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anyone reload .38 smith and wesson?

3367 Views 12 Replies 8 Participants Last post by  STINGER, 
C
recieved one from my grandfather recently just wondering if anyone loads up some of this oldschool ammo.

iver johnson breaktop he got a long long time ago, its in pretty decent shape, i just need to clean up the dried out oil and check it over.

i figure ill load up a few rounds around 500 to 600 fps to try it out.
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I've had good luck with these 2 loads in the 38 Smith & Wesson.

121gr cast bullet, 4.0 Unique, WSP, running about 795 over my chrono out of a S&W model 33.

141gr cast bullet, 3.2gr Unique, WSP, it was running about 755 over my chrono out of S&W model 33.
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B
My soft shooting load for a .38 is 3.8grs of Win/231,Win small primer, and a 158gr bullet. COL is 1.460". Works for me but I don't know how many fps its running. I am shooting this out of a .357 gun.
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quote:Originally posted by Baldy

My soft shooting load for a .38 is 3.8grs of Win/231,Win small primer, and a 158gr bullet. COL is 1.460". Works for me but I don't know how many fps its running. I am shooting this out of a .357 gun.
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Baldy, he's talking about the 38 Smith & Wesson not the 38 Special, there's a BIG difference between them.

For a 38 Smith & Wesson using a 158gr and Win 231, the max load is158gr bullet, 2.5gr Win 231, WSP and it should be running about 740fps.
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C
thanks for the data, i have bullseye for sure, maybe some unique left over.

just need dies and brass now.
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S
once had an old Meriden,Ct. breaktop .38 S&W-don't remember the brand...considering that and .38 Long Colt----.36 and some of the other light caliber cartridges and cap'n'ball revolvers-they must have been good at bullet placement!
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B
Oh me done it again. The wife had just brought me in from the Butterfly garden where I had been slaying Dragons. She knows better than to sit me in front of the computer,untill I have had my meds. I promise to do better. Now where's the blue cool aid.
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W
Year ago bought a h.& r breaktop, shot with it for a while, then gave it to my invalid brother and bought a 38 special. Never again.
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quote:Originally posted by creepyrat

thanks for the data, i have bullseye for sure, maybe some unique left over.

just need dies and brass now.
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Buffalo Arms has brass, #Str38S&W, $13/100, $30/250 or $54.50/500. They also have dies 38S&W RCBS Carbide Cowboy die set #RCB20351 $44.95.

WWW.buffaloarms.com or 208.263.6953
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J Miller
creepyrat,

Years ago I had a S&W Victory model in 38 S&W. The load I used was simple and very accurate out to 25 yds.
Since I didn't have any source for the .360" 148gr RN bullets Lymans books called for I substituted 147gr HBWCs seated out to the same OAL as the RN factory bullets. I don't remember the powder charge, it was straight from the Lyman book.
Because the bore in the 38 S&W is larger than the 38 Spcl the HBWCs worked great.
And it was cheep to load them. Every body has HBWCs for 38s.

Joe
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jimbo1096
Here's an oldie in 38 S&W. Still have 3 1/2 boxes of shells left, don't shoot it much so I don't reload for it anymore. Yes it has original grips, there were off for cleaning.
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S
Neat-looks like the old one I had-Meriden Firearms in Meriden, Conn.-mine had a concealed internal hammer-wish I'da never!!! Never seen another...
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S
I love the break top revolvers especially the S&W Models. A prettier revolver was never made. They are works of art as far as I'm concerned.

The Schofield was a winner. The finest pistol a horse soldier could never find. Ever try to re-load a Peacemaker while riding horseback? What a POS as far as I'm concerned. But obviously like MOST government contracts Colt shoved some money under the table and won the Army contract. The way I feel the Peacemaker was a poor choice for the Cavalry.

Even Custer, the Supreme dumb a$$ carried a Schofield. As an Ohioan I look at Custer as an embarrassment. I also learned in Vietnam his kind would get you killed. They also seemed to have a problem about getting Fragged. Poor leadership was removed from the bottom up, contradictory to military doctrine in Vietnam.

The only problem with break tops is their lack of strength. Strength of what? As long as you shot the loads they were designed for, no problem. If you try to turn a 38S&W into a 357 mag there will be problems.

I love the break tops, thats my story and I'm stickin' to it.

Best wishes, Bill :D
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