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VANITY CHAT: Best powder choice for .38 / .357 short barrel loads?
Vanity | 12-6-08 | Vanity

Posted on 12/06/2008 6:00:47 AM PST by OKSooner

Quick question for handloaders:

I've got everything in place and ready to go to load up a couple of decent-sized batches of .38 and .357 loads.

The .38 loads are for practice use in a couple of airweight revolvers.

The .357s are for practice use in a couple of .357 revolvers, both with 3-inch barrels.

All of the above will be loaded with 158-grain cast bullets.

The one variable I haven't figured out is this:

WHICH POWDER IS BEST FOR USE IN SHORT-BARREL HANDGUNS?


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: banglist
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To: Elderberry

Hornady makes a “powder Cop” die, that’ll help avoid overcharges. If you have room for an extra die in a progressive press it’d be worth it.


61 posted on 12/06/2008 9:12:03 AM PST by xmission (www.iwilldefendtheconstitution.com)
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To: Reflex

I’d like to know more about this, do you happen to have any suggestions?


62 posted on 12/06/2008 9:20:30 AM PST by xmission (www.iwilldefendtheconstitution.com)
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Comment #63 Removed by Moderator

To: mylife

Never sell yourself short, your interpretation of what’s so is just as valid as the next guys. ;)

Be Ever Vigilant!!


64 posted on 12/06/2008 9:57:09 AM PST by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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To: hiredhand

Very interesting story. Very educational! Thanks for taking the time to explain that. FreeGards,TheConservativeParty


65 posted on 12/06/2008 10:01:48 AM PST by TheConservativeParty ("A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not why the ship was built." by The First Gal of AK)
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To: blackie

I tend to measure things in empirical terms as I could never afford the cost of tuition in the higher disciplines.

So... I went to the school of hard knocks..


66 posted on 12/06/2008 10:02:34 AM PST by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: mylife

That’s two of us!!


67 posted on 12/06/2008 10:03:19 AM PST by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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To: blackie
Its a great fraternity ☺
68 posted on 12/06/2008 10:06:51 AM PST by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: OKSooner

I’ve got to agree with Bullseye as the best fast burning choice for very short barrels. I hate Unique because it is so dirty. I think only about half of it actually burns.

If you are loading milder rounds for longer barrels, 238 is my choice.


69 posted on 12/06/2008 10:08:16 AM PST by Poser (Willing to fight for oil)
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To: muir_redwoods

Very good point. I heard this before but forgot about it. Thanks for reminding me of this. Being a girl and all, I don’t do my own re-loads, and always buy the good stuff. It is always nice to glean some info from someone who knows a lot more than I do about this topic. I like to check out the firearms topics every chance I get. And whenever I have had a question, some kind Freeper has always posted to me a reply. Thanks, you guys!


70 posted on 12/06/2008 10:10:06 AM PST by TheConservativeParty ("A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not why the ship was built." by The First Gal of AK)
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To: mylife

~~ and very large. ;)


71 posted on 12/06/2008 10:11:32 AM PST by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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To: OKSooner

BTW I bought some reloads for .38 special and found some .357 loads in there.

That should have been my tip off as to poor quality control.

welp.. I was shooting a SW 442, bam! bam!...stop...

The trigger wouldn’t move, I couldn’t swing out the cylinder..
WTF? Who ever loaded them missed the powder,it was primer only.

It was just enough to lodge the bullet between the barrel and cylinder.

I tossed them out


72 posted on 12/06/2008 10:23:04 AM PST by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: OKSooner

BTW I find 158 grain brutal in an airweight .38

Where can I get the 110 loads? I know I asked that earlier, but inquiring minds really want to know!


73 posted on 12/06/2008 10:25:52 AM PST by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: Shooter 2.5

Do not shoot hot rounds in a glock, saw one of those splode on 2 occasions.

The feed ramp is cut in a manner that leaves some of the bullet case unsupported to aid feeding, but if the load is hot the case will blow out


74 posted on 12/06/2008 10:30:59 AM PST by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: InABunkerUnderSF

Wow, great story. You could show Bill Nye the Science Guy a thing or two!!! Hey when the world goes sideways, we’re gonna need guys like you, who know how to MAKE stuff out of other stuff. Carry On......


75 posted on 12/06/2008 10:33:32 AM PST by TheConservativeParty ("A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not why the ship was built." by The First Gal of AK)
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To: mylife

Try brownell’s.


76 posted on 12/06/2008 10:42:28 AM PST by OKSooner
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To: OKSooner

Thanks. I found them a wideners but they are expensive


77 posted on 12/06/2008 10:44:33 AM PST by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: mylife
Don't let me forget and I'll find some info on headspace. There are only a couple of different ways to account for it. One is with rimless rifle cartridges, another is rimmed, and one is straight walled pistol cases. I can't remember how belted magnum cases (like the .300 WinMag) account for headspace. I only brought it up because after I looked into it I discovered that it really is a danger when reloading for center fire semi-auto rifles. :-)
78 posted on 12/06/2008 11:16:15 AM PST by hiredhand (Understand the CRA and why we're facing economic collapse - see my about page.)
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To: hiredhand

I just wouldnt care all that much but when you get into .308 and 8mm mauser that serious cause for concern. That’s a big bang.


79 posted on 12/06/2008 11:21:09 AM PST by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: All; Eaker

ask eaker about 30.06 kabooms


80 posted on 12/06/2008 11:25:35 AM PST by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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