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  #1  
Old 07-03-2016, 04:46 PM
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Default 38-44 load chrono data

Finally got some chrono data but limited to five rounds using friends setup.

This is not a recommended load. I do not take any responsibility for it. Use in my heavy frame 357 4 inch only:

5.5 grs Unique, 158 gr Dardas SWC (Bnh 16) (Speer 38 Spl brass and CCI 500 primers) avg five shots from S&W Mod 28 with 4 inch measured approx 985 fps. Bet it would be near the Remington 38-44 type loads from the 1960s (1,090 fps, 158 gr lead factory tested in 6 inch barrels) Load very accurate also.

Data derived from old Lyman and Hornady reloading manuals.
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Old 07-03-2016, 10:59 PM
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Derived is right.

That load exceeds Lyman #46 published data.

Not sure why you would want to do this in the first place, and why you would want to expose it to possible misuse by others in the second place.
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Old 07-03-2016, 11:53 PM
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Old Elmer Kieth used such a load in his .38 Spl N frames.
But what would he know about reloading handgun ammo....
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Old 07-04-2016, 01:03 AM
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People make the comment that Elmer Keith blew up a lot of guns . The only guy that I know of that blew up a lot of guns was Mr. Casull developing his 454 round . I have read Elmers books and he talks about blowing up one gun , a SAA Colt 45 on 4th of July , prior to his deciding the 44 special would be better for his development . The colt was loaded with black powder that he had ground to a very fine consistency .
The model S&W 28 was designed for the 357 magnum and I seriously doubt that 5.5 grs. of unique comes anywhere close to the same pressure . The max pressure and load data for the 38special has gone up and down like a yo-yo over the years .
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Old 07-04-2016, 04:23 AM
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5.5 grs Unique with a 158 gr cast bullet is probably in the 38 spl +P
pressure range but well under the 20,000 psi limit. And no it doesn't
equal the old 38/44 ballistics. I remember way back in the 60s when
many handloaders used 5.5 grs unique with the 173 gr SWC and 6.0
grs with a 158 gr cast bullet as their standard loads for K frames. I
have never seen or even heard of any guns being damaged by these
loads.
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Old 07-04-2016, 07:20 AM
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Default 38's and Unique

I went and dug out a Lyman IDEAL HANDBOOK edition 38. It lists 38 special loads with 158 gr bullets with 5.4 of Unique.with a MV of 1000 fps. I too can remember these loads being SOP back in the day. I have also shot a ton of them and still use this load regularly.
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Old 07-04-2016, 01:00 PM
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5.2 grains of Unique is my home roll 38 Special +P load with a 158 grain lswc slug. It's still a long way from my 38/44 load.
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Old 07-04-2016, 01:04 PM
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Nobody's mentioned SPEER #8 yet!
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Old 07-04-2016, 02:36 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Homie View Post
Nobody's mentioned SPEER #8 yet!
I am surprised that 'The Load' has not reared it's head yet
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Old 07-04-2016, 08:02 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SAFireman View Post
I am surprised that 'The Load' has not reared it's head yet
Since the powder used for 'The Load' has been discontinued, it will be difficult to duplicate....

My Speer #8 lists 6.0 gr Unique as the max for 158 gr bullets. A bit hotter than I want to shoot in my .38
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Old 07-04-2016, 08:32 PM
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My load is for my 357 Mag N frame only. Do not use in 38 Spl revolver.
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Old 07-05-2016, 11:41 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by loc n load View Post
I went and dug out a Lyman IDEAL HANDBOOK edition 38. It lists 38 special loads with 158 gr bullets with 5.4 of Unique.with a MV of 1000 fps. I too can remember these loads being SOP back in the day. I have also shot a ton of them and still use this load regularly.
That's a good load, probably +P at a bit above the 17,000 psi
limit for std pressure but well below the +p limit of 20,000
psi. But realize that the listed MV of 1000 fps would be from
a test barrel and the typical 4" barrel revolver will not yield
anywhere close to 1000 fps MV with that load.
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Old 07-06-2016, 12:09 AM
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Lyman 44 has same 5.4 grs load and 158 gr RN. Velocity 1,000 fps from actual revolver, 6 inch S&W Mod 14.

I've seen tests here also with 5.4 grs in excess of 1,000 fps in 6 inch revolver.
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Old 07-06-2016, 10:04 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 38SPL HV View Post
Lyman 44 has same 5.4 grs load and 158 gr RN. Velocity 1,000 fps from actual revolver, 6 inch S&W Mod 14.

I've seen tests here also with 5.4 grs in excess of 1,000 fps in 6 inch revolver.
Back when I started reloading in the mid-70's this was a pretty standard loading.

I know it's been mentioned before but there is a published advertisement by Smith & Wesson that's dates to post WW2 but before model #s that clearly says the 38-44 is safe to shoot in K Frames of the day. So I don't think the load stated would be unsafe in modern K Frames.
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Old 07-07-2016, 05:15 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 38SPL HV View Post
Lyman 44 has same 5.4 grs load and 158 gr RN. Velocity 1,000 fps from actual revolver, 6 inch S&W Mod 14.

I've seen tests here also with 5.4 grs in excess of 1,000 fps in 6 inch revolver.
I don't like Unique for several reasons. One of those reasons
is that in many 38 spl handloads chronographed with it over
the years I have always experienced large ESs and lower
average velocities than I see listed in manuals and claimed
by others. I don't see these problems with other powders
using the same loading techniques. Makes me wonder if all
handload velocities listed here are actually chronographed.
I've bought my last can of Unique.
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Old 07-07-2016, 08:02 PM
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For many, many years, probably 90% of my handgun loads in every caliber from .32 ACP to .44 Magnum have used either Bullseye or Unique. I never had the slightest reason to badmouth either of them. Actually, Bullseye and Unique are identical, other than for the flake thickness.

The older Lyman handbooks list heavy (.38-44 level) Unique loads in .38 Special going up to 6.4 grains as producing 1154 ft/sec.
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Old 07-07-2016, 10:37 PM
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DWalt

I have Lyman 41 - same data. They were silent on barrel length, but I estimate based on velocities obtained that it was from a 6 inch test barrel.

Appreciate your opinion or any knowledge on barrel length used.
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Old 07-07-2016, 10:56 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by johngalt View Post
Since the powder used for 'The Load' has been discontinued, it will be difficult to duplicate....

My Speer #8 lists 6.0 gr Unique as the max for 158 gr bullets. A bit hotter than I want to shoot in my .38
Sierra #3 lists 6.4 unique with a 158 JSP
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Old 07-08-2016, 10:03 AM
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"Sierra #3 lists 6.4 unique with a 158 JSP"

Not sure which edition of the Sierra manual I have, but it is copyright dated as 1978. It does provide a .38 Special load using a 158 grain JSP bullet and 6.4 grains of Unique at 950 ft/sec. It states that a 6" K-38 revolver was used for the tests. The Lyman manual does not provide a test gun or its barrel length.

I have fired some .38 Special loads in K-frame S&Ws using 7.0 grains of Unique and lead 158 grain bullets with no problems. MVs were in the low 1100 ft/sec range, essentially like the .38-44, likely with chamber pressures to match.

Last edited by DWalt; 07-08-2016 at 10:16 AM.
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Old 07-08-2016, 10:21 AM
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I have shot 7.0 grs of unique in 357 cases with a 158 gr cast bullet but never in a 38 special case . I have the speer #8 and it lists 6.0 grs max . Ken Waters stated in his book " Pet Loads " 11.0 grs /2400 was his fav 38 special load . I don't know how that compares to 38-44 loads ?
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Old 07-08-2016, 10:27 AM
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"I know it's been mentioned before but there is a published advertisement by Smith & Wesson that's dates to post WW2 but before model #s that clearly says the 38-44 is safe to shoot in K Frames of the day. So I don't think the load stated would be unsafe in modern K Frames. "

As discussed here numerous times in the past, back in the day, most .38 Special revolvers (Colt and S&W) were advertised as being suitable for use with the .38-44 loads. Remington's ammunition catalogs of the 1930s provided no warnings against firing .38-44 ammunition in any .38 Special revolver, only a general statement warning that recoil would be excessive if fired in lighter-frame revolvers. Evidently, no one back then felt that using .38-44 ammunition in an M&P or a Colt Police Positive Special presented any safety hazard. And I'd bet that most of the good ol' boys shot .38-44 in their M&Ps as a regular thing.

Last edited by DWalt; 07-08-2016 at 10:31 AM.
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Old 07-08-2016, 11:28 AM
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I shoot alot of unique in 38 special, but i tend to top out my 38 loads at 5gr w/a 158gr swc. Although in 357mag i regularly load 6gr unique & 6.6gr unique w/a 158gr swc, these loads are very accurate and mild enough to shoot all day. BTW shot over my chrono, 6 grains runs 1040fps, and 6.6 runs 1080fps from my python.
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Old 07-08-2016, 11:30 AM
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Additional Unique information. The 1977 Hornady Handbook shows a maximum .38 Special load of 6.1 grains of Unique with a 158 grain LRN or LSWC bullet for a MV of 1050 ft/sec. Test gun used was a 6" K-38.

"...11.0 grs /2400 was his fav 38 special load . I don't know how that compares to 38-44 loads?"

That will be very close if used with a 158 grain lead bullet. MV from a 6" barrel would likely be in the low 1100 ft/sec range, which is about what the .38-44 factory load produced. An early 1960s Lyman handbook shows a top .38-44 load of 11.8 grains of 2400 and a gas-check 158 grain lead bullet having a MV of 1210 ft/sec (barrel length not given, probably 6").

Last edited by DWalt; 07-08-2016 at 11:43 AM.
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Old 07-08-2016, 05:14 PM
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Default 38-44 factory load tested (by Handloader magazine)

Reference: July/Aug 1970 Handloader

Load tested: 38 Spl Winchester 158 gr lead
Factory velocity (6 in test barrel): 1,060 fps
Handloader tests (actual revolver):
4 inch barrel - 924 fps
6 inch barrel - 1,036 fps

Reference: Sept/Oct 1970 Handloader

Pressure tests of Winchester 38 Spl load above - 19,000 psi

The above was a pre +P 38-44 type load. I would had thought a 38-44 was faster but the actual data proved otherwise.

(Thank you to Peter Eick for the data ref Sep 2006)

6 grs Unique in 357 Mag cases with 158 gr lead would be a good duplicate of this 38-44 velocity.
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Old 07-08-2016, 05:32 PM
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Default 38-44 factory load tested (Law Enforcement Handgun Digest)

Reference: Law Enforcement Handgun Digest (1972)

Tested Remington 38 Special Hi-Speed 158 gr lead (Remington ref: 6538):
Revolver - 4 inch HB S&W Model 10
Velocity - 943 fps
Remington catalog fps (6 in test barrel) - 1,090 fps

Tested Winchester 38 Special Super X 150 gr (Winchester ref: W38S4P):
Revolver same as above
Velocity - 974 fps
Winchester catalog fps (6 in test barrel) - 1,060 fps

Yet some more interesting 38-44 type load data points. Probably duplicated by 6.0 grs PP with 158 gr lead (Alliant ref data)...
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Old 07-08-2016, 05:38 PM
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Great post. Those figures are a lot lower than I would have expected.
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Old 07-08-2016, 05:38 PM
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Fine, but several questions, possibly unanswerable. First, were older original .38-44 loads used as a reference? (I assume they were). What was the source of the "Factory velocity (6 in test barrel): 1,060 fps"? I think it would have been better if original .38-44 loads from all manufacturers had been tested, not just loads from Winchester.

Second how was "Pressure tests of Winchester 38 Spl load above - 19,000 psi" determined? Did Handloader measure it (and if so, how?) or was it obtained from Winchester? In 1970, pressure testing was more often done using copper crushers than piezoelectric gauges, but the two methods are not very comparable.

Third, how many revolvers were used? And how many shots were fired to get an average MV? If only one revolver in 4" and one in 6" were used, the MV results are suspect. Different revolvers of the same barrel length can produce significantly different MVs using identical loads.

Earlier ammunition catalogs published .38-44 MVs which were generally in the lower 1100 ft/sec neighborhood from either 5" or 6" barrels, but it was never made clear whether these published MVs were obtained from an actual revolver or from some vented test barrel. Much later ammunition catalogs often published MVs which were somewhat less than 1100 ft/sec using vented test barrels. It's unclear whether there was a change made in the ammunition or only in the MV testing method and test barrel.

Last edited by DWalt; 07-08-2016 at 05:49 PM.
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Old 07-08-2016, 07:05 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alwslate View Post
I don't like Unique for several reasons. One of those reasons
is that in many 38 spl handloads chronographed with it over
the years I have always experienced large ESs and lower
average velocities than I see listed in manuals and claimed
by others. I don't see these problems with other powders
using the same loading techniques. Makes me wonder if all
handload velocities listed here are actually chronographed.
I've bought my last can of Unique.
The only problem I've ran into with Unique was with target load.Something like 3.2 or 3.4gr under 154gr SWC(NEI 150gr SWC out of WW,plain base)or 148gr.WC will give erratic ignition if care is not taken to elevate the muzzle of the gun before firing.I've worked loads up to 5.4gr and shot it in many .357 light and heavy frames without any sign of pressure.Actually,the cases slipped easily out of all my guns.And accuracy was excellent;I'm tempted to say ''target''accuracy!
I do my load developments in winter;so comes November,I'll increase my loads(at that point,0.1gr at a time)and will inform you of the developments.
Qc
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Old 09-19-2016, 07:09 PM
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Someone mentioned that "the loads" powder is gone and cant be duplicated.

I prepared for that. I think I have 8 8 lbs jugs of the stuff stashed around...

He he he!!!!!
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Old 09-20-2016, 09:55 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Homie View Post
Nobody's mentioned SPEER #8 yet!
Not to be left unmentioned.
Speer#8 Manual
158gr Speer soft point. 6.0gr Unique 968fps 6"bbl
158gr 2" barrel load Speer LSWC 5.5gr Unique. 858fps

Its old data. 1970.
Jim

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Old 09-25-2016, 10:30 AM
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For at least 40 years I have used 5.0 grains of Unique with a 158 grain cast bullet as my standard 38 Special load and 5.5 grains of Unique as my 38/44 or +P load in 38 Special. All of my guns are Smiths or Rugers and no problems, damages, or repairs needed due to these loads. The heavier load is for my 38/44's or 357's. the lighter loads are for prewar k frame guns.
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Old 09-25-2016, 07:03 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 992B View Post
For at least 40 years I have used 5.0 grains of Unique with a 158 grain cast bullet as my standard 38 Special load and 5.5 grains of Unique as my 38/44 or +P load in 38 Special. All of my guns are Smiths or Rugers and no problems, damages, or repairs needed due to these loads. The heavier load is for my 38/44's or 357's. the lighter loads are for prewar k frame guns.
And I don't think that you will damage any of your guns with that load.Unique has changed its composition lately so as to burn more cleanly but the burning rate hasn't changed.I use the same data(my SWC Keith bullet comes out at 154gr lubed)at 5.4gr and am going to proceed this winter with increases of .1 to .2gr increments.I shoot them in my heavy and light frames(N and K) .357.I think that since Unique hasn't changed the burning rate and the guns aren't made any weaker that the good ole times,I'm pretty safe with old data.

To me,a good Magnum load is around 1350FPS(with nominal weight for caliber bullet,be it .357,.41 or .44).A good .38Spl regular pressure load is around 900FPS(I've reached that with a 6'' bbl with previously mentionned bullet and 3.8gr Titegroup).
Next step is to get between about 1100 fps with same bullet and Unique.Lots of fun in perspective!!
Qc
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Old 09-28-2016, 09:29 PM
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Default HS-6 as 4756 replacement?

HS-6 looks to be closer to 4756 in burning rate than Unique is. I've seen normal +P data for HS-6. Has anyone here developed full 38/44 HV loads with HS-6?

Also, since full 38/44 loads approach the lower end of .357 Magnum pressures, what is the best small pistol primer for these loads?
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Old 09-28-2016, 09:53 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BrazosJack View Post

Also, since full 38/44 loads approach the lower end of .357 Magnum pressures, what is the best small pistol primer for these loads?
Most people would say small pistol primers are OK. Since I have use Small Rifle primers for all my .38 Special and .357 loads for many years, I'd say use Small Rifle.
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Old 09-28-2016, 10:00 PM
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Some recommend a magnum primer with HS-6 in the .38 Special. I've never seen a need, but if you have some, work up a load and try them.

If you have several different standard small pistol primers handy, try them as well and use a chronograph. I'd go with what was most accurate, but often the difference is so small as to be insignificant.
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Old 10-23-2022, 10:07 PM
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For years, my go-to load has been 5.5gr. Unique, 357 brass, CCI or Winchester Small Pistol standard primer, 150-158 Cast SWC, 4" barrel. Chronoed 860 fps. Not .38-44 level, which 6.0 should provide.
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Old 10-25-2022, 11:46 PM
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With a 158 gr lead bullet;

My M49 38 snub nose can handle 5.0 grs of Unique powder.

My M19-5 with a 38 case could handle 5.5 grs of Unique powder.
However, this K frame did better in accuracy with just 5.0 grs of powder.

I only push lead in my 357, when used as a hunting load, otherwise, I try
to keep them in the 900fps zone, and not doing 1320fps.
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