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Old 05-06-2020, 07:47 PM
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Default 38 Shorty Special, I was bored

Not really bored, just finished cutting the ends off of some 38 brass to make a few more weights for verifying the powder scale. Hated to throw these away so I trimmed them all to .790" and loaded some 125gn castings. Talk about bullet jump in a 357 barrel. These are loaded with 3 grains of Green-Dot, and am going to load more with Bullseye. If these shoot well I might work up some 105gn SWC hotrod loads.
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Old 05-07-2020, 12:58 PM
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"Pretty"
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Old 05-07-2020, 01:06 PM
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Almost a .38 Short Colt...
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Old 05-07-2020, 01:19 PM
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I'm getting ready to do almost the same thing - except that I trimmed the cases to 38 Long Colt length.
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Old 05-07-2020, 03:26 PM
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Always wondered how that would work out. Might actually extract from a J frame snub.
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Old 05-07-2020, 03:34 PM
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Default 38 shorty

Magtech makes a 38 short load
#38G 125 gr at 686 fps.
awesome for new lady or youth shooter,
Larry
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Old 05-07-2020, 04:13 PM
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Just curious, what is the estimated power/pressure on a case that short with the selected powder charges? Are those charge weights from a known 38 short colt recipe? I'm assuming that since you are calling them "shorty specials" they are closer to 38 special ballistics? I'm seeing loads of 2.5gr Red Dot under a 158gr LRN, but nothing on Blue Dot.
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Old 05-07-2020, 05:46 PM
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Just curious, what is the estimated power/pressure on a case that short with the selected powder charges? Are those charge weights from a known 38 short colt recipe? I'm assuming that since you are calling them "shorty specials" they are closer to 38 special ballistics? I'm seeing loads of 2.5gr Red Dot under a 158gr LRN, but nothing on Blue Dot.
The case is .015" longer than a 38S&W which puts the volume very close to the same. Lyman cast handbook shows 38S&W max charge of Greendot at 3.1gn with a 133gn bullet (830fps 4" barrel). I figured 3gn of GD should get me close with the 125gn coated bullet.
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Old 05-07-2020, 06:33 PM
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The case is .015" longer than a 38S&W which puts the volume very close to the same. Lyman cast handbook shows 38S&W max charge of Greendot at 3.1gn with a 133gn bullet (830fps 4" barrel). I figured 3gn of GD should get me close with the 125gn coated bullet.
Sounds like a good extrapolation to me. Thanks.
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Old 05-07-2020, 10:12 PM
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I experimented with shortened .41 mag brass after the .41 AE came out, I eventually came to the conclusion that they were better off full length. But that was just my opinion.
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Old 05-07-2020, 10:21 PM
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Sounds like a good extrapolation to me. Thanks.
A good margin for error when it's only in the 14,000 PSI range also. Got a chance to trim more cases today and start on the 105's.
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Old 05-10-2020, 11:01 AM
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Went to the range yesterday but forgot to bring the chronograph. Tested only the lightest loads of Green-dot and HP-38 and was quite pleased with how these shot. Recoil was virtually nonexistent, comparable to my Heritage 22, and accuracy was as good as any of my favorite 38 Specials. Going to load more of these to run across the chrono next week and am also going to work up some loads for a 158gn SWC.
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Old 05-10-2020, 09:32 PM
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The .38 SC is an interesting cartridge. Brass is still made, as there are some shooting games (ICORE) in which is is popular. For me, I like using the .38 SC in snubby .38 Special revolvers having short extractor rods, as the shorter cases eject fully. I use quite hot loads, which produce a MV around 1000 ft/sec using 125 grain lead bullets. More "normal" factory-level .38 SC loads can also be used in .38 S&W revolvers. I think the .38 SC deserves to be better known.
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Old 05-10-2020, 10:40 PM
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Cute little thing.First thing that came up in my mind was it looks like a mini .44Spl.
I think I will start trimming some .38 brass.
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Old 05-10-2020, 11:58 PM
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You can certainly shorten .38 Special cases, but that is a hassle if you plan to make more than a few of them, and is unnecessary if you can buy .38 Short Colt cases. They are widely available from several internet sources, and Starline makes them. Your .38 Special mouth expanding and bullet seating dies may be too long to use with .38 SC cases. For mine, I FL size in the .38 Special resize die, and use 9x19 mouth expanding and seating dies.

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Old 05-23-2020, 09:14 PM
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I've got some shortened cases that I haven't tried to load yet. The case wall looks too thick and I'm guessing it'll swage my bullets down. Guess I could try a few and pull the bullets and see if they shrunk. They'd be really nice in my TRR8 with moon clips.
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Old 05-23-2020, 10:25 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by silverstateS&W View Post
Magtech makes a 38 short load
#38G 125 gr at 686 fps.
awesome for new lady or youth shooter,
Larry
With a 125gr lead bullet and a 38 special, that FPF can be matched with a light load of.....
Bullseye, w231 or Trail Boss.

That is an interesting little refab load, though.
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Old 05-23-2020, 11:10 PM
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I'm getting ready to do almost the same thing - except that I trimmed the cases to 38 Long Colt length.
I loaded 2.8 gr of HP-38 under some 146 gr LSWCs
Shot 30 of them out of my old Colt 38 DA New Army today.
Very nice light target load.
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Old 05-24-2020, 10:14 AM
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You can certainly shorten .38 Special cases, but that is a hassle if you plan to make more than a few of them, and is unnecessary if you can buy .38 Short Colt cases. They are widely available from several internet sources, and Starline makes them. Your .38 Special mouth expanding and bullet seating dies may be too long to use with .38 SC cases. For mine, I FL size in the .38 Special resize die, and use 9x19 mouth expanding and seating dies.

It could be a hassle without the right tools. I cut my cases on a mini lathe to within .020" of trim length and finish them on the case trimmer. I cut, trimmed and de-burred 42 cases in about 20 minutes. As for dies, I use the 38 Special sizer, and the bullet seater with longer seater plugs. I also use the 9mm seating die to taper crimp. Case expanding is done with a Lee universal expander with NOE plugs.
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Old 05-24-2020, 02:30 PM
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It could be a hassle without the right tools. I cut my cases on a mini lathe to within .020" of trim length and finish them on the case trimmer. I cut, trimmed and de-burred 42 cases in about 20 minutes. As for dies, I use the 38 Special sizer, and the bullet seater with longer seater plugs. I also use the 9mm seating die to taper crimp. Case expanding is done with a Lee universal expander with NOE plugs.
Expander Plug (Pistol) | NOE Bullet Moulds
I do something similar. I cut most of the excess off with a grinding/cutting wheel then finish trim with my case trimmer. I use my 38 special die st for everything but belling the case & dropping the power - I use my 9mm die for that.
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Old 05-26-2020, 11:06 AM
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Not that regular 38 special is a real power house but how much difference is there in a short, if one just loads powder puff, mouse fart loads in regular 38 special brass??
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Old 05-26-2020, 04:19 PM
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Not that regular 38 special is a real power house but how much difference is there in a short, if one just loads powder puff, mouse fart loads in regular 38 special brass??
Here's a good video on that question. Skip to 2:25 and watch from there.

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Old 05-26-2020, 06:33 PM
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Don't need a chrono or video to determine that. So yes a smaller powder charge in a small case will get the velocity with less powder.Not much different than the difference in a 38 special and 357 or a 40 SW and 10mm
One can load 38 special to about 357 mag levels using 10% of the 357 mag data



His "data" was only 5 rounds and one was messed up. I do not agree with the "more efficient" thing. Perhaps frugal would be the term. A few grains of powder is no big deal.
Besides he even said neither load was accurate,

Some powders are position sensitive, so if he holds the barrel upright and then slowly lowers it, the powder will burn better.


Oh well, have fun.
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