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load for 38 Special

dchristian
I have been loading for my S&W Models 10 and 36 with Unique powder. The loading manuals seem to set a maximum of 43 gr. One older Speer manual set the maximum at 47 gr. At 47 gr. the guns shoot accurately; at 43 or 41 they shoot low. I am shooting 58 gr lead semiwadcutters. Will I hurt these guns by setting the loads at 47 grs? Any suggestions?
Thanks,
dchristian
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Comments

4 comments

Date Votes
  • CS8161
    43 grains??? or 4.3 grains?

    Chris8161
    Admit nothing, deny everything, demand proof!
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  • nmyers
    I hate to be critical, but...

    When you are reloading, you can't drop digits or decimal points; the outcome could be fatal.

    First, I hope that your semiwadcutters are 158 gr, not 58 gr.

    Second, you can safely work up to 4.7 gr of Unique behind 158 gr SWCs according to the old Lyman manual I use. I doubt that you could fit 47 gr in a .38 spec case, but, if you could, you would certainly destroy the gun (& kill yourself).

    PLEASE be careful.

    Neal
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  • Der Gebirgsjager
    Since you've already been adequately criticized for dropping the decimal in your load amounts, let me address the core of your question about shooting low. You will not get your revolvers to shoot higher by increasing the powder charge; they will actually shoot even lower. Why? Because the bullet will go down the barrel at a higher velocity and spend less time in the barrel than if it was traveling slower. This means that the gun will rise up in recoil a shorter distance before the bullet leaves the barrel. If you have someone aim one of your revolvers at a target while you are standing off to the side you will note that the barrel is not pointing horizontally, but is actually pointing down somewhat. This is because the factory has figured out how high the front sight has to be, and how high the revolver will rise in recoil when fired, so that when the bullet leaves the barrel the barrel will then, at that point in time, be pointed at the target. When the bullet leaves the barrel faster the barrel has not yet risen to that point of accuracy; no matter how high it may rise thereafter. Make sense? Think about it. So, this is why most revolvers intended for target use come with an adjustable rear sight, which allows you to compensate for different loads and their point of impact. Neither the Model 10 nor 36 have this feature. These revolvers are intended to be accurate with standard factory loads, and to be smooth on the draw with no rear sight to hang up on clothing. There is one other solution, which is to carefully, a little at a time, file you front sights down until you zero the revolver for your favorite load. The only problem with this approach is that it's difficult to replace removed metal if you want to shoot other loads, and in the case of the Mod. 36 there isn't much of a sight to start with. What you will have to do is to experiment with other powders and bullet weights until you hit upon the right combinations for your guns. By the way--that is probably a 158 gr. wadcutter, isn't it? [;)]
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  • warcrob
    I shoot 158 gr wadcutter on top of 3.5 grains of unique. this is a very accurate target load in both 4" and 6 1/2" revolvers.

    If you ain't got a sense of humor you got no business bein here!
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