38 Spl., 145 gr. Hitek lead RN bullet with Titegroup, load information
- Thread starter DogGoneD
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The only data I can find for a hitek coated 145 is for 9mm. No .38 data at all.
IMHO:
I wouldn't hesitate to use 3.1gr to 3.8gr of titegroup with that bullet.
A good place to start when looking for data like this is with the hodgdon cowboy action manual. The hodgdon cowboy manual I have lists
135gr lead rnfp 3.1gr/9,600 cup 3.6gr/12,900 cup
I comparison the same manual lists
158gr lead swc 3.2gr/11,500 cup 3.8gr/15,400 cup
I wouldn't hesitate to use 3.1gr to 3.8gr of titegroup with that bullet.
A good place to start when looking for data like this is with the hodgdon cowboy action manual. The hodgdon cowboy manual I have lists
135gr lead rnfp 3.1gr/9,600 cup 3.6gr/12,900 cup
I comparison the same manual lists
158gr lead swc 3.2gr/11,500 cup 3.8gr/15,400 cup
gwpercle
Member
145 gr. weight is sort of an odd-ball but the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook 4th edition , has data for 148 gr. and 150 gr bullets that you can use to get started ... the Lighter weights , 3 gr and 5 gr. of your bullet will not cause anything dangerous ... there will be a few FPS less and that's about all .
Start low and work your way up .
Gary
Start low and work your way up .
Gary
You are correct, which is why I asked for any information. Thank you
Thank you for the reply and your recommendations. I do load 158 gr. SWC with 3.6 gr. of TiteGroup. Thought that I would try a lighter bullet, so I bought some 145 gr. RN from Bishop Enterprise (formerly Summers.)
(They are nice bullets and good service. ) Didn't realize that there wasn't any load data when I bought the bullets.
I guess that I put the cart before the horse! LOL
Thanks again.
Gary,
Thank you very much for the reply. I didn't realize that the 145 gr. bullet was an odd-ball when I ordered them.
Thanks.
Model19man
Member
I would use the 148 grain data as a starting point and would think nothing of it.
Reloader Fred
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Any time you have a bullet that doesn't have loading data listed for it, you can always use data for the next heavier bullet as a starting point. Your coated bullets load the same as cast lead, so any data for a cast 158 gr. bullet, which there is a ton of, will be safe for your 145 gr. bullets.
Have you mic'd them to see what the diameter is? They could be meant as 9x19 or .38 Super bullets. They will still shoot in the .38 Spl. just fine, but testing will tell as to accuracy.
Hope this helps.
Fred
Have you mic'd them to see what the diameter is? They could be meant as 9x19 or .38 Super bullets. They will still shoot in the .38 Spl. just fine, but testing will tell as to accuracy.
Hope this helps.
Fred
Thanks very much.
Fred,
Thanks for your response and information. Yes, I did mic the bullets and they are .358 dia..
Thanks again.
Reloader Fred
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That's great, then you're good to go. I've slugged a lot of barrels over the years, and they vary in size, depending on how new the reamer was the factory used on them. I've found .38 barrels that were .356" in diameter (a Colt Python) and 9x19 barrels as large as .359" (a Browning Hi-Power). The standard SAAMI groove diameter of the .38 Special barrel is .355", and the bore diameter is .346", which is why some folks are able to use 9x19 and .38 bullets interchangeably.
The important factor in revolver accuracy is the chamber mouths in the cylinder, or throats. If they're consistent, the revolver will have a tendency to shoot more accurately, if the bullets are sized to the throats, rather than the barrel. I know this is off topic, but I threw it in just to let you know that even if those bullets were meant for 9x19 or .38 Super, they might also work well for .38 Special.
Load them up and enjoy.
Hope this helps.
Fred
