38spl first loads

[BuRu]

Hello All,
Just started reloading 38 special for a short snubby revolver. The minimum case trim mentioned in the hornady reload book is 1.145" and the max case length is 1.155". Occasionally i have gotten some brass that measures 1.156" to 1.158" after full length sizing. Would I have to trim or am I ok with reloading this brass? Would the difference in case length affect the crimp? I appreciate any advice.

[jwb28]

I have never trimmed .38 special in 40 years of reloading it. Most posts I've seen on the subject said the same. Actually most say handgun brass in general.
Where you will notice it is when you crimp. But I have never had a problem as far as function unless you over crimp and create a bulge. The round wont seat all the way in the cylinder.

[BuRu]

I have never trimmed .38 special in 40 years of reloading it. Most posts I've seen on the subject said the same. Actually most say handgun brass in general.
Where you will notice it is when you crimp. But I have never had a problem as far as function unless you over crimp and create a bulge. The round wont seat all the way in the cylinder.

Thanks. I take it that as long as the cartridge fits in the revolvers cylinder (as well as in my case gauge) it should be ok. Just making plinking loads. I still have to check the OAL measurement. If I seat to the OAL in the hornady book I can't crimp on the crimp grove. To crimp on the groove I would have to be smaller then the OAL listed.

[9mmepiphany]

Case length doesn't make much difference when you taper crimp, but makes much more difference when you roll crimp. It also effects the expansion of the case...especially when loading coated bullets

If you set it for a shorter case. the longer cases will be over crimped...even to the point of cutting the plating/coating on your bullets. If you set it for a longer case, a shorter case won't get enough expansion...which can cause shaving of your bullet coatings

.38Spl, even from the same manufacturer can vary quite a bit in case length. If consistent crimp is important to you...mostly has to do with accuracy...you should trim your cases.

For my competition .38Spl cases, I trim them to 1.145"...just for consistency

[9mmepiphany]

I still have to check the OAL measurement. If I seat to the OAL in the hornady book I can't crimp on the crimp grove. To crimp on the groove I would have to be smaller then the OAL listed.

You should correctly seat your bullets to the crimp groove...it prevents damage to the plating/coating. Adjust your powder charge as needed if you're loading toward the max

[jyc]

That is less thickness than the average human hair. Don't worry about it.

For what it's worth, I never trim pistol brass. Leave that for rifle brass.

Sent from my SM-N986U using Tapatalk

[alland]

When loading for a revolver the bullet should be seated to crimp in the crimp groove. The overall length ends up where it ends up. The crimp groove is needed to give adequate resistance to inertia pulling the bullets, especially with a small short barrel gun that recoil smartly.

[ysr_racer]

I have never trimmed .38 special in 40 years of reloading it. Most posts I've seen on the subject said the same.

Yep, I've shot tens and tens of thousands of rounds of .38 Special, .38 Short Colt, 9mm, and .45 and I've never trimmed one of them.

It's simply not needed for handguns.

[divingin]

Would I have to trim or am I ok with reloading this brass? Would the difference in case length affect the crimp? I appreciate any advice.

I would say skip trimming.

It will affect crimp (especially a roll crimp), but the question actually should be "Will it *adversely* affect crimp", which IMO it shouldn't, assuming you aren't overcrimping to begin with.

[pennstater]

I use the Lee factory carbide crimp die. Case length doesn't matter. Light to med crimp, you're good.

MLC

[Cowboy T]

In the last 12 years, I've loaded...a lot...of .38 Spl and .357M, with most of it .38 Special. Never, ever have I had to trim a case. That goes for any other traditional revolver case that I've shot, too, like .44 Spl/Mag and .45 Colt. And yes, I roll-crimp almost all of them, since I use my own cast bullets, all of which have crimp grooves. I don't crimp with jacketed or plated bullets that don't have a crimp groove or cannelure, rather just flatten out the case mouth belling. No problems in well over 100,000 rounds.

So, go ahead and load 'em...after inspecting them for case integrity of course. :-) You'll be just fine.

[BuRu]

Thanks for all the replies. I loaded some rounds before all the replies came in, picture below. The left round is crimped on the lube groove, the middle round is crimped to the OAL specified in the reload book and the one on the right is crimped to the crimp groove. All three are within the maximum OAL by saami. Should I go ahead and pull them or shoot them? They fit in my LE Wilson case gauge as well as my revolvers cylinder. I'm using 6.0 grains of HS-6.

Screenshot_20210419-232521_kindlephoto-1018190375.jpg

[ysr_racer]

Thanks for all the replies. I loaded some rounds before all the replies came in, picture below. The left round is crimped on the lube groove, the middle round is crimped to the OAL specified in the reload book and the one on the right is crimped to the crimp groove. All three are within the maximum OAL by saami. Should I go ahead and pull them or shoot them? They fit in my LE Wilson case gauge as well as my revolvers cylinder. I'm using 6.0 grains of HS-6.

[ATTACH]1007041[/ATTACH]

If 6.0gr of HS-6 is within the spec for the bullets you have, shoot them. What weight are those bullets?

[divingin]

The right-most cartridge looks correct, though any should work.

As an aside, how did you come with 6 gns as your start point?

If you're working with heavier bullets, you're starting in the upper half of the suggested load range, which I would advise against if you're new to reloading (not saying you are, but it wasn't stated.)

Though to be fair, if you're working with lighter bullets (<140gns), you're below the start loads, which will be fine.

You should be fine with any of the loads you have; the comments about where to start is more about following recommended procedures when working up a new load. They're called starting loads for a reason.

[BuRu]

The bullets are 158gr. Yeah, Im new to reloading. I had some HS-6 that I bought a while back and saw on the hodgdon site that it lists a min of 5.7 to a max of 6.3. I just chose 6.0 as it was in the middle and heard HS-6 doesn't like lite charges.