.38 Spl Regular pressure (NON Plus P)

[chriske]

What's the maximal actual velocity obtainable with a 158 Gr SWC in .38 Spl from a 2" barrel without resorting to + P levels ?
Is 900 fps posible ?

 

[OKFC05]

Is 900 fps posible ?

Not with any practical powder I've tried.
My standard 158gr range load is a mild +P with HP38 and I've had no problems shooting it in modern revolvers.

 

[nitesite]

Not with any practical powder I've tried.

Same here. I don't have my chrono numbers close by, but I'm thinking more like around 750-775 fps.

 

[acl864]

3.5 gr Bullseye which is a very popular standard pressure load for 38 Sp. chrono'd around 700 fps using a 158 gr LSWC out of a M19 with 2 1/2" barrel. You could maybe add 100 fps or so to that by experimenting with max loads of different powders, but I don't think 900 fps is realistic out of a snubby without going +P.

 

[Tell Sackett]

There may be one powder or group of powders that will give you those velocities at normal pressure. I know that Vitavorhi (SP) is pretty proud of their stuff.

I am with the others though, the two things you have asked about usually don't coincide.

The 3.5gr Bullseye load that Andy mentions is today's maximum for that weight of bullet and out of all of my 6" 686/586 firearms I can only attain in the 800fps area.

Go online to the Vita website and look at their manual. It may be something you want to investigate. Be ready to pay for that ability though. Their powders are expensive.

FWIW

 

[Treeman]

900 is doable from 4" barrel right up near the max allowable pressure for standard loads. Like the others have said-I don't think that you can get there in a snub with out moving into +P.

 

[chriske]

Thanks, everyone !
Saves me research & useless -if not risky- attempts at development !

 

[Tell Sackett]

Just wanted to take a look for myself once again at the Vita site. Here is a link to their data book:
http://www.lapua.com/fileadmin/user_upload/esitteet/VihtavuoriInternationalReloguide2009.pdf

If you look on page 28, in the upper left, you will see some pretty fast loads with both 158gr and 160gr LSWC.

I mean, 1100+fps from that weight of bullet out of that caliber may need to be seriously investigated! I think I have some N340 on the shelf too!

LOOK OUT!

Their disclaimer is interesting too!

Handgun Reloading Data
Disclaimer
All of this reloading information has been provided by Nammo Lapua Oy. The data given here were
obtained in laboratory conditions following strictly the CIP (Commission International Permanente) June
13, 1990 and November 9, 1993 rules. The listed maximum loads have been determined according to
the respective CIP/SAAMI maximum pressure specification, whichever is lower.
These test methods have been deemed to be safe throughout the world. Pressure is measured at the
case mouth or from inside the case according to the CIP.

 

[David Sinko]

I agree that Vihta Vuori makes some pretty amazing powder, but the old standby in the .38 Special with 158 gr. cast bullets has been SR 4756. There should be a very long thread on this powder hidden somewhere on this forum.

But to answer your question, the answer is probably going to be "No." A few more questions... What revolver are you going to use? There is no reason to limit yourself to standard pressure loads in any modern revolver. Are you loading for an elderly revolver? If so, what is it? With the creation of the new Retro division in ICORE, I have suddenly become interested in competing with my WWII era .38 M&P. I don't need to quite reach 900 FPS with the 158 gr. bullet, but this is interesting nonetheless.

Dave Sinko

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I've gotten 800 fps + from Power Pistol, Longshot and HS-6 but nowhere near 900 fps while keeping the pressures under 17,000 PSI. It's hard to achieve 900 fps from a 158gr bullet in a 2" barrel staying under the current 18,500 PSI limits but can be easily achieved when using the older 20,000 PSI limits. I have a 158gr LSWC/HP load (FBI Load) that will do 897 fps from a 2" barrel but that load is pushing up against the 20,000 PSI ceiling. I won't post it here but I'll give you a hint, it's done using HS-6....

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Thanks, everyone !
Saves me research & useless -if not risky- attempts at development !

One way of eliminating the need to achieve 900 fps is to use a softer bullet which will reliably expand at lower velocities. Hornady has a 158gr LSWC/HP cold-swaged bullet (Part #10428) that will fit the bill nicely. I'm sure it will expand at velocities associated with standard pressure .38 Special rounds.

 

[11e40]

hs-6 for .38spl 158 lswc hp swaged.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

hs-6 for .38spl 158 lswc hp swaged.

EXACTLY.....