Reloading 38 spl/.357 Mag

[Shooter Magaven]

I use Power pistol for 135 and 140 gr +p, and HS-6 for 158 gr. +p loads with VERY good results.

Just some ideas

 

[riverrat38]

The loading manuals like my Speer #14 show the dimensions of the brass for each caliber.
They are shown the same for plus p and standard 38 SPL. Even the .357 MGN brass is the same as the 38 SPL, other than the .135 in. extra case length, and the head is .001 in. thicker for the MGN.

Best,
Rick

 

[DWalt]

"In this case, Standard Deviation (SD) is a statistical measure that is used to measure the amount of variation in the velocities of a string of shots that use a particular load."

SD is a statistical measure of the variation around the mean. Generally, a variance of +/- 2 SDs around the mean will take in 95% of the values. For example, a load having an average muzzle velocity of 1000 ft/sec and a SD of 50 ft/sec would be expected to have a MV range of 900 ft/sec to 1100 ft/sec for any random individual round fired, at least 95% of them. The lower the SD, the less the spread around the mean value. Small SDs are good, and indicate high precision. I won't go into how SD is calculated from experimental data, but it can be done very easily with any spreadsheet program like Microsoft Excel, as statistical calculation routines are built-in.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'll take the liberty to answer this question and hope that ArchAngelCD doesn't object.

In this case, Standard Deviation (SD) is a statistical measure that is used to measure the amount of variation in the velocities of a string of shots that use a particular load. A low standard deviation indicates that the recorded velocities tend to be very close to the average velocity for all the shots in the string, while a high standard deviation indicates that the velocities vary farther from the average.

Briefly, it is a measure of how uniform a particular load is. A low SD load is statistically more uniform than a higher SD load. Ideally you look for a particular load that has a low SD and that is also accurate in your particular firearm.

I don't mind at all, thank you...

 

[Nevada Ed]

I used SR 4756 in some 38 special loads with lead and jacket
bullets fast and slow and also had small and huge SD numbers.....
and small and HUGE target groups, with this powder.

It was weird powder.

Never know what you will find in your loads or how each weapon will shoot.

Tight groups.

 

[Frank V]

NJM15

I'm sure we'd all like a range report when you get your new 27.
Enjoy

 

[BB57]

As noted above, the brass is the same for standard pressure and +P loads (as well as +P+ loads that run anywhere between 23,000 and 30,000 psi, which should only be used in .357 Magnum revolvers).

IMHO, a small "+P"on the head stamp is not enough to ensure that a +P round would not find it's way into a J frame, M&P or early Model 10, etc.

I load both rounds but I ensure that +P loads are only loaded in nickel plated cases. That's not to say that I won't load a standard target load in a nickel case from time to time, but rather I never load a +P load in a brass case, and I never fire a round with a nickel case in my non +P rated .38's.

 

[riverrat38]

Any revolver that would blow up with a single, or several, plus pee loads wouldn't be used by me to shoot standard loads either. Just not enough difference to be safe with those, either.

Best,
Rick

 

[Ole Wild]

I make it easy on myself...I only load my +p .38's in nickel cases. Everything else goes in brass. But, it's been my experience that non +p marked cases work just fine.