Just did another round of .38 Special reloads.

Recalling the results of the the last batch, I had a tough time inserting the rounds into the chambers of the cylinder. I wondered if I belled the case-mouth too much, or if it could be from lack of crimp.

It was over-belling.

This time I did the smallest expansion I could. I could barely feel the difference in the case mouth. Measuring with calipers the mouth
expanded about 0.002″. But that’s all that was necessary, the bullet balanced just fine and seating it went smoothly. After seating, I dropped the round into the chamber and it went in and out without a hitch. Cool!

A few days ago I did pick up a Lee Factory Crimp die for .38/.357. Since I’m using these Berry’s plated bullets and given what I was told by the guy that consults for Berry’s, if any crimping is done it should be a light roll crimp or better would be a taper crimp. So I figured why not try the Lee Factory Crimp?

I loaded 30 rounds total. I used the same recipe I’ve been using (Berry’s .38 158 grain RN DS; 3.5 grains TiteGroup; Remington 1.5 SPP; CBC (Magtech) brass case; C.O.L. 1.510″). I left 15 uncrimped and I used a “light crimp” (1/2 turn, according to the die’s directions sheet) on the other 15. Let’s see how that goes. Not sure when I’ll get to the range to try this, but of course I’ll report the results.

What next?

Thinking out loud….

The goals of this .38 loading are two-fold. First, to just experiment and learn about reloading. Second, I’ve got a snub-nose class with Claude Werner in February 2010 and I’d like to have 400 (reloaded) rounds for that class. I’d like to do it because it sets a goal for me for my reloading work, plus shooting 400 rounds out of a snub over the course of the weekend… not sure how much that will beat up my hands. Having some sort of “mouse phart” load for the class wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing.

I’m not going to change the bullet or the primers, and I’ll probably go with the same cases for now. Regarding cases, I don’t have 400 of the same case, but I do have over 400 cases. I understand the issues of how cases can vary, but my hope here is to keep the load mild. The gun is +P rated, so I think once I get a basic formula down the case variation ought not matter. So only thing I can think to vary would be the powder (type, amount) or the cartridge overall length.

I was thinking about the C.O.L.. I was trying to remember how I arrived at 1.510″; it might have been looking at the .38 Special “38 LRN 158 grain” data in the Speer #14 manual, as that’s listed as 1.510″. The Magtech 158 grain LRN that I have measures at 1.530″. The Remington UMC 130 grain JFN is I think 1.490″. Books say the maximum cartridge overall length is 1.550″. Other bullet shapes list lengths of 1.4xx”, usually in the mid-to-high .400’s. I might try some different lengths just to see the effect. For instance, try the max length of 1.550″. Try 1.490″. I know I could risk some higher pressures here so I want to keep things light in the powder end of things and not go too short. But I’d like to see how it changes the dynamics.

I’ll probably also try varying the powder. The lowest powder charge I saw for pure lead 158 grain was 3.2 grains of TiteGroup. That may not be enough for the plated Berry’s bullet (especially since I’m also loading with a longer COL and perhaps a light crimp), but I think it’s worth a try. Hodgdon’s data for TiteGroup says using a 158 grain Hornady XTP and COL of 1.455″, .38 Special max load is 3.9 grains of TiteGroup, .38 Special +P is 4.3 grains. Given that, I may try going up to 3.8 grains of TiteGroup or maybe even 4.0. We’ll see. Much to think about.