S & W 38 Loading Information

[Grover]

Does any one have reloading data for Smith & Wesson 38 (not 38 special). I am looking for data for Red Dot, Green Dot, or Bullseye. I have 0.361 dia. 145 grain round nose lead bullets. I an reloading for my Bankers Special and a S & W New Departure 5th Model (lemon squeezer).

Thanks for the help.

[LouisianaMan]

If you can get your hands on a Lee 2nd or Lyman 49th, they have a variety of loads for that caliber.
Have you checked Alliant's on-line site?

[MMCSRET]

I am casting a Lyman 358246 RN, 147 gr. for use in my recently acquired S&W Regulation Police from 1935-36. I'm loading 2.15 gr. of AA#2 in Starline cases. I like the fine AA#2 powder for very small charges because its easier to meter the very small charges more accurately. Lyman/Ideal handbook #37 lists a maximum of 2.9 grains of Bullseye with a 146 grain bullet. Lyman #46 doesn't list the 146 grain bullet but lists a 158 with max 2.8 gr. of Red Dot.

[LouisianaMan]

MMCSRET,
This summer I will work up some .38 S&W loads with V-V N310 and N320, mostly using Lyman 49th as a guide. Almost wish I'd gotten AA#2, however, as the N310 charges are so small that I'll have to use dippers instead of my RCBS Uniflow powder measure, which has difficulty going below 2g charges. I was able to mass-produce a 140g Lee LSWC (147g as-cast) with 1.9g N310; will do penetration tests soon & post results.

Have you posted a photo of your Regulation Police? Mine are lots younger than yours, and I'd like to see how they looked in the '30s. :-)

[bmcgilvray]

Hi LouisianaMan;

I'm still saving gallon milk jugs and my .38 S&W stuff is sitting on the bench. It only needs some powder and bullets stuffed in it. We've been traveling and busy. Both kids are out of state.

I live a long way from any powder supplier. I'd like to pick up a can of Win 231 for some additional experimentation with the .38 S&W and 200 grain bullets.

I may have mentioned on another forum that I uncovered a supply of .38 S&W with 200 grain Remington bullets that I had loaded up with Unique. These will be used for both accuracy and penetration comparisons with your bullets.

[mike hudson]

the 1987 hodgdon manual i have suggests 2.2 to 2.5 grains of their hp38 for velocities of 595-630 fps out of a 4" bbl.

[LouisianaMan]

bmcgilvray,
I know the feeling--life keeps getting in the way of "science"! Don't worry about it, I'm sure we'll get our respective licks in sometime this summer.