gunman42782

I know. If you want a .357 Mag load, use .357 Mag! I just want to know if anybody here has ever used W 296 powder for a .38 Special +P load, specifically for a 125 grain JHP. I have used 2400, and was not overly impressed with the results. These loads will be used only in .357 Mag guns, or my Service Six, which is a .38 Special, but should be able to take about any .38 load, as it is the same gun as the .357 Service Six.

sheepdog

...been since the late 70s since I loaded...and only used Unique and Bullseye...but I was thinkin' that maybe loading a .357 load into the shorter .38 hull might give you a sharp increase in pressure...the powder loads are matched to the area they have to expand in...so be careful...I'd load the .38 hulls with .38 loadings and stay off the .357 pages...till I had .357 hulls...

gunman42782

I am not wanting to load the .38 to .357 pressure. As the .38 is shorter, it is obvious you can't stuff as much powder into it. I just was curious if anybody has loaded them with W 296. (The reason being I have 5 pounds of the stuff!) I have found several loads for 2400, which is a slow burning powder, like W 296, but not quite as hot.

sheepdog

...so it's physically impossible to put too much powder of any brand into a .38 case??? I don't think so...I used to drop 3.5 Bullseye and had lots of room left over when I hunted snakes with my .38...I don't know anything about W296...but you know me...gotta say SOMETHING...

XLCH

I checked at Load Data, they have loads for 231 but not 296.

gunman42782

Didn't say it was impossible. Somehow, I don't think I am getting my point across that I don't want to blow myself up here, or make the .38 into a .357! I just want a safe +P load using W296!

sheepdog

http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?p=405947

http://smith-wessonforum.com/reloading/ ... elp-2.html

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/archive ... 34623.html

http://www.reloadammo.com/38loads.htm

http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/inde ... 58753.html

...last two say it's the same as H110... consensus below is NOT to use W296...
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=112459


...this one may be reliable...in a post on a forum...I did NOT take it from the Speer manual....
"Speer Reloading Manual Number Ten" 1979:

38 special
158 gr jacketed
+P
S&W model 52 w/ 6" barrel
magnum primer
H110 start load 9.8 gr 874 fps
H110 max load 10.8 gr 934 fps
W296 start load 9.8 gr 883 fps
W296 start load 10.8 gr 916 fps

The 38 special has a shorter OAL than 357 mag, but this change is offset by the shorter case web in the 38 special. This makes the same powder changes in the two cartridges get nearly the same pressure and velocity results.

gunman42782

Thanks for the info Dave. Guess I will have to use that W 296 up in my .357, .41, and .44 Mags.

b.roberts

I have actually thought about doing something similar with my sp101. My problem, hks speedloaders don't work very well with my gun and .357 mag cartridges. The loader binds slightly against the grip sometimes when trying to reload quickly. However, the speedloaders work great with .38sp cartridges. I decided against it.

Gunman, you could do it but the results won't be spectacular until you get past .38sp level pressures. H110/296 don't work well at lower pressures. You would need a chroneograph and you would essentially be loading .38sp cases to .357 mag pressures, which is dangerous(but many have done so and continue to do so.) You can't use .357 data because of the case length difference, but you could work up loads with your chronograph. Since you would be taking an educated guess as to pressures, I wouldn't try to work all the way up to .357 max velocity. My experience with H110 is that accuracy and consistant velocity with low deviation seem to come at max loads with the .45colt and .357 worked well from starting loads thu max. The main dangers is that one of those .38's accidently find their way into a revolver that can't handle .357 pressures and that you are experimenting without access to reliable pressure tested data. Most would say not to.

About the heavily loaded .38's finding their way into a non .357mag gun, that problem can be overcome. Some of us have .45 colt loads that would blow up some .45 chambered guns. I really don't see it as any different than that.

My guess is that your results will be even worse than when you tried 2400, while staying at .38sp pressures.

As an aside, completely unrelated experience, the scariest shot I have ever taken was the hangfire I got with a starting load of h110 in my .45colt. Pulled trigger, actually heard the hammer fall, then maybe a 1/4 of a second later bang. Felt like much, much longer than 1/4 of a second.

rman43

W296 is pretty slow burning for the .38 Special. Winchester recommends that you don't use lighter than recommended loads in high pressure calibers like .357, 41 and 44 Mags. Their recommended loads are pretty hot.

Machinist

I think you are not finding data because Winchester used to be real strident about not downloading with 296. They used to stress in their load data that it was only for high pressure loads with magnum primers and high bullet pull.

tx gun runner

296/110 is not a good powder to play without loading spec's . It not like Unique you can load low or high pressures safely . You can spike psi to unsafe level easy ...

http://forums.gunboards.com/showthre...eccomendations

Machinist

Thanks Gunrunner, good link. Good advice from people who have worked with it.