got around to pulling them and found them last night when I was cleaning my bench. They are:

158 grain lswc with 4 grains of HP38 in regular .38 spl cases.

All of my manuals say the max load shouldn't exceed 3.7 gr for this bullet type, but when loading +p rounds I think the max load goes as high as 4.2 gr HP38. I guess I just don't want to face having to pull them (although I know I'll probably have to).

To the expereinced loaders what are the opinions; safe or dangerous?
 
rideauwrangler said:
A couple months ago I made a batch of 200 .38 specials and realized I was using the wrong charge. I never got around to pulling them and found them last night when I was cleaning my bench. They are:

158 grain lswc with 4 grains of HP38 in regular .38 spl cases.

All of my manuals say the max load shouldn't exceed 3.7 gr for this bullet type, but when loading +p rounds I think the max load goes as high as 4.2 gr HP38. I guess I just don't want to face having to pull them (although I know I'll probably have to).

To the expereinced loaders what are the opinions; safe or dangerous?
Click to expand...

Well if +P calls for 4.2gr and if you have a +P gun or a .357 magnum, you are good to go. But if you have an older aluminum frame 38 special, you may be pushing it. What type of gun do you have?
 
Although it's a hot load... you should be ok in a 357 revolver... however watch your cases... they could have issues... look for primer flow or distortion... my concern would be the pressure curve... if it hooks too high you may split the cases...
 
Your.38 load is not a hot load for a .357 magnum. You might experience an accumulation of lead because of the extra velocity. Go for it but check leading and remove lead from the barrel if too much accumulation. Limit the number of rounds between range session if this is the case. Have fun :)
 
Last edited:
I second Hi-Standards thoughts. I have a 686 and have shot a considerable amount of +p stuff in it. Your GP 100 is at least as strong as your 686 if not more so. But as Bear say, watch for pressure sign just to be on the safe side.
 
The pressure in a 357 is not a problem at all.

The following are SAAMI max average pressures for various cartridges.

38 Spl = 17,000 psi
38 +P = 18,500 psi
357 Mag = 35,000 psi

So if you are only loading 38 Spl to +P or +P+ then you have no worries in a 357 Mag.
 
next time you need to pull bullets you might want to get consider getting the new cap from Quinetics.com it makes pulling bullets a lot faster. 200 is only a few minutes work with the new style cap.
 
Both the 686 & the Ruger are very strong guns. They will handle hot 357 loads so your loads should not be a problem.

As noted though you may have some lead in your barrel to clean out when you finish.
 
The issue is not if this is a hot load for 357 this is a hot load for 38 special.. the 357 is a longer case and as such has that little bit of extra room for expansion before the pressure starts to be exerted on the bullet....
 
So I'm taking the bottom line as my guns will handle the loads; perhaps with some excess lead build up in the barrels. The issue is in the cases; weather the .38 brass can handle the excess pressure. Thanks everyone for the input, and thanks slavex for the tip on Quinetics.com; I'll definately check it out because using my ####ty kinetic puller is messy and takes a long time when pulling 100's of loads.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom