Home Forums Reloading Handgun Reloading 200 grains in 38sp

Not the commonly done thing going this heavy, but hoping to hear any experiences of this bullet weight or similar. This is just for kicks, not trying to make a 38special into a 44 magnum game getter.

I have some 358430's that weigh 195grs, just haven't tried them yet.


https://loaddata.com/articles/PDF/LD-41%20Campbell.pdf

The old 38 S&W load developed in the 1920's used a 195-200gr bullet at 625-650 fps. I've not sought to duplicate it in 38 Special, but I do load bullets 200 grains and up in 357 brass, with 235 grains being the heaviest I have used. The 200's do some impressive speeds using the Lil Gun out of a carbine or rifle. Using the 235 at just under 1100 out of a 357 revolver, I shot through a very large moose broadside.

Good article. Thanks. I have a 3" Model 64 and some Missouri Bullet 180 Gr WFN. I will try the Unique load.....shooting for about 700-750 fps.

Here is Lyman 44, page 120 has 195gr data too

http://www.nzha.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Lyman44.pdf

Unless the accuracy is incredible, 200 grains is too much bullet weight for the .38 Special. It's doubtful such weight would do anything better than a 160 grain bullet at a considerably higher velocity.

great article, just what I was after

Thanks!

I was looking to test them up to the old '38-44' power as well in 357 chambers. Great hunting story, how long did it take the moose to go down? What mold and hardness did you use?

I put the proviso that its just for kicks. One of you 'no need for it it' guys always slips through the darn firewall

The 200 grain bullet in the .38 Special used to be a "thing", back in the the Olden Days. It was introduced about 1933 and discontinued in 1985. It was called the .38 Super Police load. Muzzle velocity was listed as 745 fps, although the bullet probably did not break 700 from a 4-inch barrel.. I wish I could run across a case of the stuff, just for giggles and grins.

Like the Brits did with the 38/200, Winchester was trying to make the bullet tumble when it hit, so it could provide more "stopping power". From what I can gather, it worked "okay" in the .38 S&W, but I don't know if enough folks ever tried it in .38 Special to make any pronouncements one way or another. The 200 gr. bullet was supposed to tumble and wreak more death and destruction, to make it 'as good as the .455'.

It didn't have a sterling reputation in the Brit's hands, though.

I remember close to 60 years ago as a kid my older sister’s husband had bought her a S&W “Snubnose” .38 . The adults had gone about blasting at various objects in our country back yard till tiring of missing. I got permission to take it outback myself to run a cylinder of 200 gr slightly hollow based rounds thru it. First target I picked was your basic old fence post. Maybe 4” across but solid and hard. I got up close and prepared to blast a hole thru the top but was a bit surprised. Let one rip then walked up to the post and there was the bullet base sticking out. That’s how I know it was hollow based.

I knew a guy from Idaho who said back in the 60’s he’d order 200gr swaged bullets from Herters and put them on top of way too much of some kind of powder that’s since discontinued. It may have been SR4756? Or maybe an Alcan shotgun powder I don’t recall but do remember that he lamented it’s discontinuance.

Anyway, his revolver was a late 40’s or early 50’s K38 6”er. He claimed he killed two cow elk and a giant black bear with this load. His method was to get into bow range, 20 yards or less, and put the first round in tight behind the shoulder. Then as everything got western he’d try his best to empty the other 5 into the critter somewhere. Less than ideal but he made it work.

She ran about 40 yards and died there. I couldn't tell you the time it all took. I was seriously adrenalized. I used an NOE mould, what they call SC360-232-RF-U5. They were cast about Brinell 11-12. The exit was not much different from the entrance. I love that bullet, but they don't cycle in my bolt actions very well, due to the large flat nose. Works great in the revolver and in single-shots.