Best combination for Chief's Special

[setxn]

I just tried out some "new" Unique with good results. My set-up is an old single stage press with a manual powder measure, I usually weigh every 10-15 loads to check consistency. I've used this method along with careful visual inspection for quite a while with no problems for handgun rounds. I loaded 4.5 gr unique with my cast 158 SWC. These were shot in 5 different revolvers with 4 barrel lengths-accuracy was fine-recoil just a little more than some factory 158 gr RNL we compared to. The all steel snubbies were no problem to shoot.4" K frame & 6" L frame were a pleasure. I started on the low end because one of the test guns was an inherited M36 no dash that gets treated real well. The 4.7 gr load that Mr Briscoe mentioned in post #8 should be a nice load also- I'll probably work up to 5.0 grains for the other revolvers.

 

[Paul5388]

ArchangelCD would be the one that would know for sure, but I think HS-6 is a ball powder that should meter well through a progressive.

However, I never load "defense/hunting" rounds without weighing each charge. Neither area is a place where I want an unknown loaded.

I've posted pictures of the top strap of my M28 that didn't have any flame cutting until I shot 5 rounds loaded with H110. I have used 125s in it since 1972, but I always use a single based flake powder.

 

[Paul5388]

A lot of people are of the Elmer Keith persuasion that slow and big are the ideal solution to hunting bullets. Granted, a big slow bullet will punch a caliber sized hole through the target, but to illustrate fast and light, here's the entrance hole on the doe I shot today with a 7mm Mag 140 gr at 150 yards. Some may consider these images to be graphic, so scroll down a bit.

This is the exit hole.

Those holes are bigger than a silver dollar, so there isn't any way to compare a caliber sized hole leaking blood and letting in air with this. The doe went 15 yards from where she was shot and died from massive hemorrhage (the heart wasn't hit).

To bring this to bear on the discussion, those heavy .38 slugs may punch a hole through the intended target, but they won't do what a 125 gr will do, if it has a respectable amount of velocity to make it expand. The threshold for expansion has traditionally been set at 1000 fps, but 1200 fps has a much better chance for expansion. That's why the weenie loads being published today aren't effective.

If a short barrel won't generate enough velocity with a 125 (and it probably won't unless you get up to around 10-11 gr of SR 4756 in .38 Special brass which is a max Speer #8 load and should be used with caution) a heavy 158-170 gr bullet is a better bet.