Has anyone tried Winchester 244 Ball Powder in a .38 Special for use in a Model 52? Just curious is all. The velocity difference on the charts are about 200 FPS faster with the lightest load of 244 vs 2.8 of Bullseye.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

830 fps is about the limit on a Remington hbwc.

I am using both HBWC's and DEWC's, both 148 grain. I use Quickload for most of my data. That says 2.8 grains of Bullseye gives me 550 FPS. While 2.5 grains of 244 gives me 736 FPS. The 2.5 grains of 244 is their lowest loading on the Hodgkin site. Quickload is not up dated to 244 yet.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

In 2 of my 38 s. autos I have to load 1/10th grain more powder with a dewc or bnwc. When using a dewc my groups seem a little better using a flat base over bevel base. I have gotten better groups with a bnwc flat base over the dewc.

I’ll admit up front that I know zilch about Winchester 244 powder, but this “200fps faster” is a serious red flag in a Model 52.

It’s well known that if you attempt to push a swaged HBWC too hard, you will blow the core right through the center of the slug. That in itself won’t harm a 52. But a full diameter skirt will remain and the next shot will bulge the barrel of your pistol.

Too many folks have done it.

If you are running swaged HBWC in a 52 (or anything I suppose), keep them under 850fps or you may be playing with fire.

Here is the chart from the Hodgkin Website:

Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure
Winchester 244 0.358" 1.160" 2.5 736 13,400 PSI
2.8 817 15,900 PSI

Set your sights on pistol reloading data | Hodgdon Reloading

__________________
USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

Yesterday I tried the 2.5 Grains of 244 with a 148 grain DEWC. Just to ensure that I did not have something to hot for a 52, I used my Pre14 PPC pistol to test the first few loads. It was like shooting a .22 LR. I then tried the loading in the 52. Shot great all in the ten ring. Will try to refine the loading a bit to see if I can tighten up the grouping or if that is as good as this old man can do.

__________________
USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

I don't know anything about Quickload, but 2.5 grs. Bullseye with a 148 gr. H&G #50 wadcutter gives a muzzle velocity of 750 fps in my Model 52; most accurate load I've found for that pistol.

Pressure shown for 2.5gr load is right for design parameter . More accuracy use a quality swaged HBWC like Remington , Zero or Magnus with same 2.5gr charge . I shot one for CF in 2700 matches . Swaged HBWC , 700-750fps , nothing faster than Bullseye , nothing slower than Vihtavouri N340 , taper crimp .369 , R-P cases ( thinnest walls ) . W231 , WST , 700X , Bullseye , Acc#2 are known for accurate ammo .
A 52 is not an easy gun to shoot to its potential . A 1911 in 38 special is for me easier & a better choice is 38 Super . 38 Super is accurate , easy to work with , shoots lead well , & will outshoot a 38 special @ 50yds all week long .

It is true that "Hodgdon" does have a site that does list loading data but;

That is as far as it goes with their figures and pressures listed.

I have found that I need to take their data and re-test it across my chrony
to get a "True" reading in the fps that my loads in a "Real barrel" will produce.

244 is said to be an improved w231 powder.

Safe loading.

Evidently 244 is faster ( 2.5grs ) than W231/ HP38 ( 3.1grs ) in 38 special with a 148 wadcutter .