new guy here

M

mtinner

New member
Wanted to say hello.
I'm just now starting to get into loading my own. So, I suppose I'll be asking what you people will consider stupid questions, I'll try not to be a pain in the neck.
I want to start out slow and load up some rounds of 38 spl. I went out and bought me a small Lee Loader for 38 spl only, small pistol primers, 158 gr semi wadcutters, a scale, and some 700x powder. After some research, I'm thinking I'm correct with loading 3.6 grains of the 700x powder in my cases. I guess I'm asking because I want to be completely certain that this will work in my Ruger Gp100. Any help with this would be appreciated. Thanks
 
Welcome to the forum. There ain't no such thing as a stupid question when it comes to reloading as far as I'm concerned. My Hornady 8th Edition recommends a starting load of 700 X for a 158 gr. swc to be 2.7 grns. with a max of 3.7. I'd suggest starting low and working up to your 3.6 . Do you have a manual?
 
So, I suppose I'll be asking what you people will consider stupid questions,
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If you don't know, then you don't know. We all did not know at one point.


"There are only 2 kinds of stupid questions: The kind where you knew the answer for certain and asked anyway, and the kind where you did not know the answer and were scared to ask, electing instead to persist in your ignorance."

The start load in the first two manuals I looked at for 700x and a 158gr lead SWC bullet were 2.7 and 3.0gr ....with 3.6gr as a max.

I suggest you start at the start and work up.
 
In this hobby/addiction, the only stupid question is the one that doesn't get asked. Reloading can get dangerous real quick.

Welcome to the addiction. Remember to start low and workup (also read start at minimum charge and workup). If only one charge is given, that's max, reduce by 10% to get your starting charge.
 
I'm glad I found this place and asked my first "stupid question" to you guys. I'll be starting with the low numbers and see how I do. Another question, what would you guys consider the best manual for me?
Thanks again.
 
what would you guys consider the best manual for me?
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What bullet are you using?

The bullet manufacturer offers the most reliable data- powder is pretty uniform ...... bullets vary considerably, even with the same weight, between different manufacturers: Jacket material, alloy used, profile (which will change the bearing surface), lube used, if any ...... I generally use the data from the bullet manufacturer. Often you can call them and get information over the phone .....

I do suggest getting a manual- they offer a lot of information on the process itself .......
 
Right now I'm starting out with 158 gr lead semi wadcutters. I'd like to get into jacked bullets later when I learn a little more.
I just came in from the garage after loading 6 rounds. That's all I want to do for right now until find out if I did this right and I'll be going out to the range tomorrow morning to see how things work out.
Thanks for the quick replies. Great forum.
 
Welcome! - NO dumb questions

Welcome to the forum. This is where loaders of all experience levels learn new things.

I've been doing this over 30 years, and find TFL very educational.

38 Special / 158gn SWC - right up my alley. I load more target level 38 Special rounds with lead slugs (148gn, & 158gn) than any other - by far. My experience is extensive. However, I have no experience with 700X. But it is good powder and is well suited for what you're trying to load. You did well with your components. Nice start.

One thing to keep in mind is that your GP100 is a 357 Magnum and therefore can handle pressures well beyond any responsibly published 38 Special data. So you have ample safety margin. Hopefully, that'll give you some assurance.

38 Special is probably the easiest to load and is a great starting point. The first pointer that comes to mind is to seat your SWC's at the crimp groove and don't concern yourself with OAL (Overall length of the cartridge). I know that seems like a random remark, but I've known lots of novice loaders getting wrapped around the axle about OAL (or COAL, or COL - all the same) with a revolver cartridge and bullet with a crimp groove.
 
I think 700x is a great powder for .38spl loads. It burns clean and does not seem to be position sensitive.

I've loaded about 3000 .38 spl using 700x over the past 6 months. I'm loading 125g lead bullets to about 650 fps for cowboy action shooting, so the loads are not exactly what you're likely to use. I've been loading 2.9g. This gives about a 650fps to 675fps.

700x is a fast powder, and takes very little volume in the case, so be careful not to double charge as it might not be easy to notice. It burns completely, but soots the cases some in my low power loads.I use a pretty firm crimp. It is a flake powder, so watch how it meters and shoot for an avg drop and be prepared to accept some variation from one drop to the next. (.1g or so) depending on your powder measure.

Hodgdon lists 3.0 to 3.4g for a 158g swc bullet in .38spl.
 
Good morning,
I took those 6 rounds that I loaded last to the range this morning and everything went well. I took some factory158 gr. leaded round nose with me and alternated them in my gp100 to compare. Everything was right on target at 30 feet. Because I alternated my rounds, I could really feel and hear the difference between the two different rounds. My rounds were considerably lighter. I'm going to load some more up today and bump it up to 3.0 and see how that goes. I'm just being a little cautious right now until I learn more. I was a little nervous pulling the trigger on my first round, but using the gp100 does calm the nerves down some. Eventually I'd like to step up to loading 357 magnums. Just taking small steps right now.
Thanks again for all the help
 
The greatest dangers with your load are having a squib because the flake powder bridged in the meter and having a double charge, because it takes up so little space in the case.

The squib might leave a bullet stuck in the bore ....no big deal because it's lead- push it out with a brass rod. Just make sure that you don't fire the next round with a bullet stuck. Bore obstructions are Very Bad Things.

A 3.0 grain load of 700X takes up less than half of the available space in the case .... it is possible to double charge it and put a bullet on it. IDK what a 6gr charge of 700X would do to your gun .... I won't test it on mine, for sure!

I have loaded and shot thousands of 125gr plated bullets (both Berry's and Ranier Ballistics) over a charge of 4.7grains of 700X in my Colt Trooper .... worked really well, and takes up enough space to make a double charge obvious.

Good Luck.
 
I'm going to load some more up today and bump it up to 3.0 and see how that goes. I'm just being a little cautious right now until I learn more.
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There's no hurry. Take your time. Learn good habits. Pay attention to what you're doing. Rewards await.
 
What jimbo and Nick said. If you can afford it (I know times are tough) get 2 or 3 manuals and read everything. If you're loading lead, I'd recommend the Lyman manual. It has specific loads for lead as well as jacketed bullets. One other word of caution, if you aren't already doing it. Check EVERY case EVERY time! Double charges are your worst nightmare. They can destroy your gun and hurt or kill you. Not trying to scare you - we've all been the new guy at some point - just keep you from making a bad mistake. On a lighter note, you can now consider yourself an addict and be assured that there is no cure. First .38, then 9mm, then rifles, shotgun, casting your own bullets :eek:
Welcome aboard
 
Welcome to the forum, I hope you stick around a while.

As to your new loads, whenever I am working up a new load I usually pick a stopping point with a nice easy to remember amount to it and work on things there for a while. For example you mentioned bumping up to 3grs. So consider that, you have a nice easy to remember load for your revolver. It's not something like 3.4 or 3.7, it is simply 3.0 period.

So anyway your on the right track. So say you load up 50 rounds using the 3grs of your powder and they shoot great, but you think you might be able to improve on the group a little. Now you can play with your crimp and see if adding or backing off 1/8th of a turn helps or demolishes your group size. Sometimes just a nice easy crimp will be all you need other times you need just a touch more. I usually measure the side of the case between the base of the bullet, just and below the crimp groove. This gives me a standard of sorts with this particular bullet. It has been seated into the case but not crimped. Now if I crimp it and the measurement stays the same I am good. If on the other hand I crimp it hard and this measurement gets even .001" bigger, I have now released some of if not more of the case tension from the bullet. This is now OK and you should back off until there is no change in the initial measurement. The case tension is what does most of the holding of the bullet until everything is lit off and is in motion. The crimp is there simply to hold the bullet still under recoil and possibly help out with just a touch more grip when using the very slowest powders. With 700X you simply need to roll the very end of the lip into the groove and go forth and have fun.
 
Thanks mike/tx, but right now I don't have the luxury of fine tuning the crimps. All I have to load with is the Lee Hand Loader. This stuff is all new to me and I wanted to start out on the cheap. I'll be doing 38 spl and 357 magnums for now because that is all the Lee loader is good for. Maybe in the future I'll progress to bigger and better thing.
I'm writing down in a journal all of the advice I'm getting from you guys because there's no way I'm going to be remember all this stuff in my head.

So, here's another question. I can load 357 magnums with this loader so I'll be needing the powder load that I need for the 158 grain semi wad cutters that I'm using right now. Can anyone help me with the low and high measurements I need for this using the 700x powder?
Thanks again for all of the help you guys have been
 
According to the IMR website data, http://www.imrpowder.com/data/handgun/357mag.php
5.5 gr of 700X is max with a 158 SWC. The loader you have is the "wac-a-mole" that you use a mallet with, right? Mine always came with a data sheet (40 years ago) that was very helpful. IMHO, 2400 is a better powder for .357 - if you can find it and if you can afford it. The journal is a great idea.The website below has free printable pages to help stay organized, if you want to check them out.
http://www.reloaderslog.com/LoadDataSheets.php
 
Wow! What a stupid question! (J.K. J.K.,:D :D). Like the fellers said if you have a question you can't find an answer for in your reloading manual, ask away! Welcome to the wonderful, often confusing and frustrating world of reloading.

I highly recommend a new reloader always start with starting loads. One tenth below max isn't enough "lee way" for any OOPS!/mistake and powder lots can vary and your .1 gr under max. load may be too "hot". No down side to starting low; you and your gun are safe and you get to reload more. And you can vary the amount of crimp by how hard you smack the die. The crimp feature is the last operation and preformed just like other operations; with a hammer!...

(I had my Lee Loader out the other day and used my arbor press to process a few rounds (\[not a "reloading" lightweight" arbor press but my 1 1/2 ton unit]. Slower than my single stage and turret presses, but easier than using a mallet)

FWIW I started with a Lee Loader in .38 Special in '69, with 100 generic lead bullets, 100 CCI primers, 1 lb. of Bullseye and of course a plastic mallet. I had some brass from purchased ammo and a bunch of range pick ups from the local police range. I used this set-up for over a year and it kept my Model 10 shooting my "allotted" 100 rounds per week. Soon after I started building my library (should have done this first) and my equipment inventory...

Go slow, double check everything, and most important, have fun.
 
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Thanks for the advice guys.
I've got another question. For the hell of it, I put one of the 158 grain SWC that bought on the scale to weigh it and if my measurement was right, it came out to 162.5 grains. Is this a normal thing or should I be concerned? I weighed 8 random rounds that I have loaded and using 3.1 grains of powder, each round averages around 232 grains. Any thoughts? Remember, I'm new at this so be nice to me.
 
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