Question. Where canI find reload infro

[Booker.mttaoh]

 In almost all my reloading manuals, they state the barrel length that was used for the testing of their reloads . I'm looking for infro on 38spl with 2 inch barrel. There has to be a difference in ballistics  from 5.5''/6'' and 2'' I would really like to know just what I'm shooting.

[MikeBjerum]

You can do some web searches for specialty info.  But industry manuals use standard barrel lengths to match with SAMI (I think that is the one).

Serious reloaders, and it is easily possible to get addicted to that level, will work off the recommended loads, get a chrono, and find the combo of powder, bullet and grains that work best in their gun.

Hint:  With a two inch barrel I bet it is also a light weight gun.  For that reason I suggest the fastest burning powder you can find.  Fast burning will both deliver max power in that short barrel and give less felt recoil.  Here is just one link with burn rates that is helpful, but there are many out there with the only difference being how they are arranged and how many powders they include (more is always more complete) http://www.reloadbench.com/burn.html

Have fun, and stop over to http://www.downrange.tv/forum/index.php?topic=19.1480 and introduce yourself.  We'd love to get to know you and look forward to your path down the trail of addiction.

[Badgersmilk]

I've got a Chrony if you've got the time (and live close by )!

http://gunsandammomag.com/cs/Satellite/IMO_GA/Chart_C/AMMUNITION+BALLISTICS+FOR+.38+Special

Covers a few rounds in your 5.5", and 6", dont see anything in 2".

People to afraid of hitting their chronographs with the 2"?  

[Overload]

Isn't there a rule of thumb that you gain/lose 100fps for each inch of barrel?

[1911 Junkie]

Isn't there a rule of thumb that you gain/lose 100fps for each inch of barrel?

I don't know. It would also depend on the burn rate of the powder.

Try to find some older manuals. They won't have all the latest calibers but they have better load data. The new manuals don't come close to max loads due to liability reasons.

[Sponsor]

[Booker.mttaoh]

Thanks all of you for infor. I checked through a new manual and found burning rates.I was on the right track. I also had some old  load manuals and it has some loading infro not in the newer. I always look at the pressure (c.u.p.) thinking of recoil. A chrony would be the way to really tell the true fps and I hope I could do the math from there.

[m25operator]

Handloader magazine has done articles on short barrel pistols and revolvers a few times, I think if you join them online, you can look through the archives.

[Badgersmilk]

Why strain the brain doing the math?  "Rob's Reloading Orginizer", "Chrono Cap PC", the stuff that's available goes on, and on, and on. 

[Dharmaeye]

Think fast burning powder (ie Bullseye) and a light bullet.

[alfsauve]

Sorry it took me a while.  I knew had a seen some data somewhere.

So you'll find loading data for 2" .38spl in the Speer #8 reloading manual, last printed 1970.   If you don't have that one, then they might have repeated it in #9, or #10......It's not in #11.   

So there you have it.....



What?   You don't have #8 on the shelf?   The local library says, "Que"?
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Ah, well at risk of life and limb.  I've scanned for you the entire 2" loading section.....all one page of it!   NOW UNDERSTAND.  This is 40 year old stuff.  There may have been "corrections" in later manuals that I don't have.  USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.