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Hot loaded 38 special ammo from 1977

K

kci-mia

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I got a box of ammo from my dad last week. It was in a ammo box of 100 rounds and according to the paper inside it was loaded in January 1977. It was on one tray of 10 (1,000 rounds) that was loaded as one lot and it consisted of...

Once shot Winchester nickel brass
158gr SWC hard cast bullet sized to 0.358"
Unique power
Winchester primer
The exact details of the load was noted simply as #31. My father said he believe it was loaded with 5.5gr of Unique and that he had fired few thousand rounds of that load through his K frame 38 special revolvers. According to my dad it was the last of that load as he had shot all the rest over the years.

I was curious what kind of velocity it would give so few days later I set up my chronograph and fired couple rounds. Using my 4" model 15 revolver first round gave 962 fps. I shot 5 more and got average velocity of 979 fps. Using my 6" model 10 I got average velocity of 993 fps.

Today this would be called +P+ load but back then 5.5gr of Unique was what many people loaded and shot without ever know the pressure of such loads.

I shot total of about 40 rounds and put rest away. I'll use it when I carry my model 10 out in the woods.
 
I've chronographed several factory 158gr SWCHP +P ammo over different times and I've never had one go above mid-900 fps from 6" barrel with most running just above 900 fps. Fastest box I've found was Remington brand that gave about 900 fps from 4" and about 940 fps from 6" barrel.
 
Interesting. I also shot some 1977 vintage Remington 158 gr LRN +P at the same time. Here are the results, out of my 1942 production Colt Official Police with the 6” heavy barrel:

1977 Remington .38 Special +P (158 gr. LRN)

Average Velocity (3 shots) = 1007 fps
Average Energy (3 shots) = 356 fpe

2007 Remington .38 Special +P (158 gr. LSWC-HP)

Average Velocity (3 shots) = 1000 fps
Average Energy (3 shots) = 351 fpe

Maybe my Colt is fast!
 
I recently chronographed 5 grs. Unique with a 156 grain gas checked SWC bullet cast from Lyman mould #358156. Muzzle velocity from a 4" Model 64 was about 850 fps and just under 900 from a 6" Python. According to the Lyman book, that's about a maximum standard pressure load. 5.5 grs. would certainly put it in the +P or greater category.
 
Yeah, all my books would indicate that to be at least a +P with Unique. My Lee book shows several faster non-+P loadings but with other powders I've never used (5.6GR of R Silhouette at 1046fps). The Lee book has a separate section for +P 38 Specials listing a maximum of 5.2GR of Unique for 919fps.
 
1973 Hornady
Model 14 6"
158gr LRN
Unique 6.1 gr 1050 fps
2400 10.6 1100
700X 5.6 1100
4756. 6.6 1100
 
I have old manuals that list 5.5 grs of Unique with that load.....
so I guess it was safe in those K frames, that they used in their testing?

Pretty sure that load was not used as the standard target load, though, back then.
 
I think the point being made here is that "back in the day" 38 special was not the wimpy round we know today. Of course many reloader in the past could load up some powder puff 148 gr. wadcutters for target shooting and even the major companies used to sell 148 grain full wadcutters for target practice. But jacketed ammo, hollow points and even just lead swc or lrn were loaded to do a job back then. Many dirt naps being taken due to 38 special rounds. The beauty of becoming a reloader is to make loads to suit your own preference. I know most of my regular lead rounds in 38 special are between 850 to 1000 fps but I only use heavier weighted projectiles so my revolvers do not feel a thing.
 
When my uncle passed I found a box of handloaded 38 specials without any label. I'm assuming they were handloads. I ran them through a Ruger Sp-101 and I'm glad I did. Those suckers were hot! It was before I had a chronograph, no numbers to post.

I understand data pushed 38 special faster years ago, and I have no problem running stout loads through my 67-3, but I would not have felt safe with what I found in a 38 revolver.
 
Remember there can be widely different MVs when fired from different revolvers having the same barrel lengths and identical loads. That is why no one should believe the MV values given in reloading manuals. +P .38 Special loads typically produce MVs somewhere in the 900-1000 fps range with 158 grain bullets. Standard .38 Special loads will run 800-850 ft/sec. Back when the .38-44 ammunition was being made, the factory-listed MV was in the low 1100 fps range. And it was considered to be safe to fire in any .38 Special revolver.
 
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