question on the 38 special round

A .38 loaded to 450 ft/lbs and relatively comfortable to shoot from a snub would be just fine with ME, but then my snub is a .357 Mag. I don't think the anyone will load them this powerful in a .38 case.
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+1 on that - it's principally the chamber that contains the pressure, not the case. The biggest problem with exceeding ammo specs isn't that the case will be compromised (the thin, soft brass normally just stretches out to meet the thick, hard steel chamber walls), but that the supporting chamber will be compromised and the gun will fly apart - ouchie. :eek: The ammo specs really go hand in hand with how strong the *gun* is built and rated.
 
Just curious, mostly on-topic...

Anyone know of factory .357 Mag ammo that would reach muzzle velocity between 1200-1250 fps out of a 2.5" tube? I'm primarily interested in something between 125 and 158 gr.
 
Guy B. Meredith

What is energy of 9mm vs .38 158 gr at 900 (the level to which I usually load in my magnum revolvers)?
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From the Remington site:
Estimate the energy of your favorite cartridge. If you are unsure of which bullet weight and/or velocity to submit, use the information from our on-line ballistics tables above.

Example: The muzzle energy of a 300 Remington Ultra Mag 180gr Core-Lokt Ultra bullet propelled at 3250 feet per second is determined using the follow formula:
M x V^2 ÷ 450400 = foot pounds energy.

Step 1: Multiply M (M = bullet weight in grains) times V^2 (V^2 = the square of bullet velocity in feet per second): 180 x 3250 x 3250 = 1,901,250,000

Step 2: Divide the product of step 1 by 450400: 1,901,250,000 ÷ 450400 = 4221 foot pounds of energy.
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Just plug in your .38 load, and the closest standard 9mm load, which would be the 147gr load.
 
Several people have referred to the .38 Special as being developed for black powder. Well, that is partially correct. Any cartridge called "Special" was actually developed to use either the new fangled smokeless powder, or blackpowder.

The special cartridges were usually loaded with smokeless, and then the user reloaded the cases with black powder, which was much more available a century ago. Some of the specials were loaded with black powder at the factory, however.
 
Caleb,

I think we need a .38 maximum or a .357 regular.

I bought some winchester 110-grain Mag recently (the wimpiest magnum round I could find, and perhaps a good candidate for the label .357 regular). I look forward to making the leap to the longer cases.

~Ichiro
 
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