Creating loads for those separate applications requires some thought and time at the loading bench. Wednesday, October 5, 2011. use a combination of wads, one between the powder and shot and the other on top of the shot to close the end of the cartridge case, or to utilize a closed hollow plastic capsule in place of a bullet to contain the shot Heavy paper over-powder and over-shot cards work just fine for 38/357 shot loads. The two knurls ID this as a full wadcutter case. Shooting the .38/.357 loads through a Smith & Wesson Model 19 .357 Magnum with a 4-inch barrel re- sulted in 55 pellet holes in a pattern shot 12 feet from the muzzle. A few propellants that weighed precisely from a measure include Alliant Unique and Ramshot True Blue, with a spread of 28 fps, and Alliant Power Pistol, with a spread of 23 fps. 4.5.gr. Whether you’re looking for .38 Special hollow points for protection or FMJ ammo for the range, we’ve got you covered with the best ammo at the best prices. I use regular .38 Special brass and you can load them with the shot of your choice. You can visually ID these full wadcutter cases by the two circumferential rings, or knurls, left on the case by factory crimping. Generally speaking again, you may find better/tighter patterns with lesser charges, especially with smaller shot sizes. In fact, “The Speer Bullets Reloading Manual No. A premier-quality ammunition, these 38 Specials offer legendary performance and quality that wheelgun and lever rifle users have known and come to love. Several times when shooting the .38 Spl. Varying weights dispensed from the powder measure caused those velocity spreads. I thought I would do a little write up about the shotshells I made for my .38 special. Hodgdon HP 38. less to start.) Privacy Policy   •   Contact Us   •   Warnings   •   FAQs   •  © 2021 National Rifle Association of America, Women On Target® Instructional Shooting Clinics, Volunteer At The Great American Outdoor Show, Marion P. Hammer Women Of Distinction Award, Women's Wildlife Management / Conservation Scholarship, National Youth Shooting Sports Ambassadors, National Youth Shooting Sports Cooperative Program, The Speer Bullets Reloading Manual No. 5.0 grains of Unique put all #8 pellets in a fairly round 10” pattern at 10 feet. I use a W-mart paper plate and cut the wad on the end grain of a 2x4 block using a 38 or 9MM case (primer removed) as the punch (no need to sharpen). Why reload shotshells? I've run 3.0 gr of Bullseye with 158 gr semiwadcutters. I have always used # 7 1/2 shot simply because I have a lot of it on hand. should be loaded on the light side with accurate and inexpensive target bullets for practice loads. can be cranked up a bit in velocity with jacketed bullets for a flatter trajectory in longer-distance shooting and hunting small game. I measured a bunch of sized .357 Mag. The first method limits the amount of shot used because it must all fit inside the case below the mouth. In addition to dealing with rattlesnakes under the porch steps, handgun shotshells are also useful for up-close vermin of rat size—or even rabid-dog size, with larger shot. cartridges from dropping freely into the chambers. If you’re absolutely set on having a taper crimp, a 9mm Luger seat/crimp die works. While it might sound a little complicated, once you get a cadence going, it will surprise you … The most commonly known load is right off the Speer box of shot capsules, 5.5 grains of Unique and #9 shot. That doesn’t sound like a lot. Re: Making Homemade .38 Spcl Shotshells? That totals up to .38s costing nearly the same as some .22 Long Rifle rounds. For tree rats, you'd be better served with a single shot .410. The manufacturers I know best don’t even bother trying to run their .38 Special loads through the full FBI Protocol—they simply focus on Bare Gelatin (Test #1) and Heavy Clothing (Test #2). Those variations are not conducive to a strong and even crimp. A load’s accuracy has everything to do with how precisely a propellant charge is dispensed from a powder measure. loads to avoid the problem of bullets lodging in the bore. 38 Special cases, preferably cases intended for full wadcutter bullets. We need to crimp plastic shot capsules in place for the same reason as for bullets, to prevent them backing into or out of cases under recoil, handling or transportation. I loaded up a batch of shot cartridges using #8 shot salvaged from old shotgun shells and 5.0 grains of Unique; brass was a mixed bag of random stuff, including some full wadcutter cases. Primer: Winchester Small Pistol There is also a capsuled load for 9mm Luger loaded with No. Say an H&R Topper from Marlin. 9 shot. The pattern shot with the .44 load con- tained 119 hits. That was crimp enough; set the lock ring and you’re good to go. Speer plastic shot capsule Lead bullets are great for such … 14, Sheriff's Tips: Firing The Most Important Shot, Smith & Wesson's Model 39 'Hush Puppy': A Sidearm for the SEALs. Then I take a moment to look into each charged case beneath a strong light to ensure the propellant is at the correct level. A capsule loaded with #8 shot weighs, on average, 101 gr. Allen Company Ruger Universal Handgun Cleaning Kit - .380ACP.357 Magnum, 9mm, 10mm.40 caliber.38 special.44 Magnum and .45 acp , black 4.7 out of 5 stars 2,002 $17.89 $ 17 . Rifleman Q&A: Two Serial Numbers On An M1 Carbine? We don’t need special dies for loading these shotshells but you may need to experiment with your technique a bit. On the other hand, jacketed bullets build more resistance in the rifling and may lodge in the bore if propellant charges are too light. 2 of 8. Then I load them and shoot away. [ Re: GunGeek ] #1965298 01/24/08 The factory loads feature a 145- to 146-gr. ammunition in the same gun enables that shooter to hunt larger game and to fend off beasts that snarl in the night. 4.0 gr. “ Loading The .38 Spl.Lead bullets work best when loading standard .38 Spl. Seat the over-powder wad with the blunt end of a pencil. That’s the theory, but in practice and in loading shotshells for this article, my standard RCBS bullet seating die applying a roll crimp (and using the flat meplat seater plug) performed flawlessly—not one broken capsule. The .38 ammo is more common to find than the .44 ammo, so that is a big reason to reload the .44. The .38 Special's MAP is 17,000 psi, whereas for the .38 Special +P it is 20,000 psi. If there is only ONE load, it is MAX. Many shooters who prefer a revolver trust in the .38. Pistol; Rifle; Cowboy; GR. Get the American Rifleman Insider newsletter for at-a-glance access to industry news, gear, gun reviews, videos and more—delivered directly to your Inbox. The large hole is from the shot shell’s endcap. is ready for deer-size game when it’s loaded with cast lead-alloy Lyman 358156 bullets or Hornady 158-grain FP XTP bullets at close to 1,200 fps. There isn’t a whole lot of load data out there for 38 Special shotshells, compared to bulleted loads. Midsouth has powder bushings … Loading swaged lead bullets in .38 Spl. Learn how reload ammo in the professional method of the Ebonian Armory. Swaged lead bullets or cast lead-alloy bullets easily drive through a revolver’s bore with a minimum amount of propellant. With black powder I just fill up the case and crimp. That is enough to load an additional 83 cartridges if you’re using 3.0 grains of Hodgdon Titegroup with a 150-grain lead wadcutter. Clean, resize, expand case mouths, seat primers and charge cases as usual in preparation to receive the shot capsules. For the cost of 4-5 boxs of commercial ammo you could get into a basic reloading set up and then load the .38/.357's to your own specs and what works for you. A modern hull has a certain lifespan and, barring some specific injury – being stepped on, for instance – it … Whatever your reasons, loading reduced length shotshells is a fairly simple process once you have the proper tools and materials in hand, the most important of which is a source of reliable load … Simply adjust the die up or down in the press for appropriate roll crimp tension as you normally would with any bullet. The plastic capsule extends beyond the case mouth to allow room for roughly twice as much shot, equating to higher target hit probability. Shotshell Reloading Supplies. Compare 38 special ammo from the top online retailers to find the lowest price. A .357 Mag. Therefore, .38 Special +P ammo can be as much as 17.5 percent hotter than standard .38 Special. The NEI 150 358 wadcutter bullet loaded in .357 Mag. 4.5 gr. With the 125 & 158 gr. I have, indeed, noted that I can press the capsule further into the full wadcutter case and with less chance of breakage, but I’ve also experienced cases that stop the capsule from easily entering any further than the lowest knurl. Your die set likely came with two seater plugs, one for round nose bullets and the other for flat meplats; with either of these, the outer circumference of the seater is the only part that touches the shot capsule (because the center of the capsule mouth is recessed slightly), so either should work. offers the best .38 Special ammo … A small .38 revolver with shotshells makes an excellent hiking companion. I use Unique powder, drop powder in a primed hull, seat a gas check, cup up, over the powder, fill hull to within about 1/16" of top, seat another gas check cup up over shot, use a nice roll crimp. The wad method is a bit fussy and slower compared to the plastic cup, but it has its own nearly endless options for experimenting, such as using cast bullet gas checks, felt cap & ball over-powder wads or your own ideas for wads, shot cups and weather sealing. Cases that have been fired numerous times also show thinning of the mouth rims. and eliminate those fouling rings. Shooters that know practice makes perfect can count on 38 Special Ammunition for all of their firearm needs. Most load data says use #9 or smaller. The wadcutters drop from the mold with a diameter of 0.358 inches. Salvaged shot from old shotgun shells is cheap ammo. Chamfering the inside edge of the case mouth may help, as well. Simply put, this LSU offense is one of the best ever. 89 $28.69 $28.69 The .38 Spl. Incidentally, the plastic end cap tending to land pretty close to point of aim, and bits of shattered plastic capsule left ragged holes in the paper, though they didn’t completely penetrate the cardboard target backing. The 38 Special, headspacing on the rim, gets a roll crimp from the seater die. The 2.7 & 2.8 loads are a bit light for my taste since I'm not shooting one handed bullseye matches. The .38 Spl. That’s probably sufficient for most users of the .38 Special. I also size the 38 cases in a 30 Luger die. cartridges. All the R&D ammo makers poured into improving the 9mm has benefitted the .38 Spl. 5.0 gr. Here, let’s get the beginning 38 Special shotgunner started with the more simple plastic capsule. Powder: 5.5 grains Unique With their light recoil and low cost, .38s are made for shooting, which means high-production loading. Moving Up To .357 Mag.After shooting several hundred .38s through the Smith & Wesson Model 686 Plus, a ring of fouling started to build up just short of the cylinder throats. Bullseye is great for light, accurate loads in a .38 spec. Add a bunch of .38s for practice and fun, and a .357 Mag. Featuring premium components, these 38 Special Ammunition is the ideal practice round for on and off the range. That’s a perfect diameter, so there is no sense in sizing them. Win 231 That’s also quite a benefit for .45 ACP loads where most powders used will not take up a lot of the available powder space. Cartridge OAL: 1.5” About; Disclaimer; Contact; Log in / Sign up.38 Special - Manufacturer Loading Data. So care must be taken to prevent a double charge of propellant from making it into a case during loading. Loaded and used properly, handgun shotshells can dispatch rats in a barn or shed without causing undue damage to the structure itself. I've loaded "snake loads" for.38 Special for 30 years or more. I can make hundreds of bullets an hour casting with a four-cavity NEI 150 358WC mold. Also, I find reloading to be great stress relief. It’s already showing promising results in .38 Special. Shot shells provide us with another facet of handloading, with plenty of room for testing our own ideas. If I’m Winchester and I’m trying to allocate my primers, everything is going to fill my monster back-order of 9mm ammo, and if I can squeeze out a few million rounds of 38 while I’m at it, that’s nice. To finish the bullets I roll them in a jar with Lee Liquid Alox to lubricate them and put them in the sun to dry. I got the information from the American Rifleman. Depth at running back and … *The Speer shot capsule, with an inside diameter of about .307”, can accept shot up to size #1 (0.30”) if not deformed. Now if you load a .38 or .45 with #12 shot, then you have the hammer of Thor where snakes are concerned. Loads for .38 special: (Note: These are near maximum loads (in some cases ARE MAXIMUM), you should use 10%. Then using finger pressure, push the cap end of the capsule into the prepared case as far as possible; finish with the seating die to an overall length (OAL) of 1.5”. Typical patterning distance runs from 20 to 40 yards. To avoid breaking the plastic capsule, work the press handle slowly when seating. A Powder Checker or Lock-Out die is installed after the charging station to ensure that. Lead shot, from #9 to #1*. The 38 Special remains ubiquitous, but there’s one unique load that gets little attention: the shotshell. My time at the loading bench recharges my psyche and helps chase off the stresses of modern life. The .38 Spl. by John Haviland - When I load the .38 Super, I flare the case on the upstroke of the ram; on the downstroke, I prime each case by simply pushing in on the primer arm to seat the primer. revolver is a sure bet for everyone’s everyday handgun shooting. If your grandfather shot .38 reloads in competition, it was probably with a 2.7 through 3.0 gr of Bullseye pushing a 148 gr wadcutter. About a half-grain less propellant is needed for lead bullets to reach the same velocity as jacketed bullets. Later, Speer added .44 Special/.44 Magnum and .45 Colt and non-capsule shot loads for .45 ACP and .40 S&W, all loaded with No. #2 shot (0.27”) may be the largest practical size. It may arguably be safer than bullet handloads as light crimps and frangible projectiles probably keep pressures lower. Did you know that during WWII the government issued .45 ACP shotshells to air crewmen for foraging in a shot-down survival situation? We have conversions kits from MEC and Lee, along with shotgun primers and reloading books. A firm roll crimp of the case mouth in the bullet cannelure or crimping groove is essential to keep the sharp recoil of these magnum loads from partially pulling the bullets out of the remaining cartridges in the cylinder. Seat shot capsules deep enough to permit proper cylinder rotation. If you like the features a modern .38 Spl. ammunition, offers dual benefits for handgun shooting. Fill the capsules with your chosen shot and snap the end cap in place. 12 shot. Otherwise it’s make 9mm all day all the time, baby. If you plan to use this sturdy round, Cheaper Than Dirt! Left uncleaned, that fouling can be difficult to remove, and it keeps .357 Mag. The first step in shotshell reloading is to inspect your hulls for flaws. The.38 Spl. Factory Ammo; Calculators & Guides . Shooting the .38/.357 loads through a Smith & Wesson Model 19 .357 Magnum with a 4-inch barrel resulted in 55 pellet holes in a pattern shot 12 feet from the muzzle. A 110- or 125-grain bullet at 1,100 fps sighted on the mark at 25 yards drops only 1.5 inches at 50 yards. With #9 shot, this load produces about 1058fps (Speer data). Shotshell reloading is a great way to fine-tune your shotgun loads and save money. Shot, out of a rifled barrel with the capsules or not, flies in a spiral creating big holes in the pattern. loads listed in the accompanying table, a bullet hit several inches low, ruining an otherwise tight group. SAF ‘Travel Advisory’ On California Erupts on Social Media, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA), Doctors for Responsible Gun Ownership (DRGO), International Association for the Protection of Civilian Arms Rights (IAPCAR), Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership. Gives lots of noise and smoke. as well. The effect is the same as loaded ammo. Of course, the larger the shot size the fewer number of pellets will fit in the shot capsule; for this reason, you may find shot sizes #6 to #9 your top choices, with #9 probably the better choice for rats or pigeons inside structures and #6 for vermin outdoors. Main issue is that the .44 spl. The proof pressure MAP specified by SAAMI is 29,500 psi for both rounds. In shotgunning, we choose shot appropriate to the intended game and the expected distance to the target. NRA Gun of the Week: American Tactical FXH-45 Moxie, Winchester USA Valor Ammunition to Aid Folds of Honor, © 2021 National Rifle Association of America. CCI’s .38/.357 load contains approximately 135 No. Use a piece of wire to poke the cut wads out of the case. I’m going to keep shooting .38s in the revolver because the cases are plentiful and inexpensive, but if you have a lot of .357 Mag. cases shot very well through the Model 686, and with 3.5 grains of Hodgdon Universal recoil was light. A handgunner using .38 Specials is set for targets, plinking and small game while .357 Mag. ammunition has improved a great deal since it was introduced in 1898. Seat shot capsules with finger pressure and finish up in the seating/crimping die. From buckshot to wadding, Midsouth has you covered for all of your shotshell reloading supply needs. should be loaded on the light side with accurate and inexpensive target bullets for practice loads. How to load 38 special shotshells with Speer Shotshell Capsules. Accurate rounds can be loaded whether you throw your powder charges with a rotary powder measure or scoop them with a dipper. Whether you’re new to handloading or the 38 Special is old hat to you, shotshell loading is a fun and educational pursuit. (See note on Powders below or read all about various Powders.) Handgun shotshells are candidates for entertainment and experiment, and those latter reasons sum up a major aspect of handloading. Plus they are hard to find. The first hurdle was finding shot. Lead bullets are great for such high-volume shooting. E-mail your comments/questions about this site to:[email protected] For questions/comments about American Rifleman magazine, please e-mail:[email protected] You can contact the NRA via phone at: NRA Member Programs1-800-672-3888, To advertise on American Rifleman, visit nramediakit.com for more information. I load propellant dispensed from a powder measure into 50 cases held in a tray. .38 Spl. is limited to either the various Charter Arms models, or as a training/target load in a .44 magnum size handguns. Loaded with 3.0 grains of Titegroup, a pound of the propellant loads 2,333 rounds. 14” includes loading data for only 110- and 125-grain jacketed bullets for standard-pressure .38 Spl. .358” Plated Hollowpoints from RMR, No 2 is going to get a substantial test in our .38 Special and light .357 Magnum loads. Reloading Costs Calculator; How I reload; Reloading Questions; About. To generalize, in handgun shotshells “long range” is maybe 15 feet; hit probability drops significantly much beyond that distance regardless of the number of pellets we launch due to the combination of short barrels and rifling that quickly throws shot patterns outward from center. A double-action revolver like this Smith & Wesson Model 13 can make for an excellent home- or self-defense handgun. When I really get going with my RCBS Piggyback 4 progressive press, I make sure the press handle is fully lowered to dispense propellant. Bullets cast by your own hand are even cheaper. lead bullet at … For testing the 38 Special shot shell, a 20-inch circle at 10 feet gives us more real-world information. Do note that plastic shot capsules aren’t durable enough for magazine loading in lever action rifles, nor are shot shells completely safe for guns with ported compensators. A too-tight roll crimp can crack or break the plastic capsules, so a taper crimp is preferable. CCI Shotshells. I ordered a set of Lee carbide reloading dies for the .38 S&W and found them to be quite similar to other dies I had, as the sizing die is marked “.38 Auto.” This older .38 S&W uses the same sizing die as the .38 Super! Though I haven’t yet sectioned a case to see for myself, I’ve read that many 38 Special cases loaded at the factory with full wadcutters have a sharper angle at the web—where the inside of the case tapers into the case head—than do cases not intended for these bullets. The .357 Mag. was originally loaded with blackpowder, and the case is much larger than necessary to hold today’s propellants. From this absolute .38 caliber minimum you can work up to max .38 SC loads, then to very light .38 Special loads, then to heavier loads. The capsules are designed to break on contact with the rifling. I ran a loaded cartridge to the top of the press stroke, removed the 9mm seating plug and screwed the die down until it touched the case mouth, then gave it a firm twist downward onto the case. All .38 Short Colt loads are very tame, but these are true "pop gun" loads; not much more than .22 LR. I load a very light .38spl load with a 124gr cast bullet for my sister who keeps a j-frame smith for home defense. So the final clue in why 38 Special is so hard to find is that: primer diversion. This load in a 4” barreled S&W M&P Model 10 revolver placed pellets in a fairly round 10” pattern. To start off I have no use for these as of now but thought they were cool, but not cool enough to pay 15 bucks for 10 of them at the store. Find Bulk 38 special ammunition fast and cheap with Americas best ammunition search engine. If you insist on loading shotshells for a rifled barrel, use the shot capsules and load for the weight you get. Trimming cases to 1.280 inches in length removes that thinning for a strong crimp of uniform depth on bullets. I like to squeeze real hard when pinching pennies. cases and they varied quite a bit in length. The two methods of building 38 Special shot shells is to either use a combination of wads, one between the powder and shot and the other on top of the shot to close the end of the cartridge case, or to utilize a closed hollow plastic capsule in place of a bullet to contain the shot. picks up the pace with heavier bullets at higher velocities. Only if you see more than one load, is it less than maximum. Speer makes the shot capsules, and there may be other manufacturers, as well. The capsules are designed to break on contact with the rifling. Loading Practice Rounds For The Classic .38 Special. The 38 S & W cases as well as 38 short and long Colt I use FFFFg filled to the top and crimp it. Unique But if you load 500 rounds, you save 250 grains of propellant. This lesser taper supposedly permits seating the shot capsule more easily than do 38 Special cases not intended for full wadcutters. The additional cost of jacketed bullets pays off with a flatter trajectory. If the plastic capsules break during final seating, double check that case mouth expansion is adequate. snub-nosed revolver offers, then you need to consider what to load it with. A glance at the chronograph display showed those bullets were up to 200 fps slower than others in the string. A steady aim at the top of a marmot’s head at 75 yards will roll the hay hog off its mound. Case trim length: 1.155” revolver, which can chamber .38 Spl. A .357 Mag. cases, they can be loaded with target and plinking loads that duplicate the .38 Spl. helps those bent pennies add up, because they cost about half as much as similar-weight jacketed bullets. The .357 Magnum’s purpose, though, is to shoot heavy bullets at high speeds. Velocity exceptions are the versions for semiautomatic pistols. Well, a big reason is the satisfaction of “rolling your own.” There is something special about breaking a clay bird or taking a grouse with a shotshell you built. 5-at-10: Top Tigers and a too-early guess at 2020 college football top 25 – This will be a special connection. IMR 700X The standard target for “patterning” shotguns is a piece of blank paper with a 40-inch circle; shoot at a mark in the center and then evaluate the number and distribution of pellets that struck inside the circle. 9 pellets, and the .44 Special/Magnum, 170 pellets. That adds resistance and prevents the case from sticking in the gun.