158gr Bunny fart .38's with 700x, or Universal for my 9 Y.O. daughter?

[the86d]

What is the lowest you have gone with 158gr SWC's using 700x or Universal (chono speeds)?

[rsrocket1]

2.5g with a Lee 358-158-RF for 618 fps, but a pretty big variation of 50 fps.
700X is better than Universal in light loads because it builds up pressure faster and won't be as smokey/dirty. At that speed you don't have to worry about a stuck bullet.

I've actually shot a Silver State 158g RN lead bullet with just the primer and chronied it in the 230 fps ballpark. It was a missed charge but the bullet left the barrel and actually hit the target at 10 yards without a problem. That round was not crimped. Had I missed a charge with a roll crimped bullet, it may not even leave the cylinder.

If really light recoil is your goal, since you don't need to operate a slide, you can go with 125g, 115g or even 90g bullets if you can find them in .358" diameters. You can also make gluestick bullets by "casting" hot glue in a bullet mold. You then lube the bullet with some vegetable oil, and push them all the way down into a primed case. They shoot hard enough to penetrate a paper shopping bag or one wall of a cardboard box. Do this outdoors because the primer smoke contains lead.

[hermosabeach]

I forget what the light load was.... but the 147 hollow base was cutter with 700x is a nice load.... due to flashover, I would not go below the load book min.

I use almost no crimp and I do cheat and lost the bullet about 1/4" out, not flush with the case mouth...

Super light and quiet load from a 4"

The 6" is great for novice shooters who are strong.... for most new shooters, the extra barrel mass is too heavy......

[hermosabeach]

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol

[the86d]

This morning I bought 125gr JHPs that should assist with these loads.

Low and behold these are closer to what I need, after reading the posts since I started this thread.

Thanks all who posted and PM'd(, even the guy who posted the Hogdon URL I already go to at least 7 times/week)!

[rm1911]

With cast lead bullets out of a revolver, any fast burning powder, anything above 2.0 grains will shove it out. Auto pistols are a different matter as for cycling the slide.

So many choices.

Might wanna try trail boss. It's a cowboy action shooting powder. Really nice for mild loads.

[pennstater]

Agree with Trailboss. Good powder for light loads in the .38spl.

[the86d]

With cast lead bullets out of a revolver, any fast burning powder, anything above 2.0 grains will shove it out. Auto pistols are a different matter as for cycling the slide.

So many choices.

Might wanna try trail boss. It's a cowboy action shooting powder. Really nice for mild loads.

I watched some youtube vids from the time of 22lr rape-prices ~3 years ago where 2 grains of Unique were used with 158 gr cast SWC in .38 SPL so I was wondering if others did something similar too.

[stilly]

Just be sure to NEVER EVER use BLUE DOT for powder with 125gr .357 MAG.

NEVER EVER EVER EVER. (because you will die. They say so at their site.)

[pacrat]

What is the lowest you have gone with 158gr SWC's using 700x or Universal (chono speeds)?

This morning I bought 125gr JHPs that should assist with these loads.

Low and behold these are closer to what I need, after reading the posts since I started this thread.

Thanks all who posted and PM'd(, even the guy who posted the Hogdon URL I already go to at least 7 times/week)!

Bunny Fart and JHP don't really belong in the same load. Not if you want to get full value from your "bunny farts". Because JHPs are the most expensive bullets you can buy. So why pay for them just to lower recoil, when you know for sure the HPs will never even think about expanding at BF velocities.

I suggest you order some 125 gr cast SWC or RN for your flatulence loads. Another issue with BFs is bullet hardness. You don't want "hard" bullets. The low pressure levels of BFs don't obturate the bullet enough to properly engage the rifling. And you often get keyholed shotgun like patterns rather than "groups".

And GOOD ON YOU SIR, for taking your daughter shooting.


JM2c

[stilly]

I took a kid shooting once. Wasn't my kid and they only got to hold the gun while I stole the money... :O

I know what you are thinking, but I AM a nice guy- I split it fair and square, I gave him a 3% cut...

[Darto]

There are two more calibers that fit all 38 special revolvers: 38 Short Colt and 38 Long Colt. Lee makes cheap die sets in both of those calibers. Midway sells the dies. So it is easy to make even milder cartridges for any 38 special.

Hodgdon site shows loads with several powders.
The different size cases will make them easy to ID from 38 special rounds.

[smashycrashy]

I was going to try some 105gr FP coated .38 with 2.4gr of titegroup for some CAS rounds I'll let you know how they turn out.

[stilly]

They will turn out a tad weaker than .22mag.

[the86d]

I think that is the point...