Use of magnum-type powders in 38 spec?

[Southampton]

Although NOT recommended by mfg, has anyone tried using a
magnum powder (e.g. H-110) intended for use in the 357 or 44
magnum cartridges, as a 38 special load ?

[acl864]

There was an extensive discussion on 2400 in 38 Special loads a while back:

2400 in 38 special

The consensus was pretty much that it would work. But that there were better choices of powder that would give similar results more economically and with a cleaner burn. I'd be hesitant to even consider using H-110. IMO it wouldn't be a good fit at all for 38 Special.

[Milton]

2400 works well,probably not the best but it works! Also depends on why you are doing it! I use 38 spl brass in some of my 357 guns because it is easier/faster to eject.I found out that loading some cast bullets would lead beginning in the forcing and moving down the bore when I loaded Bullseye,231 or fast powders but when I used 2400 I got no leading, all the way up to 1200 FPS.
For jacketed bullets there are better /cleaner powders.

[nicky4968]

I use 2400 in .38/44 loads with the 173 gr Keith bullet (forget the number) for use in Model 28s and such.
The advantage of 2400 is if you should double-charge the case you will immediately know it (and need to get a whisk broom).

[bobbyd]

I've gotten some amazing accuracy with 2400 in .38 Special at strong 38/44 load levels. Roll crimp must be reasonably heavy and 173 gr bullets seem to promote full and relatively clean powder burn. While perhaps not the most economically efficient loads due to large powder quantities required, these would be my preferred "maximum effort" loads with Unique and WW231/HP38 used for somewhat reduced range/practice use.

[ArchAngelCD]

As said above, 2400 is a possibility but W296/H110 is another story. According to the manufacturer W296/H110 should not be downloaded more than 3% so using it in a .38 Special application is not a good idea.

Most powders work best and cleanest when in the upper regions of their pressure ranges. That's why they manufacturer powders is such a wide burn rate range.

[OKFC05]

Yeah, I know one fellow who used H110 in a .38 load of his own design, against all advice. Lifted the top strap on the revolver.

IMHO, experimenting with WIn 296/H110 is dumber than a bag of rose fertilizer.

Several of the other slow powders sorta work, if you like erratic speed and chucks of powder residue in the gun. As archangel said, powders work better at normal pressures for the caliber, as listed in the manuals.
If I want to go faster in a .38 than the usual powders will take me, I load a .357! H110/WIN296 shines in that.

[Titegroups]

I believe the brass for .38 is only shorter in length so it shouldn't make any difference, the weak link is the revolver itself not being built to take such pressures so if you dare to try this go with a heavy built 357. Best advice would be forget about it.

[S&WIowegan]

Originally Posted by Titegroups

I believe the brass for .38 is only shorter in length so it shouldn't make any difference, the weak link is the revolver itself not being built to take such pressures so if you dare to try this go with a heavy built 357. Best advice would be forget about it.

Titegroup says it all.....don't use these high pressure loads in light/small/old .38 Special revolvers.

[Rule3]

Alliant has a load for using Blue Dot (a mag and shotshell powder)

38 Special +P 146 gr JHP-SWC Speer 1.37 CCI 500 Blue Dot 7.1 grs.

[Vartarg]

Seems like all down side and no upside to me......

What's the point?

[Alk8944]

Southampton,

OKFC05 pretty well summed it up, read his post until you understand.

H-110/296 is not for casual experimentation, many guns have been blown up with it and it's predecessors, 630 and 630P. These work well at high pressures, but give erratic results when reduced below the optimum operating pressure levels for the powder, which is somewhere above ca. 32,000PSI. All other powders cause problems when over-loaded, H-110/296 is the only one that causes serious problems when under-loaded.

Call it what you want, this excessive pressures with reduced loads, whether Pressure Excursions, Secondary Explosion Effect, or any of several others. Makes no difference, these happen.

Can you use H-110/296 in .38 Special? Absolutely!!! Handloaders have been doing incredibly stupid things contrary to common sense and advice of component and firearms manufacturers as long as there has been handloading.

Just remember, when you take a .38 apart playing with H-110/296 you were warned, not just by me and OKFC05, but by Winchester and Hodgdon.

[parabarbarian]

I tried 2400 in 38 spl +P loads and it worked but it didn't work well, IMO. I prefer Power Pistol or Unique for 38 spl. I even use PP in my practice 357 loads.