2020 is hindsight, January Coffee thread.

[The Trinity Kid]

Afternoon all.

40 degrees, wind chill below freezing, light rain.

I think I bought the only 38/357 dies for sale in the entire state of Montana today. I paid $54 for a 3-die Hornady. Also snagged some 105gr Cast Kieth style bullets, 500 for $30. All I lack now is pistol powder. They had a pound of Tite-wad, which should be fine for a light 38spl load, but I wanted to do more research before spending money on it.

—TK

[Silver Creek Slim]

Afternoon all.

40 degrees, wind chill below freezing, light rain.

I think I bought the only 38/357 dies for sale in the entire state of Montana today. I paid $54 for a 3-die Hornady. Also snagged some 105gr Cast Kieth style bullets, 500 for $30. All I lack now is pistol powder. They had a pound of Tite-wad, which should be fine for a light 38spl load, but I wanted to do more research before spending money on it.

—TK

Titewad is not listed for 105 gr .38 Spl loads. Longshot is a better choice.
http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol

Slim

[Major E A Sterner]

I use Cleen Shot for my 105 Gr .38 loads, 3.6 Gr with Winchester or Federal small pistol primer
Data can be found here.
https://shootersworldpowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Shooters-world-reloading-manual-12-16-16.pdf

[Delmonico]

Old phart here, tried new stuff over the years, anymore H110 for magnum loads, Unique for everything else, filter some to the other side of the bench for 90% of my shotshell reloading.   

[Silver Creek Slim]

Morning y'all.
Coffee and tea are hot.

'Tis 16 and overcast. "Areas of dense morning fog. Cloudy skies with afternoon snow showers. High 32F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 40%."

Slim

[The Trinity Kid]

Morning all.

Chilly in Missoula, built above freezing. At least, it's 33.

Here's another reloading question. Is there any reason not to use an RCBS #3 shell holder (for 30-06 and other standard case heads) to reload 38 with? RCBS calls for a #6,  but the 38 centers in the #3 and is held about the same as a 280 case is. The only difference is that the primer pocket  is smaller than a rifle, and as such has a little bit of wiggle room on either side(it is centered, just smaller than a rifle primer).. But I prime/decap with a hand capper, so it seems like it should work.

—TK

[Major E A Sterner]

While the .38 case may fit, it isn't a tight enough fit for it to be solid enough if you have a case that sticks in the sizer/decapping die, it could easily pull off the rim damaging the case and making it very hard to remove it from the die. If you are loading on a single stage press I have a couple extra shell holders for .38/.357. Let me know and I'll mail one to you.

[litl rooster]

While the .38 case may fit, it isn't a tight enough fit for it to be solid enough if you have a case that sticks in the sizer/decapping die, it could easily pull off the rim damaging the case and making it very hard to remove it from the die. If you are loading on a single stage press I have a couple extra shell holders for .38/.357. Let me know and I'll mail one to you.

It might not happen today, but eventually it will.


Happy New Years. Hope all is well with everyone. See you in a month or so.

[Delmonico]

It might not happen today, but eventually it will.


Happy New Years. Hope all is well with everyone. See you in a month or so.

Good to see you.

Kid, they told you what I would have and I am sure I have an extra or 2 but no idea where that would be so Major S is a savior.

[pony express]

+4 on the shell holder, TK. It not only needs to push the case in, but needs to fit close enough to pull it back out. Also, if you're seating primers with the press, rim needs to fit or the case will push through the shellholder.

[Silver Creek Slim]

Morning y'all.
Coffee and tea are hot.

'Tis 24 and overcast. High of 32.

Slim

[The Trinity Kid]

Morning all.

36, WC 25 in Missoula. Windy days make my job harder.

Understood on the shell holder.  I tried to order one from Midway, but apparently "in stock" now means "back ordered, estimated ship in 6 weeks." So I cancelled that order.



—TK

[Major 2]

"in stock" now means "back ordered,

Pretty much !   and in some cases "Discontinued" !   

[The Trinity Kid]

"in stock" now means "back ordered,

Pretty much !   and in some cases "Discontinued" !   

Exactly. I have intel that a local place may have some Clays powder. I might pick some up, if for no other reason than to have it.

—TK

[Delmonico]

Should be date for the 38 and Clays, burn rate is about like Red Dot, faster than Bullseye and slower than Unique.
 

[pony express]

TK, did you check other brands of shell holders? Lee, RCBS, Lyman, Saeco, all will interchange. Also try Graf &sons, but their "flat rate" 9.95 shipping would be a lot for just a shell holder.

[Silver Creek Slim]

I use Clays for .38 Spl, .45 ACP, etc. It can also be used for shotgun. 

Slim

[Major 2]

TK, did you check other brands of shell holders? Lee, RCBS, Lyman, Saeco, all will interchange. Also try Graf &sons, but their "flat rate" 9.95 shipping would be a lot for just a shell holder.

Not to mention Graf's $40 minimum order 

Try Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Lee-Precision-R1-Shell-Holder/dp/B00144N8RS/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=lee+38%2F357+shell+holder&qid=1609894479&sr=8-1

[Delmonico]

I use Clays for .38 Spl, .45 ACP, etc. It can also be used for shotgun. 

Slim

Too fast burning for 28 ga.  Universal Clays is better for that, almost the same speed and Unique, the trio were supposed to Hodgeon's answer to Red dot, Green Dot and Unique when it came out, a cleaner burning version.  Problem was in the day it cost a bit more than them and trap and skeet shooters would rather save money since they clean their guns anyway.   14 oz for the price of 16 oz didn't appeal to people who shot as much as those guys.   I ain't been around it in a long time but I bet  Red Dot and 700X rules that world to this day despite making a bit of soot.

[Silver Creek Slim]

Morning y'all.
Coffee and tea are hot.

'Tis 17 and fog. High of 27.

Slim