Quote:
Originally Posted by BC38
what the HECK can I use as a "measuring stick" to ensure safety?
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In a word, caution.
Stick with mfr published data.
Don't try to emulate Elmer Keith's loads,
If you must, do it in a .357
If you want to know the pressure of your loads, send some to a ballistics lab.
I said "not necessarily" I didn't say they never correlate.
A better way of stating it is that it's not a one-to-one relationship
A 20% bump in pressure doesn't automatically mean 20% increase in velocity.
One of Elmer Keith's earliest published pieces was a letter to American Rifleman describing how he blew up a Colt SAA .45. IIRC the story was written by John Taffin and was what lead Keith to the .44 Special.
In an article about loading the .44 Special, the late (and great) John Wooters said he knew of three Colt SAA .44 Specials who had their top straps lifted by Keith loads.
No reason to blow up a perfectly good .38 or .44 Special when you can shoot a .357 or .44 magnum.