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Post by tinkerpearce on Sept 15, 2020 3:21:48 GMT -5
I set out specifically to make a load for target shooting in older guns chambered for .38 S&W. I used a light-for-caliber load to minimize recoil. It's a .360 125gr LSWC. Loaded over 3.0gr. of Unique with a Federal magnum small pistol primer (I haven't been able to get the regular ones for months) this yielded 598 fps. 99 ft./lbs ES: 85 fps. from my 1-5/8" barreled S&W .38 SA 2nd model. The large extreme spread was caused by one round with a very low velocity reading; the other four rounds had an ES of around 40 fps. Over the course of my testing I have noticed that Unique seems more likely to produce a larger extreme spread than other powders in light loads; has anyone else noticed this?  The rounds shown in this picture are not the ones tested. This load proved quite accurate; I was able to consistently hit empty spray-paint cans at thirty yards with this gun. naturally you should always insure that any antique firearm is in serviceable condition before firing it. |
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Post by magnumwheelman on Sept 15, 2020 5:52:14 GMT -5
My lowest pressure loads used soft lead round balls & 0.5 grains of Trailboss I determined that if a gun timed correctly, that load was safe ( they say some of those imported guns were unsafe to shoot when new  ) I always worried about highly pitted barrels raising the pressure on harder cast bullets... I used pretty much all Trailboss loads for reduced loads, & had several... all I tried, even the lead round ball loads could hold a 5 quart ice cream bucket lid at 25 yards...  |
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Post by boolitdesigner on Sept 15, 2020 8:25:49 GMT -5
Over the course of my testing I have noticed that Unique seems more likely to produce a larger extreme spread than other powders in light loads; has anyone else noticed this? Unique is more useful in the mid to upper range of the cartridge. My target loads in anything get Bullseye, WW231, RedDot or GreenDot with 231 being the most useful in the size you are trying due to it's propensity of getting loads to regulate to the fixed sights. |
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Post by tinkerpearce on Sept 15, 2020 9:03:34 GMT -5
Over the course of my testing I have noticed that Unique seems more likely to produce a larger extreme spread than other powders in light loads; has anyone else noticed this? Unique is more useful in the mid to upper range of the cartridge. My target loads in anything get Bullseye, WW231, RedDot or GreenDot with 231 being the most useful in the size you are trying due to it's propensity of getting loads to regulate to the fixed sights. Good to know. Reviewing my data Red Dot does seem to do very well with regard to extreme spread, and Unique produces it's best results, as you say, in mid to high pressure loads. Interestingly Hodgden's Triple-7 has also been extremely consistent in pistol cartridges, producing very tight extreme spreads; often less than 10 fps. in five-shot strings. |
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Post by magnumwheelman on Sept 15, 2020 9:17:33 GMT -5
hmmm... not tried 777... do you need a magnum primer to ignite the black???  |
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Post by tinkerpearce on Sept 15, 2020 13:55:07 GMT -5
hmmm... not tried 777... do you need a magnum primer to ignite the black??? Nope. It's messier than smokeless, but not nearly as bad as Black Powder. |
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Post by magnumwheelman on Sept 15, 2020 15:43:33 GMT -5
don't know if I could shoehorn a 50 caliber pellet into a 38 S&W case   BTW... not all of these, & even not all the S&W's are safe to shoot... this one I bought on Gun Broker, I determined was not even safe for 0.5 grain of Trailboss & soft lead round ball... this one I sold under the understanding that is was unsafe for any load, & only good for a shadow box...  |
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) I always worried about highly pitted barrels raising the pressure on harder cast bullets... I used pretty much all Trailboss loads for reduced loads, & had several... all I tried, even the lead round ball loads could hold a 5 quart ice cream bucket lid at 25 yards...
