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Old 03-28-2010, 10:58 PM
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Default .38 Short Colt Cartridge.

Hello

A bit of an older cartridge here, the .38 Short Colt. I came across an almost full box of .38 Short Colt empty cases. I'd like to reload these and fire them from my S&W Model 10-5.

So far, I have not found much data for reloading this round. I have 158 grain lead round nose bullets and Unique and Hi-Skor 700-X Powder on hand, anyone have any loads that will work with these bullets and powder?

I reload .38 S&W already, and while I know the .38 S&W and .38 Short Colt are two different rounds, they are similar in size (as in case length and space for the powder). I have loaded a .38 S&W with 2.8 grain of Unique with a 158 grain lead round nose bullet. I got this load from a Speer manual. Would this load be safe using a .38 Short Colt case?
Thanks
Mark
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Old 03-29-2010, 05:34 AM
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Good morning
Looking at my old Lyman Cast book 1973 it shows the 38 S&W which is right at the same length of .775 loaded with a 158 grain with a starting load of 3.2 grains Unique (my favorite powder) . Max load listed is 3.7 as fired in a S&W M 33. Me I would start out at 2.8 grains and increase at .1 increments.
A model 10 should be able to take that starting load. Be sure to check the cylinder throats as they may be large. I personally like a snug throat fit and use .001 + over throat diameter depending on the revolver. SOFT cast bullets would be better in this little case.
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Old 03-29-2010, 06:07 AM
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The .38 Short Colt brass should be the same diameter as the Special. The .38 Long Colt is a longer version of the SC, and the .38 Special was developed as a longer version of the LC. If the cases are in good condition and chamber properly, I'd guess shooting lighter loads should not present any problems.
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Old 03-29-2010, 11:32 PM
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Hello

My most common load I make for the .38 S&W is 2.8-3.0 grain of Unique with a 158-160 grain lead round nose. So far this load has been a good one for just target shooting, plinking, etc.

I think I will try 2.8 grains of Unique with 158 grain Lead round nose with the .38 Short Colt Cases. I wanted to ask first if this was a good idea, seeing how the the .38 S&W and .38 Short Colt were very similar in size, but wanted to check with others who know more than I do first.
Thanks
Mark
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Old 03-30-2010, 09:18 AM
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The .38 S&W and .38 Short Colt are similar in size, but there are minor differences in case thicknesses and capacities and in factory pressure levels.

However, since you are shooting them out of a model 10, you shouldn't have any problems with the 2.8 grains of Unique. I had loaded several hundred rounds for a guy several years ago but the only place I recorded the data was on the boxes he took. I think I used Bullseye for his anyway. I wish I could have been more help.
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Old 03-30-2010, 01:53 PM
David Sinko David Sinko is offline
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In modern revolvers the .38 Short Colt seems to be the new darling of the ICORE shooters. Power factor in ICORE is 120, which means that you need to get a 120 gr. bullet going to 1000 FPS, or a 158 gr. bullet to 770 FPS, whichever floats your boat. This should be very easy to do with a wide variety of powders. I have seen excellent accuracy with the Short Colt even in .357 Magnum revolvers. The potential is certainly there, but it does seem like a lot of trouble just to gain a negligible advantage in speedloading.

Dave Sinko
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Old 04-01-2010, 07:01 PM
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There are very minor dimensional differences in the .38 Short Colt and the .38 S&W however one may load the cases similarly. I use both cases in making handloads for A Webley Mark IV and a Colt Banker's Special.
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Old 04-06-2010, 10:47 PM
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Hello

Thanks for all the help with this "project". Today I loaded 23 of the .38 Short Colt cases I found using the 2.8 grains of Unique with a 158 grain lead round nose bullet.

The next part is the fun part. But seeing that at this time I don't have a steady place to shoot (cheaply, and most important, legal) it might be a while until I can let everyone know how they shot.
Thanks
Mark
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Old 04-07-2010, 10:17 AM
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If your still looking check out Gad Coustom Cartridges.

"•the custom loading of obsolete cartridges
•reloading of cases for people who do not wish to reload
•the casting of lead bullets and black powder or equivalent loads for rifle, pistol, and shotgun shells"

Gad Custom Reloaded Cartridges and Shell Reloading Services

I will be ordering some 38 longs later this week.
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357 magnum, bullseye, cartridge, colt, model 10, model 10-5, webley

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