.38 Super/Special?

[franzas]

It kinda sucks that the .38 special was developed a year or two before smokeless powder came out. A Short Colt case is all you need to get .38 special performance with smokeless powder. Think of how much more compact revolvers could be, especially J frames.

 

[Lou_the_welder]

I have some Starline cases and the Lee Short Colt Die set ordered and on its way with using them in my 642 in mind. Are you using the 9mm loads as your starting point? Any advice on powders and bullets you've had luck with in your J frame would be greatly appreciated.






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Do not fire modified 38 short Colts with 9mm loads out of a 38 special barrel. Must be rated for 357. 9mm and 357 pressures are about the same. And specials are half that.

You can fire originally loaded 38 short Colts. 7k cup pressure. Some starting 9mm loads might be around 30,000. Just around Magnum levels. (Going by memory) specials are 15k.

So, in "short", use a revolver rated for 357s, with modified 38 short colt loads.

(If I didn't explain this right , I'm sure someone will chime in)



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[Lou_the_welder]

Finally got to my manuals:

38 special 125gr: average 15k c.u.of pressure

357 magnum 125gr: 40k cup average

38 short colt 93gr originally loaded: 7k cup!

9mm 124g :30k cup

So, do not use anything other than 38 specials in a barrel designated/ rated 38 specials. Unless you are loading shorts to their original loading. And not anywhere near a starting 9mm loading. Disaster may occur, harming you and bystanders!

You can however, fire 9mm loads in a 357 rated barrel. Perfectly fine.

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[DWalt]

I normally use .38 SC cases loaded toward the upper end of .38 S&W reloading data recommendations. I also prefer to use lighter-weight lead bullets, especially 125 grain. You can use fairly hot .38 LC reloads in any .38 Special revolver without any worries. But I wouldn't try to duplicate 9mm loads. If you have a chronograph, you can experiment to get what you want. It's not too difficult to safely duplicate any .38 Special standard velocity loading with any bullet weight.