My wife Jody was ready to trade off her new Ruger LCR in 38 special & I was sad to think her enthusiasm was waning. She just received her carry permit & had settled on the LCR for her carry weapon. We had shot several different loads including high end factory stuff with mostlly heavy bullets & stout on the powder type loads. She was hating shooting the gun in practice sessions because of the snappy recoil in the featherweight revolver. I made up some loads using 124 grain slugs cast using WW in a 6 cavity Lee mold. I used LLA & 3.5 grains of red dot to load a few hundred rounds that I hoped she would try before she gave up on the gun & today we took advantage of the sunny day to go plinking out by the lake. She loved the reduction in recoil & ended up shooting 200 rounds. She was hitting plastic bottles at 30 yards pretty consistently & she ended up asking for some of her carry loads to try at the end & figured she could handle the +p loads fine for carry. I'm one happy camper & I have casting to thank for it. Don't know of any commercial loads that light & for sure not as cheap as homebrew:lovecast:
Wife now happy with new revolver
- 2.7K Views
- Last Post 11 March 2013
I did the same thing for my niece but I used even less Red Dot.
Attached Files
Ditto. I went all the way down to a Ranch Dog 100 gr. for my wife's .38, now she loves shooting it. Burns ammo faster than I can make it.
Attached Files
For a good carry load which performs well in short barrels and has light recoil you should look for some of the Winchester 110-grain Silvertip standard pressure, not the +P load.
73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia
Attached Files
Ed,
Is there any reason for standard, rather than +P, other than recoil in the Silvertip loading?
Ric
Attached Files
my wife started using target full wadcutters after i told he they would make round daylight holes in a bad guy .... just like Fearless Fosdick !
to hit first ... first you have to hit !!
ken
Attached Files
Ed,
Is there any reason for standard, rather than +P, other than recoil in the Silvertip loading?
Ric
YES - the powder loading in the 110-grain Silvertip +P is optimized for the 4” vented SAAMI test barrel and does not develop normal pressure or velocity when fired in a snubbie. The 125 Silvertip is loaded only in a +P and while it does fine in a 4 incher, it not perform well at all in snubbies, velocities being erratic, lots of unburned powder and zero expansion.
In my testing the 110 grain +P performs like their 125 +P and does 950 fps in a 4 inch gun, but when fired in a 2” snub it is only 770 fps with unburned powder which could jam the gun.
The standard pressure, non+P load is 900+ fps from a 4” gun and in a 2” gun is still reliably 850+fps and expands reliably! No unburned powder, mild flash, light recoil. Bullets shown in the photo below were fired into water jugs from my 2 inch Colt Detective Special and they all expand to .50+ cal. or better and accuracy is equal to target wadcutters.
73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia
Attached Files
Thank you Ed, I knew you had some reason for a specific recommendation. I have a mix of 2” and 4” around the house. (I can't run as fast as I used to, and it is nice to have one within reach.) I am down to my last 12 rounds of Super-Vel and need to replace it with something. Ric
Attached Files
For a practice load giving the same point of impact as the 110-gr. Silvertip, I bought Winchester 110-gr. JHP component bullets. These use the same jacket length as the 125grain, but have a deep, cupped base. This provides a longer bearing surface which seems to aid accuracy.
This is the same bullet used in the old Q4070 U.S. Treasury +P+ load. A charge of 6 grains of W231 in .38 Special cases gives 1050 fps from a 4 inch barrel and should be used only in guns originally designed for .357 ammunition, such as the Rugers.
Expansion is classic mushroom .55 cal above 900 fps, which is enough to “pop” the serrated jacket, but in a non+P load you will only get some riveting of the exposed lead nose, changing it from an ogival flat nose to a .40 cal. wadcutter shape, which is more effective than a round nose and penetrates deeper than when the bullet expands greatly. Overall not a bad compromise for a snubby handload.
I found that a charge of 4.6 grs. of Alliant Bullseye in Winchester cases with the WSP primer gives 880 f.p.s. from my 2” Colt revolver. This is not a +P load, so I can also use it in an alloy frame Colt Cobra. This charge should not be reduced, but is suitable for any sound .38 Special revolver in good condition.
Do not attempt to use this load in rifles, as it may not reliably exit a much longer barrel. For a dual-purpose rifle and revolver load, a charge of 5 grains of Bullseye is a +P load giving 900 f.p.s. from a 2", 1000 f.p.s. from a 4” revolver, and will reliably exit a 24” rifle barrel at 1050 +/- 30 fps. At this velocity the bullet does not fragment, but flattens out like a little copper and lead cow pile of .60 cal. or larger.
73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia
Attached Files
For a practice load giving the same point of impact as the 110-gr. Silvertip, I bought Winchester 110-gr. JHP component bullets. These use the same jacket length as the 125grain, but have a deep, cupped base. This provides a longer bearing surface which seems to aid accuracy.
This is the same bullet used in the old Q4070 U.S. Treasury +P+ load. A charge of 6 grains of W231 in .38 Special cases gives 1050 fps from a 4 inch barrel and should be used only in guns originally designed for .357 ammunition, such as the Rugers.
Expansion is classic mushroom .55 cal above 900 fps, which is enough to “pop” the serrated jacket, but in a non+P load you will only get some riveting of the exposed lead nose, changing it from an ogival flat nose to a .40 cal. wadcutter shape, which is more effective than a round nose and penetrates deeper than when the bullet expands greatly. Overall not a bad compromise for a snubby handload.
I found that a charge of 4.6 grs. of Alliant Bullseye in Winchester cases with the WSP primer gives 880 f.p.s. from my 2” Colt revolver. This is not a +P load, so I can also use it in an alloy frame Colt Cobra. This charge should not be reduced, but is suitable for any sound .38 Special revolver in good condition.
Do not attempt to use this load in rifles, as it may not reliably exit a much longer barrel. For a dual-purpose rifle and revolver load, a charge of 5 grains of Bullseye is a +P load giving 900 f.p.s. from a 2", 1000 f.p.s. from a 4” revolver, and will reliably exit a 24” rifle barrel at 1050 +/- 30 fps. At this velocity the bullet does not fragment, but flattens out like a little copper and lead cow pile of .60 cal. or larger.
OK Ed, You have the “wooden gears” in my head rolling. I just purchased Taurus mod. 85 .38 Special with a 2” barrel. I'm still waiting on the background check. MD is five weeks out on that. Of course I will be shooting cast bullets in that. i would like to use the Lyman 358156 GC in that . . . but . . . what are your recommendations on a bullet/load for that revolver?
Pat
If someone else had of done to me what I did to myself . . . I'd have killed him. Humility is an asset. Heh - heh.
Attached Files
The 110 grain silvertips seem like a perfect carry load for my wife. Nothing here in Utah on the shelves but a very few 158 grain +P golden sabers which is what she's been carrying. If the gods smile maybe we'll see some ammo on the shelves here soon. I've got a couple hundred Speer gold dots 125 grain boolits here at home. Maybe i'll play with those till the ammo fairy comes. Thanks Ed.
Attached Files
I got some loads from Speer for their 125 Gold Dots that are supposedly good for short barrels in a .38. If you're interested I'll dig 'em out. One consideration not often mentioned is muzzle flash, particularly at night. I know from experience that after one shot from a typical snubby load at night your vision is shot. Something like an old flash bulb going off in your face. I don't know what's magical about the Speer loads but I requested loads to duplicate their factory 'short barrel' ammo.
Attached Files
I can't believe you don't have a flash suppressor on your tatical snubby.
Attached Files
Thanks Mr Turner! If you run across some of those loads please list one. I have several Speer manuals old & new.Don't remember seeing loads for snubbies in their manuals. Maybe a load not using ball powder to avoid flash?
Attached Files
I found the data Speer sent me around 7 years ago. It's titled “supplemental reloading data". My memory aint what it used to be, so first the bad news...it's all +P data and it's for a 135 gr. Gold Dot. They claim this bullet will fully expand at 860 fps which they say the starting loads will do in a 2” barrel. Here's some of the starting loads; Power Pistol-6 gr., AA#5-6.6 gr., AA#7-7.8 gr., HS6-6.8 gr., Unique-4.8 gr., PB-4.3 gr. There's a caution against reducing these charges to avoid stuck bullets in the bore. At the time I was messing with this I was focused on reducing muzzle flash but have no conclusive tests. Speer says “apply a generous crimp in the groove provided". I suspect their choice of powders is significant regarding a 2” barrel. My only conclusion was a snub nosed .38 will have serious muzzle flash at night -end of story. My own experience is the combination of being blinded by muzzle flash, auditory exclusion and tunnel vision induced by adrenaline overload all combine to make further accurate shot placement difficult. Make the first shot count.
Attached Files
OK Ed, You have the “wooden gears” in my head rolling. I just purchased Taurus mod. 85 .38 Special with a 2” barrel. I'm still waiting on the background check. MD is five weeks out on that. Of course I will be shooting cast bullets in that. i would like to use the Lyman 358156 GC in that . . . but . . . what are your recommendations on a bullet/load for that revolver?
I'm not familiar with the Taurus 85 or the quality of its metallurgy. If it is chambered in .38 Special rather than .357 Magnum, I would heed that as a clue. In that case the standard pressure load with Bullseye and a 158 SWC is 3.5 grains and the +P 4.0, which I would not exceed.
73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia
Attached Files
OK Ed, You have the “wooden gears” in my head rolling. I just purchased Taurus mod. 85 .38 Special with a 2” barrel. I'm still waiting on the background check. MD is five weeks out on that. Of course I will be shooting cast bullets in that. i would like to use the Lyman 358156 GC in that . . . but . . . what are your recommendations on a bullet/load for that revolver?
I'm not familiar with the Taurus 85 or the quality of its metallurgy. If it is chambered in .38 Special rather than .357 Magnum, I would heed that as a clue. In that case the standard pressure load with Bullseye and a 158 SWC is 3.5 grains and the +P 4.0, which I would not exceed.
Ed, Oh no, I have no intentions of shooting even +P loads in it. Standard/ sub-sonic velocity only. I was just picking your brain as to what grain bullet would fly the best out of that little guy.
Pat
If someone else had of done to me what I did to myself . . . I'd have killed him. Humility is an asset. Heh - heh.
Attached Files
So far as I know the twist in the Taurus is the same as S&W, or 18-3/4", so it will do best with 140-158-grain bullets. Your #358156 should be OK, or any wadcutter that fits.
73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia
Attached Files
Also, to Ed & all the other Hams here 73 de N7UQI
Attached Files
Categories
- All Categories
- General Polls
- Contact Us w/ Forum Issues
- Welcome to The Cast Bullet Association Forum
- General
- Bullet Casting
-
Guns and Shooting
- AR Platform
- TC Contenders & Other Single Shot Handguns
- Shotguns
- Informal Matches & Other Shooting Events
- Gunsmithing Tips
- Gun Cleaning & Maintenance
- Optics
- Benchrest Cast Bullet Shooting
- Military Bench Rest Cast Bullet Shooting
- Silhouette Shooting
- Postal Match Cast Bullet Shooting
- Factory Guns
- Black Powder Cartridge
- Hand Guns
- Lever Guns
- Single Shot Rifles
- Bolt Action Rifles
- Military Surplus Rifles
- Plinkers Hollow
- Muzzleloaders
- Hunting
- Reloading
- Buy, Sell or Trade
- Other Information & Reference
Search
This Weeks High Earners
-
sluggo
3
-
Eddie Southgate
3
-
crosshair1962 2
-
Capt. Moroni Hunt 2
-
eurosabr 2
-
John dumbar 2
-
.jpg?width=20)
Urny
1
