Loads for the .38/44

Grayfox

Grayfox

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I recently aquired a .38/44 HD and would like to give it a try with some of the loads it was intended for.
What were the original specs for bullet type, weight and velocity?
Anybody got any good loads to share?

Yeah, I did try a search. No idea why, but it came up empty.:confused:
 
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I believe the original specs were a 158 grain bullet at 1150 fps. I believe one version was armor-piercing for law enforcement use.

I had a Heavy Duty and had good results with the Lyman 358430 160 grain hollow-point over 12 grains of 2400 for over 1100 fps from my 4" barrel. Thirteen grains gave me 1350 fps, which I quickly confined to my .357 N-frames, as that was more than I wanted or needed.

Incidentally, the 158 grain Lyman 358311 roundnose and 3.8 grains of Titegroup gave me one-hole groups at 30 feet, offhand.

YMMV
 
You need to buy a back issue of Handloader #243 from October 2006.

You can order it from Wolfe Publishing for a few bucks, and it contains an outstanding article by Brian Pearce on the S&W .33/44. It includes historical data and a pretty comprehensive amount of load data for a lot of powders and bullets.:)
 
I have read many sources quote 13.5 gr of 2400 under the Lyman 358429 173 gr. LSWC but that load produces about 1250 fps out of .357 cases in my M586, quite a bit above the 1150-1175 fps range I've seen the .38-44 listed at. In a .38 Special case, the pressure would be even higher.
 
7.0 grains of SR-4756 and a 158 grain SWC (I use an RCBS 38-150) works well. Start 10% lower and work up. Watch the primers for pressure signs. Your HD can handle this load.
 
When I had my .38/44 revolver I tried 5.5 grains of Unique with a 173 grain #358429 cast bullet in .38 Special +P brass. My other load was 13.0 grains of 2400 in .38 +P brass with the same bullet. Good results from both.
 
The loads you want to use can be found in several of the older manuals, especially the Speer #8.

I use a beginning load of SR4756 with my own home cast H&G #290BB, 160gr LSWC. It comes out of my 3" barreled Smith & Wesson @ 1100fps.

You can get all of the data that G4F mentioned in the article from getting a subscription to loaddata.com. It is the best place to get all of those "other" loads that no one wants to talk about. Hot 44Mag and 45Colt, there is even some really neat handgun cartridge rifle stuff on there. Well worth the money in my opinion.

At any rate, do a search on "THE LOAD" and you will find some threads that contain data for 38/44HD loads. We just called it something else! ;)
 
Call it my psychic prediction for the day, but I can say with confidence that your Heavy Duty will shoot "The Load" very well and do it without excessive recoil.

Grayfox, I charge 5 cents for each of my psychic predictions. I'll start you a tab (LOL)
 
Thanks for the info!

A very special thanks to TennExplorer. He made me a copy of the Handloader article and dropped it by my house today.
THANK YOU SIR! :D

Sure Jessie, put it on my tab. Lord knows you get enough of my money as it is. :rolleyes:
 
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