.38 Special with gas-checks

[shil]

I want to assemble some .38 Special loads at standard pressure with a commercial lead hollow point semi-wadcutter with a gas check. You can probably guess the manufacturer . Is there any reason I can't use published plain-base lead SWC data? Some of my guns are not rated for +P. The bullets are 158 grain.

[HKSmith]

No reason I can think of and I've been reloading .38 Special for 55 years.

[Forrest r]

Why not use lyman 358156 reloading data???

[ArchAngelCD]

I see no reason not to either. In the future I would skip the added expense of the gas checked bullet and use a plain base LSWC bullet.

[k22fan]

I have used loads that manuals show for plain base bullets with gas checked bullets and IIRC the manuals' how to reload sections approve of that. Of course they all also write that we should work our loads up from their starting load watching for pressure signs and not assume their maximum load will wind up being safe with our selection of components.

If he was casting his own, even with a mold designed for gas checks, using gas checks is not just a waste of money, they make reloading .38 Special less convenient and a little slower for no benefit. Without a gas check seated on it the gas check heel acts as a pilot to help seat bullets straight quickly. So far every time I've seated home cast bullets that way accuracy has been great. However, commercial soft lead bullets can benefit from gas checks in magnums.

[LoboGunLeather]

Standard pressure loads in the moderate range should be just fine, with or without gas check.

Unless the bullet metal is very soft there is little or no benefit when using gas checks at standard .38 Special pressures, but no strong reason not to do so either.

[shil]

Thanks, Everyone. I don't cast and these bullets seemed attractive to me at the time (impulse buy?). The maker states that the bullets are pure lead, hence the gas check. It seems like it could be a good defensive bullet for non-+P revolvers. I do have a Lyman #49 manual, which I'll check again.

[BC38]

Originally Posted by shil

Thanks, Everyone. I don't cast and these bullets seemed attractive to me at the time (impulse buy?). The maker states that the bullets are pure lead, hence the gas check. It seems like it could be a good defensive bullet for non-+P revolvers. I do have a Lyman #49 manual, which I'll check again.

I was just about to ask, Why the gas check on a 38?
But you answered it - pure lead.
I would imagine pills that soft will expand nicely, even at moderate velocities.
I've always liked the idea of 38 special SD ammo that expands reliably out of a short barreled revolver without all the dramatic bucking, thunder, and flash of +P or 357.
So, I'm very interested in hearing about your results. Let us know how it works out.

[BLUEDOT37]

Originally Posted by shil

The maker states that the bullets are pure lead, hence the gas check.
It seems like it could be a good defensive bullet for non-+P revolvers.

Not sure why you're afraid to say who the maker is?

IF you're referring to Rim Rock's bullet, yes it's very soft. I originally bought some to try specifically for use in my Colt DS as a SD load.

I also keep a slightly hotter load in my .357Mag 360J.

Gas checked -vs- plain base usually has a little higher pressure, since it seals better, but with standard pressure loads it shouldn't be of consequence.

.



.

[Forrest r]

While a gc isn't necessary a lot of the time they do make a huge difference in a loads performance. If you're using 5"/6" bbl'd revolvers it doesn't matter as much as a 4" bbl. Where gc's really shine is with the snubnosed/short bbl'd revolvers.

If you take 3 bullets with the same weight. Typically a lead bullet will have more velocity than a jacketed bullet & a jacketed bullet will have more velocity then a plated bullet.

A couple years ago I did some testing with a 2" bbl.'s 38spl. I used 5 different powders and 10 different bullets. A picture of some of the bullets I tested. The 2 hollow based bullets are missing from the picture.


Of the 10 bullets tested 4 of them stood out consistently having higher velocities then the rest of the other bullets. As much as 70fps which is huge for a 2" bbl'd revolver. These 4 bullets outperformed the other 6 bullets consistently.

What they have in common is that they either have large bottom drive bands, gas checks or long bodies that seal the cylinders better/faster.

Do you need a gc??? NO
Will you get 40+fps from the same bullet with a gc on it??? YES

Plinking loads, long bbl.'s, doesn't matter. A standard pressure 38spl load in a short bbl, big difference.

[rockquarry]

Also be aware that a gas check will not eliminate (or even reduce) leading if bullet fit is not right. It takes some trial and error work with bullet diameter, alloy mix, powder, and charge weight just as with a plain base bullet.

[shil]

Originally Posted by BLUEDOT37

Not sure why you're afraid to say who the maker is?

IF you're referring to Rim Rock's bullet, yes it's very soft. I originally bought some to try specifically for use in my Colt DS as a SD load.


.

As a matter of fact, they are Rim Rock. I was unsure if I was allowed to mention the maker's name. Furthermore, I, too, want to try them in a Colt DS, vintage 1938; also a non-+P Model 36.

[trapper9260]

There is one thing that need to know what the FPS they will go and what BHN you will need for that speed. if you go with PB or with out GC. GC will give you some lead way of the BHN. The main thing is the fit like stated. Because no matter if you use GC or PB it will not do you any good with out the fit. Also go with the data for that weight of boolit. Start with the Min and work up to what the gun tells you and do not go over the MAX.

[mikld]

Yes, use plain based data, but my Lyman manual has data for 155 gr SWC bullets with gas check in 38 Special (data for linotype, so softer alloy will be heavier). For newer reloaders I do not recommend any extrapolation and when data is available for the exact bullet; use it...