Some Chronograph tests with the .38 Special

[bmcgilvray]

Here's some fun and games I had back on June 17. I even wore all the hide off of my elbows on a pleasant summer's afternoon. I hadn't had the chronograph out in some time so dug out the chronograph's screens and went to work.

Years ago I conducted a fairly extensive "chronographic survey" of the .38 Special, testing both a selection of handloads and factory loads. The results were recorded in a personal handloading manual. In referring back to the notes I found that the testing began on July 1, 1980.

While rooting around for the chronograph screens I found a couple of boxes of factory +P ammo from the era along with a box of heavy bullet handloads from the actual tests 30 years ago. I have additional boxes of my favorite .38 Special self defense loads on hand, along with a couple of boxes of the potent Buffalo Bore +P 158 grain SWC-HP load that I've been threatening to test for some time, so determined to revisit the .38 Special. Here's the portion of the test that primarily involved the factory loads. It may take some time to test some additional handloads that are rolling around in my head and all might not find them interesting.

Have I mentioned that the Buffalo Bore +P 158 grain load is potent? Whoa! No need to ever attempt to build nuclear powered handloads with Buffalo Bore available.

This test is conducted in a very "scientific" manner. Since I'm not interested in incrementally sawing off my longest .38 Special revolver's barrel inch by inch, different revolvers were used for each barrel length recorded. This introduces a large variable. Also, since I didn't want to broil in the sun all afternoon, I appropriated the club's rifle range so as to sit in the shade and use a bench rest as a table. The rifle range faces west so has a long awning projection to help keep the sun out of shooters' eyes in the afternoon. This awning is of limited benefit but required that the screens to be set up 9 feet from the muzzles of the revolvers (well 8 feet, 3 5/8 inches from that long-snouted Model 14). We had a "cool spell" when the test was conducted and the afternoon high was 96F.

The chronograph used is the same Oehler Model 12 used 30 years ago.

List of Smith & Wesson revolvers used for these tests. All were chambered for the .38 Special except for the 6-inch gun which is a .357 Magnum.

Model 10: 2-inch
Model 10: Heavy Barrel: 4-inch
Military & Police: 5-inch
Model 27: .357 Magnum: 6-inch
Model 14: 8 3/8-inch

Except as noted, 10-shot strings were recorded. In some cases there was not enough ammo to provide for 50 rounds for each of the five revolvers. Muzzle velocity, muzzle energy, extreme spread, and standard deviation were examined (well, muzzle less 9 feet).

Smith & Wesson officially proscribes using any of their revolvers made prior to 1958 with +P ammunition. The 5-inch gun was a real oldie so was not used with some of the ammunition on hand however it was tested with some of the +P ammunition. It handled 30 rounds of Remington and Winchester +P 158 grain ammunition with aplomb.

I still have 2 of the revolvers (the 4-inch and the 8 3/8-inch) which were used in July 1980 test so pressed them into service again. I also retested the boxes of factory loads and the handload which were tested in 1980. These were: Winchester +P 158 grain SWC-HP, Super Vel 110 grain JHC, and a handload consisting of 9.5 grains of 2400 topped by a 200 grain Remington lead round nose bullet. The Super Vel is a partial box left from the last test 30 years ago. The Winchester +P is of that era. The handload with the 200 grain bullet was a part of the batch I loaded at the time of the first test in 1980.

Each barrel length will be featured in a separate post.

Factory ammunition tested:
Independence 130 grain FMJ round nose
PMC El Dorado Starfire +P 125 grain JHP (apparently discontinued?)
Remington target 148 grain lead hollow based wadcutter
Winchester +P 158 grain lead SWC-HP (two different boxes)
Remington +P 158 grain lead SWC
Buffalo Bore +P 158 grain lead SWC-HP
Super Vel +P 110 grain JHP
Sellier & Bellot 158 grain FMJ flat point

Handloads:
158 grain lead round nose, 3.8 grains of Bullseye
200 grain Remington lead round nose, 9.5 grains 2400*

*Maximum load as published in older Lyman manual. Don't try it without working up carefully.



The +P line-up. Especially note the two different Winchester Western boxes of ammo tested. How old do y'all think that white box is? I just uncovered it in some stuff I was going through while getting the chronograph screens. It was a full unopened box. I'm remembering it as being from the late 1970s/early 1980s. It is marked $12.00.



Did I mention that Buffalo Bore .38 Special +P ammunition is red hot? From their site:

S&W mod. 60, 2 inch- 1040 fps (379 ft. lbs.)
S&W mod. 66, 2.5 inch- 1059 fps (393 ft. lbs.)
Ruger SP101, 3 inch- 1143 fps (458 ft. lbs.)
S&W Mt. Gun, 4 inch- 1162 fps (474 ft. lbs.)

[Kid Sopris]

"Very Interesting" Thanks for the information and the time dedicated to the research.

[bmcgilvray]

2-inch barrel

Handload: 158 grain round nose lead /3.8 grains Bullseye

MV 718 fps
ME 181 ft./lbs.
ES 32
SD 12

Independence 130 grain FMJ round nose

MV 803 fps
ME 186 ft./lbs.
ES 34
SD 14

PMC Eldorado Starfire +P 125 gr. JHP (now discontinued) 5 rounds tested

MV 871 fps
ME 210 ft./lbs
ES 28
SC 14

Remington 148 grain hollow based wadcutter

MV 707 fps
ME 164 ft./lbs.
ES 14
SD 6

Winchester +P 158 grain lead SWC-HP (in gray box)

MV 808 fps
ME 229 ft./lbs.
ES 28
SC 8

Winchester +P 158 grain lead SWC-HP (in older white box)

MV 843 fps
ME 249 ft./lbs
ES 67
SD 24

Remington +P 158 grain lead SWC

MV 875 FPS
ME 273 ft./lbs.
ES 61
SD 23

Buffalo Bore +P 158 grain lead SWC-HP

MV 1063 fps
ME 397 ft./lbs.
ES 56
SC 24

Handload: 200 grain Remington round nose lead/9.5 grains of 2400

MV 835
ME 309
ES 48
SD 18

SuperVel +P 110 grain JHP

MV 981 fps
ME 216 ft./lbs.
ES 48
SD 28

Sellier & Bellot 158 grain FMJ flat point

MV 747 fps
ME 195 ft./lbs.
ES 25
SD 11

[bmcgilvray]

4-inch barrel

Handload: 158 grain round nose lead /3.8 grains Bullseye

MV 771 fps
ME 209 ft./lbs.
ES 59
SD 24

Independence 130 grain FMJ round nose

MV 850 fps
ME 208 ft./lbs.
ES 62
SD 24

PMC Eldorado Starfire +P 125 gr. JHP (now discontinued) 5 rounds tested

MV 935 fps
ME 243 ft./lbs
ES 142
SC 35

Remington 148 grain hollow based wadcutter

MV 729 fps
ME 175 ft./lbs.
ES 35
SD 12

Winchester +P 158 grain lead SWC-HP (in gray box)

MV 905 fps
ME 287 ft./lbs.
ES 92
SC 37

Winchester +P 158 grain lead SWC-HP (in older white box)

MV 943 fps
ME 312 ft./lbs
ES 20
SD 8

Remington +P 158 grain lead SWC

MV 942 FPS
ME 311 ft./lbs.
ES 66
SD 30

Buffalo Bore +P 158 grain lead SWC-HP

MV 1145 fps
ME 460 ft./lbs.
ES 36
SC 14

Handload: 200 grain Remington lead round nose/9.5 grains of 2400

MV 860 fps
ME 328 ft./lbs.
ES 59
SD 19

SuperVel +P 110 grain JHP

MV 1195 fps
ME 349 ft./lbs.
ES 55
SD 22

Sellier & Bellot 158 grain FMJ flat point

MV 785 fps
ME 216 ft./lbs.
ES 44
SD 16






5-inch barrel

Handload: 158 grain round nose lead /3.8 grains Bullseye

MV 804 fps
ME 227 ft./lbs.
ES 51
SD 20

Independence 130 grain FMJ round nose

MV 888 fps
ME 228 ft./lbs.
ES 32
SD 9

Remington 148 grain hollow based wadcutter

MV 727 fps
ME 174 ft./lbs.
ES 20
SD 7

Winchester +P 158 grain lead SWC-HP (in gray box)

MV 922 fps
ME 298 ft./lbs.
ES 69
SC 26

Winchester +P 158 grain lead SWC-HP (in older white box)

MV 949 fps
ME 316 ft./lbs
ES 72
SD 32

Remington +P 158 grain lead SWC

MV 964 FPS
ME 326 ft./lbs.
ES 72
SD 32

Sellier & Bellot 158 grain FMJ flat point

MV 778 fps
ME 212 ft./lbs.
ES 36
SD 13

[bmcgilvray]

6-inch barrel

Handload: 158 grain round nose lead /3.8 grains Bullseye

MV 775 fps
ME 210 ft./lbs.
ES 27
SD 12

Independence 130 grain FMJ round nose

MV 892 fps
ME 230 ft./lbs.
ES 56
SD 24

PMC Eldorado Starfire +P 125 gr. JHP (now discontinued) 5 rounds tested

MV 961 fps
ME 256 ft./lbs
ES 63
SC 30

Remington 148 grain hollow based wadcutter

MV 740 fps
ME 180 ft./lbs.
ES 31
SD 7

Winchester +P 158 grain lead SWC-HP (in gray box)

MV 926 fps
ME 301 ft./lbs.
ES 78
SC 30

Winchester +P 158 grain lead SWC-HP (in older white box)

MV 960 fps
ME 323 ft./lbs
ES 35
SD 16

Remington +P 158 grain lead SWC

MV 971 FPS
ME 331 ft./lbs.
ES 61
SD 23

Buffalo Bore +P 158 grain lead SWC-HP

MV 1185 fps
ME 498 ft./lbs.
ES 41
SC 18

Handload: 200 grain Remington lead round nose/9.5 grains of 2400

MV 888
ME 350
ES 41
SD 14

SuperVel +P 110 grain JHP

MV 1248 fps
ME 380 ft./lbs.
ES 79
SD 45

Sellier & Bellot 158 grain FMJ flat point

MV 798 fps
ME 223 ft./lbs.
ES 63
SD 34

[bmcgilvray]

8 3/8-inch barrel

Handload: 158 grain round nose lead /3.8 grains Bullseye

MV 884 fps
ME 274 ft./lbs.
ES 31
SD 15

Independence 130 grain FMJ round nose

MV 1039 fps
ME 311 ft./lbs.
ES 115
SD 54

PMC Eldorado Starfire +P 125 gr. JHP (now discontinued) 5 rounds tested

MV 1065 fps
ME 315 ft./lbs
ES 65
SC 47

Remington 148 grain hollow based wadcutter

MV 814 fps
ME 218 ft./lbs.
ES 33
SD 14

Winchester +P 158 grain lead SWC-HP (in gray box)

MV 1027 fps
ME 370 ft./lbs.
ES 54
SC 24

Winchester +P 158 grain lead SWC-HP (in older white box)

MV 1037 fps
ME 388 ft./lbs
ES 42
SD 17

Remington +P 158 grain lead SWC

MV 1099 FPS
ME 424 ft./lbs.
ES 57
SD 24

Buffalo Bore +P 158 grain lead SWC-HP

MV 1286 fps
ME 580 ft./lbs.
ES 28
SC 13

Handload: 200 grain Remington round nose lead/9.5 grains of 2400

MV 953 fps
ME 403
ES 37
SD 10

SuperVel +P 110 grain JHP

MV 1301 fps
ME 414 ft./lbs.
ES 89
SD 37

Sellier & Bellot 158 grain FMJ flat point

MV 747 fps
ME 195 ft./lbs.
ES 25
SD 11

[bmcgilvray]

In July of 1980 the 200 grain Remington handload gave the following performance.

4-inch barrel

MV 842 fps
ME 313 ft./lbs.
ES 38

8 3/8-inch barrel

MV 922 fps
ME 382 ft./lbs.



They were a little faster than before but weren't much different really. Recoil was more noticeable than I remembered. I fired them after the Buffalo Bore and before the SuperVel and they felt a lot like the Buffalo Bore.

I shot a deer with this 200 grain handload later that fall or perhaps during the next year's deer season using the long barreled Model 14. It settled his hash effectively from 15 yards out, holing a lung and aorta. The bullet was found lodged sideways in an off side rib so it didn't exit. I weighed it and recall that it still retained about 190 grains of weight. It was of really soft lead and had a large dime-sized smear of lead hanging off one side of it.

This 200 grain bullet represents a notion I had many years ago. I had gotten on a kick of using these overweight .38 Special bullets a couple of years before the test, thinking that perhaps they would be the last word in .38 Special self defense. Later Alpine Range south of Fort Worth, Texas put their remaining supply of the obsolete Remington 200 grain .38 Special component bullets on clearance and I bought the entire remaining inventory. I once had a lot of these heavy bullets to play with.

The handload using 2400 was much more enthusiastic than the factory 200 grain load which was a plodder by all estimates. I once had 4 of the 200 grain factory loads. Seems like they were Western. Since I didn't have enough to gain anything by testing over the chronograph I fired them off for effect and they were not very impressive.

I later used up the remaining 200 grain bullets in a World War II Webley in an effort to duplicate original .38/200 ballistics. The Webley thanked me very much, shooting them to point of aim. Factory .38 S&W always shoots low in this revolver.

I have a single box of the 200 grain bullets left, overlooked in my stuff for years. I'll "save it for seed."

[bmcgilvray]

In the 1980 test the Winchester +P 158 grain lead SWC-HP gave this performance.

2 inch barrel:

MV 830fps
ME 242 ft./lbs.

4-inch barrel:

MV 962 fps
ME 325 ft./lbs.

8 3/8-inch barrel

MV 1051 fps
ME 388 ft./lbs.


The 1980 test of the Super Vel

4-inch barrel:

MV 1237 fps
ME 376 ft./lbs.

8 3/8-inch barrel:

MV 1319 fps
ME 425 ft./lbs.

[bmcgilvray]

A fun and interesting side note is that I purposely used a "pre-model number" Smith & Wesson Military & Police revolver for the 5-inch tests. That is suppose to be a big no-no and it probably isn't prudent to make a habit of shooting heavier +P loads in older .38 Special revolvers. The factory says to avoid use of +P in revolvers that are not model marked.

So this revolver was older than 1958, the year that Smith & Wesson began assigning model numbers to their product line. It fired 10 rounds of each of the lead bullet 158 grain +P loads with perfect satisfaction. Primers appeared "normal" and case ejection was effortless. Neither the Buffalo Bore nor any jacketed +P loads were introduced to its chambers though. I'm only half-crazy, not all the way crazy.

How old was this Military & Police revolver? With a serial number just a hair over 50,000 and the attributes of a Model of 1902 1st Change, as termed by collectors, the revolver likely shipped from Smith & Wesson in 1904. It is mechanically perfect with a great bore but its nickel is in a state of ruination. It's been around here for some years, cost little when acquired and is still worth little.

[capstan]

bmc, Thanks for the very detailed report. The 38 special is one of my favorites.