Chronographed - Win/Fed/Rem 38 Spl + 158 gr LHP

[38SPL HV]

I chronographed factory new “FBI Loads” from my Ruger 4 5/8 inch Blackhawk over the past four weeks:

Winchester 38 Spl +P 158 gr LSWCHP
(15 shot string)
Hi 929
Lo 826 (yikes!)
Avg 891
ES 103
SD 25

(Throwing out hi/lo above)
Hi 918
Lo 865
Avg 893
ES 53
SD 17

Federal 38 Spl +P 158 gr LSWCHP (38G) white box
(15 shot string)
Hi 901
Lo 862
Avg 880
ES 39
SD 10

Remington 38 Spl +P 158 gr LHP
(10 shot string)
Hi 951
Lo 898
Avg 925
ES 53
SD 18


Summary Avg MV:
Winchester 891 fps
Federal 880 fps
Remington 925 fps

 

[alwslate]

Those velocities out of a 4 5/8" barrel are barely +P if +P at all. That and the poor quality of the Winchesters are why people become handloaders.

 

[38SPL HV]

…yes, spot on, pls see my 38 Spl +P chronograph data of five handloads posted earlier

 

[rockquarry]

I chronographed factory new “FBI Loads” from my Ruger 4 5/8 inch Blackhawk over the past four weeks:

Winchester 38 Spl +P 158 gr LSWCHP
(15 shot string)
Hi 929
Lo 826 (yikes!)
Avg 891
ES 103
SD 25

(Throwing out hi/lo above)
Hi 918
Lo 865
Avg 893
ES 53
SD 17

Federal 38 Spl +P 158 gr LSWCHP (38G) white box
(15 shot string)
Hi 901
Lo 862
Avg 880
ES 39
SD 10

Remington 38 Spl +P 158 gr LHP
(10 shot string)
Hi 951
Lo 898
Avg 925
ES 53
SD 18


Summary Avg MV:
Winchester 891 fps
Federal 880 fps
Remington 925 fps

How was accuracy?

 

[.455_Hunter]

For a point of reference, 158 gr Remington +P loadings from 2007 (LSWC-HP) and 1977 (LRN) both hit just under 1000 fps from my 6" Colt OP in the same range session.

 

[Paul in Nevada]

Those velocities out of a 4 5/8" barrel are barely +P if +P at all...

It's the pressure that makes them +P, not the velocity.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Reloading a 158 Lwc in my M49 2" J frame, I did best with cases that had
at least 76% case fill of powder and I averaged 800 to 820 with most powders
that were finally into +P speeds and energy for this weight bullet.

In my little 2", I found that a heavy crimp was needed to get maximum fps from my powders
but it also raised pressures, so one needs to adjust
loads to fit their revolvers age, quality etc etc.

My light 158 target loads are around 600fps in this J frame, fac dup 730fps.

 

[Nevada Ed]

When loading the 158 lead in my 686 6" the data was a lot different
....................... J frame ......................... M686 Max loads
w231 ............ 587~816 .................................. 922
Unique .............. ~ 861 ................................ 1014
Bluedot .(98%).... ~ 851 acc ........................... 1124

for 38 special cases.

I ran out of Rem Fac "FBI" five years ago.

 

[rockquarry]

I've loaded cast bullets in a number of J-frame .38s and similar Colts for years. I use an H&G #51 SWC design, about 160 grs. or a little less, mostly with Bullseye, sometimes 231. I use these same loads in all my other .38s and .357s. I taper crimp.

I try to stay at standard pressure levels only because I shoot a good bit, the loads are accurate (I only shoot at 25 yards) , easy on my guns, and recoil is about as much as I want to handle.

Muzzle velocity in a snub nose is only about 750 fps but more than adequate for anything I'd use such a gun for.

 

[38SPL HV]

How was accuracy?

Accuracy was the best with Federal 38G…as we know these loads are not known for their great accuracy…they’re good enough.

 

[38SPL HV]

For a point of reference, 158 gr Remington +P loadings from 2007 (LSWC-HP) and 1977 (LRN) both hit just under 1000 fps from my 6" Colt OP in the same range session.

The Remington load at 925 fps in my 4 5/8 inch should net about 975 fps +/- from a 6 inch, especially out of 38 Spl chambers as your OP. Probably gain some fps going from my magnum to 38 Spl, but I’ve seen the reverse…no free lunch with ballistics!

I’ll stick with the Remington load…seems to be consistent in velocities in all the tests I’ve seen.

 

[38SPL HV]

Anyone chronographed Winchester 38 Spl +P 158 gr LHP?

Check this thread (before my chronograph data herein)…

 

[38SPL HV]

Check out LuckyGunner Lab…chronographed the same loads:

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/revolver-ballistics-test/

 

[alwslate]

It's the pressure that makes them +P, not the velocity.

Same old stuff from you. Your self styled "brilliant" observations. No relationship between pressure and velocity, right? Yes +P means higher pressure with presumed also higher performance.

 

[alwslate]

Check out LuckyGunner Lab…chronographed the same loads:

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/revolver-ballistics-test/

Winchesters look like std velocity. Getting much in the way of expansion from 158 gr bullets is iffy, even from the .357 mag. A 158 gr hard alloy cast SWC offers higher velocity, penetration and the ability to break bones and keep going. Good enough in my opinion.

 

[38SPL HV]

I returned awhile back 5 boxes of brand new Winchester 38 Spl +P 158 gr LSWCHP to Winchester (after numerous emails and phone calls to get through to them) for refund since none were crimped. I had initially purchased them directly from Brownells but they would not take back ammo and told me to contact Winchester.

 

[Paul in Nevada]

Same old stuff from you. Your self styled "brilliant" observations. No relationship between pressure and velocity, right? Yes +P means higher pressure with presumed also higher performance.

Just trying to keep you honest ;-)

 

[chief38]

I chronographed factory new “FBI Loads” from my Ruger 4 5/8 inch Blackhawk over the past four weeks:

Winchester 38 Spl +P 158 gr LSWCHP
(15 shot string)
Hi 929
Lo 826 (yikes!)
Avg 891
ES 103
SD 25

(Throwing out hi/lo above)
Hi 918
Lo 865
Avg 893
ES 53
SD 17

Federal 38 Spl +P 158 gr LSWCHP (38G) white box
(15 shot string)
Hi 901
Lo 862
Avg 880
ES 39
SD 10

Remington 38 Spl +P 158 gr LHP
(10 shot string)
Hi 951
Lo 898
Avg 925
ES 53
SD 18


Summary Avg MV:
Winchester 891 fps
Federal 880 fps
Remington 925 fps

Somewheres about 8 or 9 years ago I did very similar testing and achieved similar results. As much as I am not a huge Remington ammo fan, at least with this "FBI" loading they have always been the top dog with the 3 big manufacturers.

Buffalo Bore makes a +P "FBI load" and their 158 grain LSWCHP-GC does 1,025 fps out of the 2" barreled J frames - and yes I have actually chronographed and tested them many times - it's 100% true! The draw back of the BB loads is that the recoil is considerably stiffer and is not for the faint of heart.

 

[alwslate]

Just trying to keep you honest ;-)

Start a bit closer to home first then expand your honesty lessons

 

[Paul in Nevada]

Start a bit closer to home first then expand your honesty lessons

That's certainly good advice and I thank you for it.