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
The Hi-Tek coating is good for up to like 2400 fps. So load to your hearts content, just like cast alloy bullets. I use my Lyman book and data for a 148 gr. cast. There is a couple of old Lyman books available in PDF online. This bullet is 5 gr. heavier than what you are using so a few tenths of a grain more than 3.5 as has been suggested.
Alk8944
US Veteran
OP, Go back to post 9, Reloader Fred, first paragraph. He is exactly right! As long as you are shooting a cast or plated bullet it makes no difference what the lube or coating is, and very little difference if it is jacketed. Maker and exact bullet style makes very little difference either. Just pick data for a similar bullet style and next heavier weight and you will be fine. After you have been loading another 20+ years you will understand.
In this case just look at data for a 148-150 grain cast bullet, any style, from any manual and everything will be fine!
In this case just look at data for a 148-150 grain cast bullet, any style, from any manual and everything will be fine!
38SPL HV
Member
Lyman had a 358212 146 gr RNL …no Titegroup data but using W231 powder Lyman #3 mentions MIN 3.2 grs W231 MAX 5.0 grs W231 Oal 1.515"
taz666
Member
This must be alloy dependent. I've loaded some 12bhn in 9mm velocities and the coating didn't hold up. Same coating used on 16bhn alloys in 9mm hold up fine.
Hugo Stiglitz
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Shot em didn't care for them. They smelled funny. Used em in .38 Special too. Just use load data for say 150gr bullets. In this case just look at data for a 148-150 grain cast bullet, any style, from any manual and everything will be fine!
Attachments
Hmmm. I use Missouri Bullets. I can't say that I've recovered very many bullets but I haven't had any leading problems. I shoot .38, .356 and 9mm from 12 to 18 bhn.
It's not the coating.
If the 12bhn alloy fails and the 16bhn alloy works:
The bullets are skidding and the softer alloy is failing.
The wrong diameter bullet is being used.
The softer bullets are being swaged down during the reloading process.
taz666
Member
I understand ... what I've seen is when the alloy fails so does the coating. Not that the coating is at fault. My experience would be that a coated 12bhn alloy bullet can't be pushed to 2400 fps velocity without coating failure due to alloy breakdown.
Yes, that is a different animal. The bullets need to be constructed to take it. I see Missouri's rifle bullets are 18 bhn. I also see that their .357 magnum bullets are 18 bhn while their .38 special bullets are 12 bhn.
taz666
Member
My fault for not being clearer.
Yendor357
Member
What velocity are you hoping to achieve?
Do you own a chronograph?
Or, are you going to throw some powder in some cases and hope for the best?
Do you own a chronograph?
Or, are you going to throw some powder in some cases and hope for the best?
Thanks very much!
Thank you for the Hornady load data for the 140 gr. Bullet. Based on this I am going to try 3.8 gr. of Titegroup for the 145 gr. bullet.Here's data for a 140 grain bullet from the Hornady manual.
Thank you for the load data.
Thank you sir.
I am not trying to achieve a specific velocity. Just a mild load.
I do not have a chronograph.
Thanks.
Hugo Stiglitz
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Shot them in 9 MM mostly that is what they were made for.
