38 Special as a rifle round - any loading data available?

[volosong]

My Henry Big Boy lever-action rifle will shoot .357 Magnum as well as .38 Special rounds. The Lyman's Reloading Manual has rifle data on loading the .357 Mag as a rifle round, but is silent on rifle loads for a .38 Special.

Do other reloading manuals include this information, (.38 Special as a rifle round)? Or, is it just something that is not done?

(Lyman's has load data on both calibers as a pistol round. I know the .38 Special is not the optimal rifle round, but want the option to use it; and load my own cartridges.) I've shot factory load .38 Special out of the Henry without any problem.

[Bigtwin]

I roll my .38's the same for rifle and pistol.

[BigBronco]

^^^ Same here.

[chknlyps2]

^^^^ Me too

[manny]

^^^Exactly, that's the whole fun of it!

[CCrawford]

Row 1087 of Internet Reloading Manual Index shows Hornady 2nd Edition list Rifle Loadings. Note the make of primer used. This is 1973 data, so, don't take this stuff as safe today, as reformulations happen over 4 decades.

Those pages may look like this:



Handgun page from same manual for comparison:



and



Reviewing the data shows some loads use more powder and other same or less. Use caution and good luck with your loadings.
Criss

[JagerDog]

My Marlin likes 4.8gr unique behind 158 LSWC.

[volosong]

Thanks for the info, and the images from the old book. I'm still learning.

[Bikertrash]

I shot some 158gr LSWC's w/5gr Autocomp out of my old Rossi Sat with amazing results.

[rg1]

Use the same loads for pistol, rifle, or carbine in .38/.357, 9MM, 40 S&W, and 45 ACP. The limiting factor is the brass and not whether it's fired in a pistol or rifle. Makes it easier and safer to not have to keep track of which load you have loaded and for which gun. Depends on which bullet you use as to whether it will feed reliably from your lever action rifle. It may or may not feed bullets such as wadcutter bullets. You'll just have to experiment with different bullet types to make sure they feed reliably.

[JagerDog]

The rifle/carbine length barrel tends to make better use (more increased velocity over same load in a pistol) when using medium to slow'ish powders.

Though all my loads can be fired in their respective pistols, I've really liked Unique for 38/357 and 45 ACP caliber carbines. Blue Dot in 45 Colt.

My rounds which I intend to shoot only in pistols tend to get propelled by faster powders like HP38.

FWIW, I really enjoy my pistol caliber carbines. Pretty much my favorite "camp guns".

[Southpaw45]

I reload lots of .38spl ammo for Cowboy Action Shooting. Keep in mind my ammo is built for speed shooting so I try to keep recoil to a minimum. My bullet of choice is a 127grn RNFP bullet made by Badman Bullets. Im using ether 3.2grns of Titegroup or 4.0grns of Trailboss powder. Here is the key to loading .38 ammo so it functions smoothly in .357 mag lever guns. C.O.L MUST BE KEPT AT 1.500 OR LONGER. Its the only way to help the rifle feed well. My rifle Im using is a Uberti Winchester 1873 reproduction. Your results may be different.

http://www.badmanbullets.com/OnlineStore/cast-lead-bullets.html

[nitro-express]

Hornady Data

Photo Bucket sure made a bunch of forum posts useless. was looking for rifle data, and when i saw this post I remembered I had this book in my library.

Thanks

As mentioned below, IMO, I think these loads are stout as well. Hornady used a '92, I have a clone '66 in 38 Spl, and I was advised that it is not designed for anything other than 38 Spl cowboy loads, certainly not +P. However in a '73, chambered in 357 Mag, this data may apply.

[pennstater]

Yazaa! Those are some stout loads!

[ivanthebear]

Photo Bucket sure made a bunch of forum posts useless. was looking for rifle data, and when i saw this post I remembered I had this book in my library.

Thanks

Nice. May try this for my 1892.

Thanks!