38 S&W

[RBHarter]

Not to be confused w/38 special.

I only have 1 book w/this little gem in it so if somebody happens to have a source other than Lyman I'd be happy to see min/max for Unique and Red Dot I'll take it in particular 125RN,130RNFP,148 WC,150SWC,158 RNFP mostly Lee moulds. Forgot RB.

I have an H&R 5 shooter ,I'm satisfied it's safe after visits to a couple of smiths and a minor repair its been cleared for service . It'll never be a 1000rd/mo comp gun just a pocket protector w/the ''ever seen 1 of these ?''appeal. I may even shoot it w/BP . Current factory ammo is available but at $1/rd aaaaaa no. Those sport the 158 RN except when its labled for 38 Colt New Police or 38/200 then it comes w/200gr RN . I have on hand 1000 or so cast full wad cutters unk mould but its a 6 groove of 150+- gr and .362 dia which just hangs up in the throats and a new 358-125 RNFP the drops at .362 and 134 gr in 1-40 tin lead. The book show 7-800 fps for every bullet 121-158 . Unique comes in as a real hot rod w/4.2 being 925 fps w/the Lyman 133 RN. Enter the part that eliminates all the warm and fuzzy feelings . This isn't a S&W 33 and I run 3.9 in a 9mm w/131gr 356-124 TCTL on hot days it shows primer flattening . So I think for this guy I'll play it safe w the 125 RNFP and use the 158 data which lists Unique at 3.2 to 3.7 and Red Dot 2.1-2.7 providing what should be a zippy 700-750 fps for either. 231 is the only 1 w/pressure numbers showing 6400-12,300 cup at 568-786 fps. I'm well aqainted w/burn curve changes and that come w/changes. I guess writting here is just thinking things through out loud and getting a 2nd opinion.

[larryw]

Howdy RB, those are neat little revolvers, had a couple
years ago, Here is what I have out of my Speer #13

158gr LSWC - LHP - LRN

Unique- 2.8gr @ 619fps -to- 3.1gr @ 694fps.

RedDot- 2.4gr @ 667fps -to- 207gr @ 765


148gr LWC

Unique - 3.1gr @ 673fps -to- 3.4 @ 747fps

RedDot- 2.7gr @698fps -to- 3.0gr @ 797fps


Nothing on 125gr lead anything, just 125 jacketed, which
in modern arms is usually pretty close to lead loads but
given the age of that little H & R, & cartridge, I hesitate to list those.
Hope this helps, all 4 of those recipes are from my Speer #13
Keep us informed RB, Good luck & enjoy.

[RBHarter]

Thanks Larry. Those actually look better and more in line w/what I'm thinking as far as load density/performance.

Is the LWC seated long or flush ? I thomk my Speer book is the 13th but it been AWOL all winter.

[larryw]

Your welcome RB, sorry about that, I forgot the COAL.
There is a note on the WC, which is a BB-WC,

It say's, "The Bevel Base WC is seated to & crimped in the
TOP lube groove not the regular crimp groove."

That will make it seated "slightly long.
OAL- 1.065. But now I see a problem, it list
the same oal of 1.065 for all the 158gr stuff also
????? Something ain't right ???

Sorry RB, wish I could have been more help.

[RBHarter]

That's the thing w/some of these old transition cartridges . A little help and conformation often goes a long way.

[RBHarter]

I loaded up a few w/2.0, 2.3 & 2.5 under a 358-125 RF that drops 361-362 and at 131-133gr. I haven't shot them yet.
These were in some ''vintage'' WW brass and Rem-UMC, several of the UMCs wouldn't seat the standard CCI primers . I used 9mm dies w/the seat/crimp backed off to flatten out the bell enough to chamber. It only went about 2/3 into the die. All but 2 rounds dropped in freely, I full lengthed them since they were unknown source some primed some not .

[larryw]

RB, You have a PM.