To reinforce what S-P was saying about the loading manuals, I was recently comparing the 44 Special loads from an old (1970) Lyman manual to a new (2009 printing) Lyman Pistol & Revolver manual. The starting load in 1970 for a 245g cast bullet and 2400 powder was 12g. Fast forward to 2009 and 12g of 2400 with the same 245g cast bullet is the Maximum load.

I got into a lengthy discussion on Handload.com over this wide disparity. My contention that the lawyers were to blame was taken to task and I was told the testing equipment back then wasn't that good and 2400 has changed since then. I side with Saxon-Pig on this one. The wimps have taken over.

Editing note: Guess it's a function of getting older. I realized after posting the above that the 12g load discrepancy I mentioned was with the 44 Special, not the 38 Special. I corrected it above and it still goes to the point Saxon-Pig was making.

Dave

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RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)