Finally got out to shoot a few loads out of the J frame and L frame to get an idea of what speeds some powders will give me.

With no load data , in the J frame I used my maximum load for a 148 BBwc load that seated almost as deep as the 130 HST bullet.

I was surprised at the fps from Green Dot and expected more out of Unique but at least I have a ways to go with that slow powder, to see where it ends up, getting to around 833fps or so.

I expected 950fps out of the 6" barrel and was totally thrown off guard by the higher number my L frame put out.
I might toss in a load or two of 2400 to see if a 100% case volume can be attained and still not go overboard on pressures?

Well it is a start and I will see what the next loads turn up, and I am sorry for the poor groups and flyers.
This was not a good day for my shooting hand. It acts up now and then and I had the jitters today.
At least I did not shoot the chrony.
Later.

Outstanding data! Thank you for taking the time to post and organize it.

I'm a little surprised at the poor performance of Unique in the snubby, tho I have no real basis - just a beginner and don't really know the powders in question.

Just a note on loading this deep seated bullet...................

Of the six loads tested, I did have one load that would not fit into the revolver chamber due to a case "Bulge" that only let the load slide in 80% of the way.
I used mix cases and that might have been the reason or it could have been a case that gave up or what ever..............

If you do load for SD.................
just make sure they will fit in the chamber before calling them good to go.

Later.

I don't understand the term "full loads"... There must be a number...?

Please specify.

Cheers!

Those "Full loads...............

Yes there are numbers but not just yet , this early in the try out loading game, when it is all new to me on how to load this bullet.

I did find out what a 100% case volume is with this 130 HST set at 1.18" OAL but...........
that is all that did, it has nothing to do with how much powder you can put into the case for a full power load in a J frame revolver.

The starting load of Green Dot was only a 88% volume load but as you can see, it is past the Factory FPS that a 2" snub nose gets...........
and the Unique load put out the number that was on the net, when the factory load was fired through a .357 snub nose on gun site.

The case volume thing is not working out for me and I just have to start low with my powders and work up, the old fashioned way.


The 686 full loads are what I "Thought" might be a full load in the J frame, do to my 100% case volume measurements, which I tested in the "L" frame. As you can see with the deep seated bullet, my "Guesstament" were way off and the reason I am starting the old fashioned way, to get my data.

Being "Chicken Little", my first loads were at a 1.22" OAL.
I am now loading at 1.18" OAL but will be taking small steps with the little J frame, since I have no idea what fps will go across the screen with new powders and loads.

Stay safe, people.

PS;
I did have one case that had a small bulge from the deep seated bullet.........
but it was enough to keep it from "Going Home" so I could close the cylinder. ( tested all five of my cylinder holes )

I took it home to tap out the bullet for another load but I found something out.
The deep seated bullet with a medium crimp, was a BEAR to get to move and took a long time before it finally came out of the case.

I changed my crimp to "very light " .......... just in case I ever need to pull this bullet again !!

later.

One interesting result of my last trip to the range was how much the difference in loading depth means:
Shooting a M640 Pro with 3.8 grains of W231, CCI 500 primers, and 38 Spl Federal cases, five rounds:
Seating depth 1.18”, velocity 835 FPS, std deviation 10
Seating depth 1.43”, velocity 618 FPS, std deviation 33
(1.43” is seated to the cannelure)

Accuracy with the M640 Pro has been awful with the bullets seated to 1.18” Seated to the cannelure, accuracy improved to adequate for my use with a double action short barrel revolver. Next test, I will use a different revolver to see if the accuracy problem is with the M640 or with me.

...have you have found that a full case makes a higher velocity load (In general) than a less than full case and can develop more velocity with less or the same pressure, I suppose due to the broad power curve??? I've heard that a full case is the more efficient load but I've never pursued it.

PS: I've had a lot of trouble with compressed loads not chambering. I take my time getting the bullet seated, but you must really have to do it SLOOOOW!

OH, I found out that trickling powder in very slowly helps compact the grains with less air space.

__________________
"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I am still working with Federal's OAL of 1.18"...........
that can put out a case bulge, now and then and am trying to solve the problem.

I have unique, HS-6 and 2400 powder up next in the J frame.

I agree with the 1.43" OAL for the "Can" seating depth but will try those if the short 1.18" OAL test do not pan out.

Thanks for the info.

I loaded a few of these seated deep in .357 cases on 6gr Unique and fired them in a 3" SP101 the cases bulged and would not plunk. the primers were rounded and normal the brass was not hard to eject but didn't fall out on it's own after being started. I fired some at dark and got no high flash. The recoil was close to some 158gr +P .38s I fired for comparison. I think maybe the 357s have case walls too thick to work well for this application........

__________________
dd884
JMHO-YMMV

In my last test, I had a HS-6 load that was too hot for my J frame and I only put two rounds across the chrony, before calling it a day with that load.

When I got home, the two cases would not fit back into the cylinder, due to swollen bases, and even the primers were flattened, showing high pressures.

Just shows that one never knows how a certain powder will work out , in a different loading style.

Second time with the M49..............
the first over load came with 800-x and a 158 lead bullet.

You just have to realize that a J frame can't take the pressures of a K frame, even if the load has been reduced, to a full 38 special loading for a 4" revolver.