.38 loads

[Capt Lawson Smith]

I was just wondering if some of you more seasoned pards could give me some pet loads for the 38 in a 5 1/2 inch barreled Vaqero and a 20 inch barrelled Marlin 1894 cowboy rifle. all the guns have had action jobs so they feed slick. I have some Hogdon 38 around so I'd like to use that up but I don't really know what bullet weight to buy. Please Help

[FloraBama Kid]

I shoot the same guns but I load Titegroup and Unique. Check the Hogdson web site and look for Cowboy loads.

I use 158g bullet but I'm not really competing for speed. I like a heavy load to get that good solid "Bing"!! I shot .38s in my Marlin 94 and loaded with a long OAL for feeding. But has since gone totally to .357 to get a fully seated bullet and good feeding shell.

[Marauder]

For my pistols, I like 2.9 grains of Clays with 125 grain bullets. 
Since the Marlins like a little longer bullet, I used 3.2 grains of Clays with a 158 grain bullet.  I loaded them in 38 Special brass but crimped the bullet at the top of the lube groove.  That way the cartridge is almost as long as a 357 Mag case, but with the crimp at the top of the lube groove, the bullet cannot be pushed back in.  Worked very realiably in my Marlin.  Or you can just load with 357 Mag brass, but since 38's are so cheap and plentiful.

(Some Marlins will work great with the regular 38 Special length, but I just wanted to be sure of reliability so loaded longer.)

[Big Hext Finnigan]

Howdy,

My suggestion is to use the 158 grain RNFP (round nose flat point) bullets in all your loadings for now.

Adios,

[Jax Orebetter]

Howdy Pard!!!

Check out this page from Hodgdon.  It is load data for the .38 Spl.


http://www.hodgdon.com/data/cowboy/spc38spe.php

[L.G.]

  (Flame War Starter to Follow)  Who but a woman would shoot something so wimpy as anything less that .40 caliber or larger and anything less than full house loads?  Real men (read Warthogs) go for the buck and the roar and putting dents and holes in targets, not a little phhut and a quite ding.  (Good Starter, Yes).

[Trooper Steve]

 I use a 92 gr bounus bullet in the Blackhawks with 3.0 gr of Clays. Use the same bullet in my Marlin but it has been short stroked and set up to shoot short 38 by SPUR

[Big John Wyatt]

Can't speak for hp38 in .38 sp loads(only used it in .45lc), but I can tell you for both the rifle and pistol you mention go with 158rnfp bullets in each for now. I load 158 rnfp's with Clays(same powder weight measure for both)  for my wife in her Vaqueros and her Rossi. Keepin' it simple is good.

[Big Shooter Mike]

Howdy,

I got exactly the same setup as you.
I use 158gr RNFP with 3.6 gr of VV N320 and a crimp in both my RV and Marlin.
Works great. I used Titegroup and Clays but it doesn't meeter well in my Lee Turret.

[Klondike]

I use RV"s but they are 4 5/8" bbls. I used a Marlin a long time before switching to 73's. Now to your questions. I use Titegroup (have experimented with others) exclusively. For my pistols I load 3.0 grs Titegroup behind a 90 gr. bullet. For rifle and pistol I load 3.0 grs. of Titegroup behind a 130 gr. bullet (both are by Hampton Bullet Company).
When I was shooting the Marlin I used Hampton Bullet Company's 160 gr bullet to get the OAL that the Marlin liked with 3.4 grs of Titegroup. I loaded it at 1.51" OAL and never had a problem using .38 brass. I still have the 160's and keep some loaded for hard knockdowns.
Most Marlin shooters have found the Cowboy 357/38 to be sensitive to OAL when using .38 brass, that is why I gave you the OAL to play with. Good Luck and Good Shooting.

[Sergeant Smokepole]

158 or 173 grain bullet atop 22 grains of FFFg.

[Four-Eyed Buck]

Well, here's one right up your alley then. This is one that I use for the wife: 3.2g of HP-38 with a 158g RNFP and primer of choice( I use Federals). works well in hers and mine as well as the rifles. she's a little recoil sensitive and these suit her just fine. I also use VV N-320 at 3.3g with the rest of the components the same. This is a little cleaner burning than the HP.........Buck

[STONEY BURKE]

in my '51 conversions i shoot both 130gr .358 bullet with 3.9gr hp38, and 158 .358 bullet with 3.4gr hp38.  quarter sized groups at 15 yds.  nice and clean too.  i use hp38 in my '60 conversions too, shooting the .44 russian.  i think i tested, chrono'ed every powder made trying to finalize my loads.  i had seen enough to decide on hp38 in these two guns and red dot in my 45 colts.