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38/44 load
mond
Member Posts: 6,458
38 Spl Highway Patrol ammo , can you recommend a load ?? best mond [;)]
Comments
If you are asking about the older loads developed for Highway Patrol use, most of these were either full metal jacket or metal capped with 158 grain bullets. The bullet form was usually conical and was intended to penetrate automobile bodies. If you are able to find the bullets, the loads would be near or at maximum. Among these would be :
12.1 grains of WW-296; 7.2 grains of HS-6 and 7.1 grains of N350.
I like 158 hard cast, but 148 grain hollow base wad cutters seated backwards for close in defensive work. Bullseye or W231 work fine in my 2".
There is a 38-44 Target round, the main feature of which is that the bullet sits flush/below the case mouth.
The following numbers are from my single sample of the same.
Headstamp: W.R.A.Co 38-44
Bullet diameter 0.437 0.347 (best I can measure)
Case Length 1.466
OAL 1.466
Mouth diameter 0.381
357 Mag brass is a little short at 1.28, but it could be made to work
If I could post a picture, I have a loading table from an old Handloader magazine.
You can always do a Google search for .38-44 load data.
http://www.hornady.com/assets/files/reloading-manual-data/357-44 Bain & Davis.pdf
If not, sorry, that is all I can come up with.
Do a search on the auction side for Smith & Wesson 38-44 Outdoorsman, there are at the most a dozen revolvers listed, it will give you an idea of what we're talking about.
As Karl and others have said, the 38-44 pre-dates the 357 magnum, they are simply a 38 special revolver built on a larger 44 frame. The ammunition was specifically marked 38-44, for use in these guns only. The basically same loading was used when the 357 was introduced with a case about a 1/10th" longer, so it wouldn't fit in standard 38 special revolvers. Can you imagine some fool putting a 38-44 round in an old I or J frame Smith, or an old top break like Karl was talking about?
I have a 1955 vintage 38-44 Outdoorsman, 6 1/2" barrel, adjustable sights, target hammer and trigger, with the hi-gloss blue finish. In 1957 this became the S&W model 23. The non-adjustable sight variation, the 38-44 Heavy Duty became the model 22.
I load 9.2 grains of Blue Dot behind a 160 grain cast SWC bullet with a gas check, using standard small pistol primers. This is a 357 magnum load, in a 38 special case. I mark the rim of these loads with a red marker, so I know not to use them in any other 38 special revolver.
W.D.
Mond,
Do a search on the auction side for Smith & Wesson 38-44 Outdoorsman, there are at the most a dozen revolvers listed, it will give you an idea of what we're talking about.
As Karl and others have said, the 38-44 pre-dates the 357 magnum, they are simply a 38 special revolver built on a larger 44 frame. The ammunition was specifically marked 38-44, for use in these guns only. The basically same loading was used when the 357 was introduced with a case about a 1/10th" longer, so it wouldn't fit in standard 38 special revolvers. Can you imagine some fool putting a 38-44 round in an old I or J frame Smith, or an old top break like Karl was talking about?
I have a 1955 vintage 38-44 Outdoorsman, 6 1/2" barrel, adjustable sights, target hammer and trigger, with the hi-gloss blue finish. In 1957 this became the S&W model 23. The non-adjustable sight variation, the 38-44 Heavy Duty became the model 22.
I load 9.2 grains of Blue Dot behind a 160 grain cast SWC bullet with a gas check, using standard small pistol primers. This is a 357 magnum load, in a 38 special case. I mark the rim of these loads with a red marker, so I know not to use them in any other 38 special revolver.
W.D.
A great read, Thanks CapnMidnight , I shall. cheers Mond[:)]