.38 reloading oops

S

StihlKicking

New member
High long time lurker here making a first post. I love this forum and have obtained much useful info over the last few years. Many thanks to all who contribute.

I am new to loading .38 special and realized about 50 rounds to late that I had set 110 gr xtps on top of 6.7 grains of unique.

Is this cartridge going to be safe to fire from a modern +p colt or smith? Or is it way to hot? Should I just pull the bullets and start over? Maybe fire them from a ruger .357? Any help in this would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.


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The source that published that load should be an indication as to whether or not it is "safe". What was your source for using that bullet with that powder and load weight?
 
I have 2 older manuals that show that to be a safe 38 load.
Shooting them in a 357 sounds reasonable.
 
Was your faux pas the powder charge for that bullet? That bullet with other bullet weight load data?
 
Lyman thinks you are +P, Speer thinks you are +P+.
You are a little over Sharpe's and Waters' top loads.

You won't blow up a modern .38 but the Magnum is a less worrying solution.

The real worry is what led to the overload in the first place and how you plan to avoid another, maybe worse.
 
Well they're not what you want for reloads so I'd say pull 'em.

It'll give you a chance to use your bullet puller and the exercise might reinforce the idea to double (or triple, or quad...you get the idea) check your settings before you load.

And guess what, if you don't already have one Midway has an RCBS on sale now for about $17.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/685703/rcbs-powr-pull-impact-bullet-puller-kit

P.S. If your into mind games you could look at your mistake this way: Everybody makes mistakes. Now you've made yours, it wasn't too serious and you can move on.
 
It'll give you a chance to use your bullet puller and the exercise might reinforce the idea to double (or triple, or quad...you get the idea) check your settings before you load.
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I ain't bragging, just using me as an example. I haven't had an OOPS! in reloading in over 30 years because of my methods; I write down the load w/bullet, powder, primer, and OAL (if needed) on a note and stick it to the powder measure. I lay out the components for the current load only. I read all the labels, mebbe double check here. I set my powder measure for the needed charge (double checking against the note). Run a few weighing each charge. Then I start reloading clean, inspected brass. Pick up the primer sleeve, reread the label and check against the note. Prime the brass. Charge the brass, weighing the first 5-10 charges and double check scale settings. Weigh about every 5th or 6th charge, double checking the scale settings (I have had a scale that "jumped" the 1/10 gr poise heavier). I look in every case to make sure the powder is there and not twice as much as I want. I pick up some bullets and glance at the note, right bullet? I seat the bullets measuring OAL often and checking against the note. Crimp as needed. Double check components, scale settings and powder measure setting.Then I'll box 'em up.

This sounds really repetitive, and time consuming but I've not had a squib since 1970, and no Kabooms ever I don't have to ask forum members "I mistook magnum primers for standard primers" or "I misread my scale and my powder charges are 1.0 grains heavy. Will this hurt anything?". No I ain't perfect and I do make mistakes, but they very rarely (never in 30 years) get passed the step where I messed up. Again, I'm not bragging and this post is anonymous so you don't know if I really do all this stuff, but it doesn't take any more time and it makes my ammo safe and consistent...
 
I ain't bragging, just using me as an example. I haven't had an OOPS! in reloading in over 30 years because of my methods;
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That is good. Not typical of most of us to do that kind of detail. Takes serious dedication.

On the other hand, I have had some squibs, a few over right pressure loads due to mistakes.

While I know you can do a Kabloom (saw the after affects of one) I have no idea how you can do something so wrong to push something that far in a modern gun (and it was)

There is some kind of balance and as long as you don't do something really awful (not knowing what that is) I am good with my less than perfect process and knowing I have good equipment that will tolerate a bit of a mistake.
 
Is this cartridge going to be safe to fire from a modern +p colt or smith? Or is it way to hot? Should I just pull the bullets and start over? Maybe fire them from a ruger .357? Any help in this would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
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I would have to dig into my books and there seems to be some ? so far.

If you go FITASC route, then you will never repeat that (maybe)

That said, if its over then pull the bullets.

If its not or even at the limit, then the choice is yours to try one and see how it does, or if you don't want a hot load, pull em down.

I recommend the Horandy (collet) Bullet puller if you do. If you are like me (grin) you will have future use for it.
 
I was loading 6.4 grains of unique under the 110 per the hornady manual. I weigh about every 10 charges once I have my thrower calibrated. The last time I weighed a charge it weighed light so I double checked then adjusted my thrower. It wasn’t until I loaded about 50 cartridges that I realized the kid had moved my scale and I had adjusted the thrower to 6.7 grains. 6.4 is the hottest charge any of my manuals show. I wondered if anyone else had a manual showing above that.


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Hornady third edition shows 7.0 gr Unique, 110 gr jhp, 38 special +P.
Sierra 2nd edition shows a little higher than that.
As far as I know, those loads are over anything currently listed.
And, I'm just some guy on the internet. No reason to take my word for anything.
 
6.7 grains of Unique is .4 over max for a .38 +P jacketed bullet too. .4 can be the difference between manuals and powder lots.
Max for a .357 110 grain jacketed bullet is 9.7 of Unique. 6.7 is below minimum for a .357 though.
 
No reason to change my previous post.

It wasn’t until I loaded about 50 cartridges that I realized the kid had moved my scale
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But you have to keep the kid away from the reloading bench. I see pictures of cute kids pulling the handle. Surely they are under close supervision. Aren't they?
 
Welcome to TFL StilhKicking. Hope to see you around here for a good long time.

I load a lot of 38 Special. Been doing so since 1984.

CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond or not covered by currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The Firing Line, nor the staff of TFL assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.

Just last week, I loaded/tested some 125 JHP's using Unique for 38 Special. Speer book max is 6.2 grains. I tested up to 6.6 grains and they were HOT. Not magnum hot; but pretty darn hot. So that was 0.1 grain less than what you have, but with a heavier bullet. So it's not much of a stretch to believe that yours would be safe to shoot in a 357 Magnum chambered revolver. That however, would strictly be your decision and not my recommendation.

What you could do is make test rounds of 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, to increment your way up to 6.7 - looking for pressure signs along the way; to get a better idea if 6.7 is safe to shoot.

So that's all that. What you do is your choice.

But I hope the take-away from this experience is to review your load processes - distractions included. I don't mean to imply that your load practices are sloppy or whatever. I'm just saying that a review of processes, procedures, etc. is something we should all do from time to time. Complacency has no place in this craft. Humility is an attribute.

Read mikld's post #7. It gives an excellent example of good, safe, consistent loading practices. I have adopted pretty much the same over the years. That's one of the reasons why we're all here - to share safe practices.

Load safe,
-Nick.
 
The Lyman Reloading Manual 46th edition shows: 38 special , 110 gr JHP -
6.7 grs. Unique max. @ 967 fps and 16,600 c.u.p.

+P 7.0 grs. Unique max. @ 1026 fps and 18,200c.u.p.

Back a few years ago , once fired 357 magnum brass was hard to find and we was poor kids , so we would load 7.5 grains Unique into a 38 special case with the new 110 grain Super-Vel JHP's to shoot in our 357 Ruger Blackhawks.
This is actually a fairly mild 357 magnum load ....so if you have a 357 magnum pistol, the 6.7 grain loads will not be any problem what so ever. Rugers are built tough...no problemo there.
A modern K or L frame +P S&W or Colt should not be damaged either.
Gary
 
Nick CS:

Good advice. I am probably the sloppiest reloader (or the worst bench right now) imaginable. No problems admitting it.

If you can manage your sloppy (like I think I do) you can do fine.

I focus on what I think are the safety areas that could be an issue and deal with the rest (with a goal to at least have a cleaner bench!)

I don't advocate it, but I am also not into minutia and would rather shoot
 
I have inadvertantly moved one of the little flimsy weights on my old Ohaus scale. Caught my mistake, pulled a bunch of bullets, reweighed each load. I am much more diligent about watching everything about weighing charges. Things happen. Be really careful. And if you are interrupted stop, and after the interruption carefully review what you were doing, before starting the process where you left off.
 
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