Thread: 38 super major loads

want to shoot major with 38 super sti have adi ap 100 powder and 124 gn berrie projectiles can I do it or do I need to use something else

Piss it in.

Rusa 124gr FP
8.4gr ap100
AOL 1.240"
Cci small pistol primers

That load runs me around 163 power factor which is a little too close for comfort if its a cold day. In the heat of summer you should breeze through the chrono stage. Ymmv.

I have pushed it up to 9gr of that powder to see if i could get the comp really working and that got me somewhere around 175 PF but the gun got a little too jumpy.

3n38 loaded to the same PF as ap100 has a much nicer feel to it, might be because its a slower burn rate, but its hard to find and pricey. Would use 3n38 exclusively if i could get a reliable supply.

Forgot to add, my guns a standard trubor so think its a 5"? Barrel, no popple holes or barrel porting, if youve got popple holes then you will need more powder to achieve the same results.

sweet its got holes and porting so might start at 9gr and see what it cronos

Start at 8.5gr and load it to at least 1.240" in length, thats with a flat point copper metal plated 124gr from rusa reloading (frontier projectile?) You will be safe with that load. I have no idea what the projectile shape or length of one of them berrys bullets is so that could change the equation alot i would think. And your gun may have different quirks to mine in chamber dimensions blah blah.

I take no responsibility if you lose several layers of skin off your face and punch a new breathing hole in your cheek by following my load data

projectiles are round nose been using geco 124 gr full metal jacket and have enough cases to reload so will see how I go will start 8.5 how much does length affect it also crimping

I had quite drastic readings in velocity between length of rounds vs same weight of powder using the same projectile but cant seem to replicate it to the same extent again, but there is a difference.

Using round nose throws my data off due to seating depth in the case, so my suggestion is for you to load it as long as possible that also fits in and feeds from the magazine and start at 8 grains of powder.

You will know within 3 rounds over the chrony what you need to do next and im certain it will involve an increase in powder weight.

And as for crimping, well it depends if you flare the case mouth, i just resize and seat, no flare, no issues in 2 years so im happy with that.