As the sign says, Federal introduced the new 130 grain HST projectile for the 38 Special cartridge 3 years ago

It looks like someone took the old story of loading the HBWCs backwards for a defensive round seriously

The factory ammunition has been Very hard to find

So how about projectiles for hand loading? Well I found a small supply and bought them all. It was only a few thousand

As you see the projectile has a cannelure even though the factory crimped them over front of the projectile just like Match 38 HBWCs. Loaded out to the cannelure provides lots more powder space.

These guys really open up at 38 Special velocities so I am not too sure how fast I would push them, but it is going to be fun learning

So has anybody else been working with these since their introduction ?

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"Acta non verba"

Cool! I’d never even seen them. I wouldn’t mind trying a box or two of the factory loads in my early K-38 and my Baby Chief, and if they worked buy a few hundred bullets to load myself. I’m not sure I’d ever use them in my 52-2 though, it just doesn’t get shot that much anyway.

Froggie

That looks to be the ultimate Model 37 load/bullet!

Ivan

"So how about projectiles for hand loading? Well I found a small supply and bought them all. It was only a few thousand"
I like your definition of "a small supply". "...only a few thousand". If I told a non-shooter that I was nervous because I only had a few thousand rounds left they would think I was nuts.

When I was competing and doing demos, I liked to have a two year supply of components on hand.

When I recently moved, I had 96,000 handgun projectiles sitting on this rack and the floor in front of it

I do not compete any more and my arms are sore from moving all those projectiles. The China Virus Crisis has helped me sell off 1/4 - 1/3 of these to folks that could not find what they were looking for. Thank GOD for the USPS Flat Rate Boxes

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"Acta non verba"

I think this could be just the ticket for the folks that have the arthritic hands. These can be loaded for low recoil and still get superb expansion

They probably won't get high marks for barrier penetration (car doors, windshields, etc) but that is just fine

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"Acta non verba"

You don't have to explain anything to me. I'm a bullet caster. I've got enough lead in my shed to sink a battleship. Well, maybe a small battleship.

Havent found anyone who carries them--- yet,

Have looked everywhere-- guess I will have to do without.

My best estimate is that I've got somewhere around 1000-1200 lbs of lead ingots don't know how many bullets that equates to it would depend on caliber.

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SWHF #595

Looks like a modern upgrade of the "Manstopper" bullets.

FWIW the old HBWC reverse load didn't work for me; shooting into wet newsprint some of the cavities would clog and no expansion. Some cavities just collapsed, no expansion. Some of the skirts separated, came off, no expansion. Maybe two out of nine or ten would expand as some said...

Once this China Virus Crisis is over, I think we will see more of this stuff hitting the shelves

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"Acta non verba"

I have less than half of that, but casting for the 500 S&W Magnum opened my eyes

The heavyweight wad cutter on the right takes 100 pounds of lead to make 1000 projectiles

Even the little lightweight projectile on the left needs 65 pounds to cast 1000 projectiles.

I guess in a crisis, I need to go back to shooting a small bore

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"Acta non verba"

I would try to work up to 890 fps out of a 2", in order to match the 135 Factory Gold Dot ammo with a MV of 222.

The 130 at 890 fps has a PF115 and a MV of 828....... if doable.
I would start with BE-86 over the bulky Unique powder, do to the minimal case volume.
Ball powder will work with the right selection, if you have it.

Good luck.

Midway USA has these as blemished component bullets. They show as in stock. Free shipping over $49.00...............

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dd884
JMHO-YMMV

Wonder what the velocity is on the loaded ammo out of a model 52?
Might want a stiffer spring to prevent battering.
Might be perfect for the guy that demands target grade accuracy from his defensive weapon.

I would not go running the factory +P ammunition in a Model 52 with factory springs.

However, if you took your HBWC recipe and simply substituted the 130 grain HST You would end up with a load that is pretty gentle.

But I bet the Model 52 with factory springs could take a bit more than that.

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"Acta non verba"

I agree with what you are saying, but would a HBWC recipe expand?

Well Maybe, but there wont be any +P loads through my 52. I have other guns for that.

I have seen some Barrys bullets with that sort of configuration but cant find any of those either.

More interested in the Federal. I seem to remember where Federal was going to stop making components available???

I have a prudent reserve. Big boolits can really eat up the lead. I used to pick wheel weights off the street during my bike rides. Can't do that no more. It's all zinc.
Seriously, I doubt I'll ever run out.

^^^^^ IF YOU KEEP SHOOTING 700 GRAIN HANDGUN BULLETS, YOU WILL RUN OUT OF WRIST BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE. ^^^^^

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S&WHF 366

American Rifleman had an article on testing 38 Special ammo.

The Federal HST 130gr (listed as +P) obtained 896mv / 232me from a Ruger GP100 with a 4.2" bbl.

From a Ruger LCR with a 1.87" bbl. it obtained 846mv / 207me & penetrated ~11" in 10% ordnance gel, expanding to ~.60".

American Rifleman | Testing the .38 Special Cartridge

.

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Waiting for the break of day

...to use the SEARCH on this forum...?

Cheers!

P.S. As of a few days ago Midway still had them...

Colt-saa;

You almost got all of them.............
I have 200 on the way to my house also, with free shipping.

It will be very interesting to see what powders work with the deep seated bullet.

Carry on.

Oh by the way on fps;
I saw a internet thread where the factory load from a S&W 638 averaged 831 fps and did +/- 12" in a 4G test.

The tester then put the ammo in ice water and the pistol in the fridge, for around 40* and was tested again with 4 layers of Levi into a gel block.

Even though the weapon and cold ammo only clocked 718 fps.....
it did manage to get almost 11" into the gel slab.

For old joints and hands, 770 fps might be the new "Powder Puff" SD load for a snub nose 38 Special?

We will see.

Ballistics gel tests of Federal's 130 grain 38 Special +P HST is impressive. It's probably great ammo for revolvers, especially the aluminum and scandium revolvers.

If I had a S&W Model 52, I would not use it for firing this ammo. The Model 52 is a finely fitted wadcutter target pistol, +P ammo is going to accelerate wear and battering. Heavy recoil spring? That sends the slide forward with more momentum, which batters the slide stop pin and the pin holes in the receiver. Leave the Model 52 to target wadcutter loads.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Andy, if a 158 gr. .38 bullet that 1000 lbs would equate to 44,304 bullets. (7,000 gr p/lb X 1,000 divided by 158).

You should be good for a couple years.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Looking at the length of the projectile, and the interior of the case, I wonder what the powder and load was, there can't be much space left. Would also be curious at the pressure and velocity, and if compatible with the soft springs in the 52 meant for light HBWC's. Also curious about accuracy beyond 5 yards.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Some people, just think about or even do, weird things to their weapons.

What if................. ?

There seems to be concern about the "length of the bullet" and available case "space"...

This is a wadcutter: what makes it any different from any other wadcutter IFF (and that's "IF and ONLY IF") one is not planning to load this jacketed bullet to a much higher velocity than what the factory numbers indicate...?

It is certainly shorter than a typical158 gr lead wadcutter. I've loaded these in 357 mag cases to similar velocities and detected no difference. This bullet was, IMHO, designed for J-frames and snubbies of that ilk. Or other revolvers where it would provide good performance without excess(ive?) recoil, etc.

As far as the Model 52 is concerned I will leave it to those more familiar with its springs and such: but really, how many Model 52 owners are using it as their primary self-defense or home-defense weapon and are looking for penetration, expansion and energy transfer? I thought the whole point of the Model 52 was inexpensive accurate target shooting with a semi-autimatic pistol in 38 S&W Special caliber?

Cheers!

P.S. As far as loading these at the cannelure is concerned, Federal did indicate that was designed to aid in expansion, although I have loaded bullets at that point without any negative effect other than the obvious reduction in pressure and velocity because of the increased volume. That might be the route to take for serious (say "357 magnum"?) velocities...

But, what's the point there?

...and they were plenty accurate! Just about like shooting a 22 WMR revolver. But a couple of them actually BOUNCED back from the new rubber mats they are hanging in front of the new steel plates at the GHR&PC range! These were virtually INTACT! Almost looked like they could have been wiped off and reused...?

Cheers!