Testing 38spl p+ loads (2400 & power pistol)

[Forrest r]

Both these loads were on the mild side for the bullets being used, 11.0gr of 2400 and 6.2gr of power pistol. The lighter bullets (145gr/150gr) could of used 11.5gr of 2400 and 6.6gr of power pistol. But Both the 11.0gr & 6.2gr loads were easy to control with all the bullets tested.

2400

h&g #51 146gr swchp 867fps
Cramer #25 (hunter) 158gr rnfphp 879fps
Cramer #26 150gr swchp 868fps
358439 156gr swchp 879fps
358156 148gr gc swchp 888fps
Mihec 640 158gr rnfphp 891fps
Mihec 148gr hbwc loaded backwards/crimped in top lube groove 850fps
150gr jacketed hp made from 380acp cases 916fps
358431 145gr hbswchp 882fps
Raphine 145gr hbrnfphp 902fps

2400 had a 882fps average for the 100-shot 10 different bullet string.

Power pistol

h&g #51 146gr swchp 878fps
Cramer #25 (hunter) 158gr rnfphp 895fps
Cramer #26 150gr swchp 905fps
358439 156gr swchp 873fps
358156 148gr gc swchp 900fps
Mihec 640 158gr rnfphp 889fps
Mihec 148gr hbwc loaded backwards/crimped in top lube groove 884fps
150gr jacketed hp made from 380acp cases 910fps
358431 145gr hbswchp 859fps
Raphine 145gr hbrnfphp 880fps

The 100-shot 10 different bullet string for power pistol was 887fps.

Of the 5 powders used in the testing, bullseye and unique were on the heavy/max side compared to the other 3 powders tested. None of the loads I tested were excessive, the cases fell out of the cylinders (no sticky extraction). And most importantly, none of them had excessive recoil. Any of them could easily have follow-up shots. I shot tested all 500 rounds in 1 day and the last 200 shots tested were the 2400 and then the power pistol. While 500 rounds in 1 day with a snub nosed revolver and p+ loads isn't ideal, it was not excessive to me by any means.

Most of these loads can be tweaked for more performance.
My 2" bbl'd snubnose 38spl does run a little on the slow side compared to other 1 7/8"/2" bbl'd revolvers
The test results for a 100-shot string with 10 different bullets were:

bullseye 801fps
unique 833fps
be-86 845fps
2400 882fps
power pistol 887fps

Of the 10 bullets tested the lyman (thompson) 358156 150gr hp, the cramer #26 hp (same as the lyman 358477 swc) & the home swaged jacketed 150gr hp preformed the best with every powder tested.

I will not say what the loads were but I've taken all 3 of those bullets up to the 950fps/975fps range with 2400 and power pistol.

Myself I prefer a 150gr/158gr bullet in a snub nosed 38spl compared to the 125gr bullets. Same velocity and more thump.

Anyway just more 39spl testing in snubnosed revolvers.

 

[Nevada Ed]

In my 6" 686 with 38 cases with a lead 158gr LSWC, I Got;

Unique ................... max 1014
2400 .................... 11gr 972
Blue ..................... max 1020
4227 ...........Compressed 922
HS-6 ..................... max 939

Trail Boss, Red Dot and Bullseye at 755 fps gave the best accuracy
for a light target load in my revolver.

 

[forestswin]

Forrest
Do you know why Power Pistol is showing velocities similar to 2400?
PP is known to be a fast, high performance, high energy powder for semiauto's at 33 on the burn rate chart and 2400 is known to be a slower magnum powder at 55 on the burn rate chart.
On Alliant safety sheet, they both have the same NG and NC % range
PP's energy is very close to Bullseye at 5158 kj/kg, with 2400's energy at 4220 kj/kg

Just curious!

I gotta get one of those 39 specials....Rule 3 has one too...

Forest

 

[Tim357]

A few years back a buddy o mine loaded up some Lee 158RNFP in 38Sp +P configuration. The loads were 5.4 and 6.0 Power Pistol, and 10 gr 2400. All lods were chrono'd at 10' from the muzzle. Firearms were Ruger SP 101 3"and S&W 686 4". Av velocities were as follows:
Ruger, PP #1 888fps 60es 22sd
Ruger, PP #2 970fps 56es 25sd
Ruger, 2400. 888fps 40es 14sd

Smith PP#1. 903fps 60es 22sd
Smith PP#2. 994fps 45es 17sd
Smith 2400. 912fps 55es 22sd

His thinking was, pffft save the 2400 for more potent loadings. Power Pistol is great for +P
YMMV

 

[Forrest r]

Forrest
Do you know why Power Pistol is showing velocities similar to 2400?
PP is known to be a fast, high performance, high energy powder for semiauto's at 33 on the burn rate chart and 2400 is known to be a slower magnum powder at 55 on the burn rate chart.
On Alliant safety sheet, they both have the same NG and NC % range
PP's energy is very close to Bullseye at 5158 kj/kg, with 2400's energy at 4220 kj/kg

Just curious!

I gotta get one of those 39 specials....Rule 3 has one too...

Forest

I have no idea why pp does as good as it does in the 38spl p+ reloads. Some powders just seem to do better than others in with different caliber/bullet combo's.

For some reason pp and 150/158gr bullets do very well in 38spl p+ loads. But pp does not do nearly as well with 125gr bullets in 38spl p+ loads.

38spl p+ loads for snubnosed revolvers:
pp for 158gr bullets.
unique for 125gr bullets.

 

[Vortec MAX]

I gotta get one of those 39 specials....Rule 3 has one too...

I first heard about them on a movie. I think it was Mr. Mom.

Mike

 

[38SPL HV]

Forrest r - little late reading this since I was out of pocket for a time. Great information regarding Power Pistol (be-84) - I've gotten great performance with this powder particularly with 158 gr cast bullets. I've linked your post and thank you again. You put much effort into your tests/post! Great job!

My load of 5.6 grs PP/158 gr SWC gets me approx. 975 -1,000 fps from 6 inch revolver. Approximates Remington 38 Spl +P 158 gr LHP velocities. Great plinking and woods load. Has just enough power for most stuff you may encounter outside of Bear country.

 

[ddixie884]

Good info, THANX............