Chronograph - Remington 38 Special 158 gr RNL

38SPL HV

38SPL HV

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I chronographed Remington UMC 38 Special 158 gr RNL in my 5 inch S&W Heavy Duty:

Firearm: S&W 38 Special Heavy Duty 5 inch
Load: Remington UMC 38 Special 158 gr RNL
(10 shot string)
Shot#/MV
1. 801
2. 806
3. 828
4. 851
5. 831
6. 821
7. 845
8. 829
9. 833
10. 840

Hi 851
Lo 801
Avg 828
ES 50
SD 15

Notes: What a nice shooting and accurate load! I recommend it for a practice round at the range. Based on velocities in my 5 inch Heavy Duty, this load’s velocity probably has remained unchanged in over 75 yrs. In a 6 inch tube, it would probably clock nearly 850 fps, pretty close to the advertised velocities in vintage Remington ammunition catalogs. I will attempt to duplicate with W231 and 158 gr RNL in the near future (probably 4.0 grs +/-).
 
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Tack driver!

38SPL HV said:
I chronographed Remington UMC 38 Special 158 gr RNL in my 5 inch S&W Heavy Duty:

Firearm: S&W 38 Special Heavy Duty 5 inch
Load: Remington UMC 38 Special 158 gr RNL
(10 shot string)
Shot#/MV
1. 801
2. 806
3. 828
4. 851
5. 831
6. 821
7. 845
8. 829
9. 833
10. 840

Hi 851
Lo 801
Avg 828
ES 50
SD 15

Notes: What a nice shooting and accurate load! I recommend it for a practice round at the range. Based on velocities in my 5 inch Heavy Duty, this load’s velocity probably has remained unchanged in over 75 yrs. In a 6 inch tube, it would probably clock nearly 850 fps, pretty close to the advertised velocities in vintage Remington ammunition catalogs. I will attempt to duplicate with W231 and 158 gr RNL in the near future (probably 4.0 grs +/-).
Click to expand...

I had similar results and held 10 ring at 50 out of my 64' M14! :)
 
Tack driver!

38SPL HV said:
I chronographed Remington UMC 38 Special 158 gr RNL in my 5 inch S&W Heavy Duty:

Firearm: S&W 38 Special Heavy Duty 5 inch
Load: Remington UMC 38 Special 158 gr RNL
(10 shot string)
Shot#/MV
1. 801
2. 806
3. 828
4. 851
5. 831
6. 821
7. 845
8. 829
9. 833
10. 840

Hi 851
Lo 801
Avg 828
ES 50
SD 15

Notes: What a nice shooting and accurate load! I recommend it for a practice round at the range. Based on velocities in my 5 inch Heavy Duty, this load’s velocity probably has remained unchanged in over 75 yrs. In a 6 inch tube, it would probably clock nearly 850 fps, pretty close to the advertised velocities in vintage Remington ammunition catalogs. I will attempt to duplicate with W231 and 158 gr RNL in the near future (probably 4.0 grs +/-).
Click to expand...

I had similar results with Federal Match Primers and held 10 ring at 50 out of my 64' M14! :)
 
@38SPL HV,
I think 4.0gr W231 will get you right where you want to be. That is my favorite 158gr LSWC .38 Special load with out a doubt. For some reason I can't find any of my chrono data for that load. Only a bunch of 148gr DEWC and HBWC loads.
 
4 grs. 231 and a 158 RN cast from a Lyman mould (#358311) chronographs at 830 from a 4" Model 64, about the equivalent of the standard pressure factory load.
 
Homie said:
Same ammo 5 shot average-M19 6"-823 FPS (Pub. 855)

Info Only: Same M19 R-P 158 HV 1060 FPS (Pub.1065)
Click to expand...


Great data point Homie, “R-P HV,” the classic Remington 38 Special “Hi-Speed” 158 gr RNL load (advertised 1,090 fps in 6 inch test barrel) aka “38-44” not as powerful as the initial Rem UMC 38-44 but still a classic round…very useful velocity range and is easily duplicated with mid range 357 Magnum loads with BE-86, N340 or Unique.
 
38SPL HV said:
Great data point Homie, “R-P HV,” the classic Remington 38 Special “Hi-Speed” 158 gr RNL load (advertised 1,090 fps in 6 inch test barrel) aka “38-44” not as powerful as the initial Rem UMC 38-44 but still a classic round…very useful velocity range and is easily duplicated with mid range 357 Magnum loads with BE-86, N340 or Unique.
Click to expand...

Is this R-P HV RNL still produced, or is this reading from an older box (My stash is older!:)). Haven't seen any since the early 1980s.We all talk about the FBI +P LHP round, but few mention that W-W produced a companion load at the same time: a +P SWC, same load: without the dreaded HP :eek:

I love these factory ammo discussions. Hi handloaders!

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
 
Over the years I have loaded the 158 lead RN bullet out of a M19 & M686
with a 6" barrel.
Conditions and temps varied on all these test, but here is some of my data.

as noted;
your 5" at 828fps, 6" 855?, 6" HV at 1065?

My old data:
Green Dot..... 4.0........f100..... 824fps
imr4227........ 11.0 .... f100..... 840
Universal....... 4.3 ..... f100 ..... 847
SR4756......... 5.7 ..... f100 ..... 855
w231............. 4.7......f100 ..... 890
Red dot.......... 4.0 .... cci500... 890
Blue dot......... 7.0 .... cci550... 890

158 lead HP "FBI" bullet with heavy crimp (M686 6" )
Blue dot.......... 7.5gr....cci500 at 1124fps.

all 38 cases in at least a K frame, in these test. Do not use in a J frame.
This info is just for general use on FPS and not of reloading purposes.
 
kaaskop49 said:
Is this R-P HV RNL still produced, or is this reading from an older box (My stash is older!:)). Haven't seen any since the early 1980s.We all talk about the FBI +P LHP round, but few mention that W-W produced a companion load at the same time: a +P SWC, same load: without the dreaded HP :eek:

I love these factory ammo discussions. Hi handloaders!

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
Click to expand...

Sorry getting back to you so late! The 38 Spl “High Speed” HV 158 gr RNL morphed into the +P in 1974. Neither the HV or 158 gr RNL +Ps are being produced; discontinued long long ago.
 
Last edited:
Did you happen to notice any leading? Reason I ask is my neighbor shot some Winchester 158 RNL in his Mod 64. The bore was literally covered in lead smear. On a hunch, I pulled a bullet from an unfired cartridge. The bullet only measured barely .354". curious if Remington suffers from the same situation
 
Tim357 said:
Did you happen to notice any leading? Reason I ask is my neighbor shot some Winchester 158 RNL in his Mod 64. The bore was literally covered in lead smear. On a hunch, I pulled a bullet from an unfired cartridge. The bullet only measured barely .354". curious if Remington suffers from the same situation
Click to expand...

Nothing (leading) significant with the Remington 38 Spl RNL load. I’ll spray inside the bore with Ballistol, let it sit overnight, and fouling is easily removed with an old brush wound with Chore Boy strands.
 
I still find 158 grain RNL bullets to have top accuracy - hand loads or factory. The 158's are still my go to target bullet and shoot them pretty much weekly.

I do have a chronograph but have not checked that particular loading in many years - sound about right though...... Out of a 1 7/8" Chief's Special velocities drop substantially but are still very accurate!
 
Hello
You might find this interesting..
The UMC load has always been the fastest 158gr LRN factory load I have ever tested.
I did a pull-down with the Rem UMC 158gr LRN a while back. I found the propellant charge, C.O.L. and bullet weight to be rather inconsistent. In spite of that the ammunition shot fairly well. I tested it out of a 4 inch 686 and a 5 inch 686-6 Plus.

38 SPCL REM-UMC 158gr LRN — Postimages

In the gallery you will find pics of the pull-down, a pic of four 158gr LRN factory loads side by side, Federal, Winchester Rem Wheelgun and the UMC load, and a pic of 16 different powders shot with the Magtech 158gr LRN bullet. Which should be a fairly close approximation to the bullet Remington is using.
Only four powders matched or exceeded 790 fps, with the charges that were loaded, were N320, 244, True Blue and Power Pistol.
Of course if you're looking to duplicate velocities of the other factory loads, that is fairly easy.
 
Interesting on the load data and just today, I was visiting a small one man gun shop and the owner has a box of misc. older factory rounds on the counter top and gifted me this opened box of Remington 38 Special 158 lead RN. I reload 38 Special dewc 148 gr. usually 231 3.5 grains for target loads. Looks like original sales sticker $6.60 and no sku number. The 38 Specials look to be in good condition.
 

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So the Green and Yellow box has nickel plated cases with R - P head stamp. I suppose the plated cases might make it a better carry ammo. Otherwise presumable the same load as the G&W Rem box?
 
For reference, 1977 vintage (based on box printing dates) Remington 158 gr LRN +P average just under 1000 fps out of my 1942 6" Colt OP "Heavy Barrel". 2007 production Remington 158 gr LSWC-HP averaged only THREE (3) fps faster @ 997 fps. 30 years of consistency.
 
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