38 Super/Special

[scooterj67]

I've been working on a little project for USPSA/ICORE competitions. On occasion, you are forced to reload with live rounds still in the cylinder. My choice of bullet, 160gr LRN, makes that difficult because the ejector rod isn't quite long enough to clear the loaded rounds from my Performance Center 627. so I have cut some 38 Special cases down to 38 Super length (0.900"). Not only does this modification help with ejection of loaded rounds, but the shortened length greatly minimizes cartridge wobble while reloading with moonclips. 38 Short Colt on the left and 38 Special on the right for comparison.

 

[skwchock]

Good work. Thanks for sharing.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I think that is an excellent solution for your specific uses. Very innovative.

 

[Borderboss]

I think I'm missing why there's a problem that requires this solution. Are you trying to eject the rounds in the cylinder while the barrel is pointing down instead of up as is normally done? Usually when reloading a revolver, I point the barrel up and let gravity be my friend on ejecting what's in the cylinder.

 

[41 mag Dave]

I believe it will work well. I also shoot IDPA. You need to check the rule book. I believe that cut down or short cartridges are not approved for match use.

 

[scooterj67]

I believe it will work well. I also shoot IDPA. You need to check the rule book. I believe that cut down or short cartridges are not approved for match use.

USPSA & ICORE are more concerned with bullet diameter than they are actual cartridges. I'm only loading to the minimum required specs for both organizations. There are no IDPA clubs local to me so that's not much of a concern.

 

[scooterj67]

I think I'm missing why there's a problem that requires this solution. Are you trying to eject the rounds in the cylinder while the barrel is pointing down instead of up as is normally done? Usually when reloading a revolver, I point the barrel up and let gravity be my friend on ejecting what's in the cylinder.

It's a matter of speed. When playing gun games, every second shaved off the clock is a huge advantage. If I could have found a 627 in 38 Super, I would have bought that instead of the .357. And I got my 627PC for less than 800.00.

 

[Borderboss]

It's a matter of speed. When playing gun games, every second shaved off the clock is a huge advantage. If I could have found a 627 in 38 Super, I would have bought that instead of the .357. And I got my 627PC for less than 800.00.

I understand the gun games speed objectives. I've played them for a long time. I'm just not understanding why an unfired .38 Special round isn't falling out of the chamber when the gun is pointed skyward and the ejector rod pushed.

 

[scooterj67]

I understand the gun games speed objectives. I've played them for a long time. I'm just not understanding why an unfired .38 Special round isn't falling out of the chamber when the gun is pointed skyward and the ejector rod pushed.

The 160 gr LRN, when loaded in a 38 Special case is as long as a standard.357 Mag cartridge. When loaded in moonclips, the rim of the cartridge will hang up on the cylinder release or the grip. And the ejector rod is only long enough to get an empty 357 case to clear the back of the cylinder.
If I weren't using Herthco moonclips, it may not be such an issue, but they hold the cases super rigid.

 

[Hair Trigger]

It's a matter of speed. When playing gun games, every second shaved off the clock is a huge advantage. If I could have found a 627 in 38 Super, I would have bought that instead of the .357. And I got my 627PC for less than 800.00.

Are you required to use a revolver, or is that the class you're shooting in? RIA makes a very nice 1911 in .38 Super Auto for $500, I have one.

What load data are you using on those odd-size cases, and can you make the power factor required? The other possible option is to use a speed loader instead of moon clips, and eject the spent cases the old-fashioned way, muzzle up and palm slap the extractor rod.

 

[DWalt]

I've been working on a little project for USPSA/ICORE competitions. On occasion, you are forced to reload with live rounds still in the cylinder. My choice of bullet, 160gr LRN, makes that difficult because the ejector rod isn't quite long enough to clear the loaded rounds from my Performance Center 627. so I have cut some 38 Special cases down to 38 Super length (0.900"). Not only does this modification help with ejection of loaded rounds, but the shortened length greatly minimizes cartridge wobble while reloading with moonclips. 38 Short Colt on the left and 38 Special on the right for comparison.
View attachment 561808

Why not just use .38 SC cases? Or maybe .38 LC cases would also meet the need. I think both are available. I know very little about ICORE other than it is for revolvers only.

I like using .38 SC cases in my .38 Special snubbies having short extractor rods.

 

[colt_saa]

scooterj67,
You do not have to wait for a 38SUPER 628 otr 686 to come along, just make your own

I have two 627s that I had spare cylinders re chambered to 9x23 Winchester for

The moon clips could just as easily be filed with 38SUPER or even 9MM Parabellum for that matter.

 

[scooterj67]

scooterj67,
You do not have to wait for a 38SUPER 628 otr 686 to come along, just make your own

I have two 627s that I had spare cylinders re chambered to 9x23 Winchester for

The moon clips could just as easily be filed with 38SUPER or even 9MM Parabellum for that matter.

That is another option. But when I have the tooling, LOTS of 38 Special brass, and much more time than money, this is what I do.

 

[gnappi]

I did something similar to get round nose bullets to feed in my mod. 52