Reloading die shortcut for .38 Smith & Wesson

[gmerkt]

I test fired my Smith & Wesson Model 33 lately to the tune of ten shots. The revolver came with four boxes of 50 rounds each of ammo. Two of the boxes were handloads into old primed Winchester brass. I took one of the handloads apart, it was a cast bullet and what seemed like a reasonable (if unknown) load of powder for the round. So I did what we're never supposed to do, I fired somebody else's reloads. I did know who made them. It was Jim Skochenko, he sold reloads at the WAC gun shows in Puyallup for years. I never heard of any blow-ups from his stuff. He was semi-professional whether or not he had a license.

Anyway, so I fired off these ten rounds, all went well, the gun did well. Of course now I had ten empties. I'd thought about getting a set of .38 S&W (not Special) dies to reload for this gun. But I was thinking back to when I concocted some rimmed 9mm Luger cartridges for 9mm revolvers (copying the 9mm Federal). Then I snooped around on the internet a bit. And here is what I came up with. I don't need .38 S&W dies. I used a .38 Super sizing die, then a 9mm Luger flaring die, then a .38 Super bullet seating die. Which only works if you already have .38 Super and 9mm Luger die sets. I already had some Matt's Bullets .359 bullets from another project, so I used those. Which was very close to what Skochenko used in the handloads, those were around .3595. Which worked well and didn't leave any lead in the bore. No, I haven't slugged the bore and if Matt's Bullets work out okay, I won't need to. Actually, Matt's Bullets will size them whatever you specify.

The older (estimated 1960's) Winchester primed (and sealed) .38 S&W brass was interesting. Pink color, higher copper content than "normal" golden cartridge brass we are used to seeing. No head stamp, completely blank, including as to caliber. I suspect they were foreign made even back then. Winchester doesn't necessarily make all their own brass. Or even all their ammo. I saw some Win. brand white box 7.62x25 ammo not too many years ago, it said "Made in Czech Republic."

Read More

 

[eb in oregon]

So I did what we're never supposed to do, I fired somebody else's reloads.

Even if buying commercial re-loads aren't you firing someone else's re-loads? I've been reloading for over 40 years, have given away many hundreds of re-loaded cartridges to others, they all seemed satisfied and had zero problems. I look at who made them before rejecting them.

I just bought a set of Lee .38 S&W dies so I wouldn't have to screw around with multiple die sets. It was worth the money.

 

[gmerkt]

Even if buying commercial re-loads aren't you firing someone else's re-loads?

Yes. this is true. Including "remanufactured" ammo sold in stores and at gun shows. I don't stick unyieldingly to the rule about no shooting "somebody else's reloads." I agree, if known, consider the source. And in this case, I did. I'm more discerning when it comes to centerfire rifle ammo.

In the same bunch of stuff, there were quantities of .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum "factory" reloads that had cast bullets, no gas checks. I broke all those down. I'm not shooting unknown cast bullets at magnum velocities. The .357's I reloaded in .38 Specials powered by Bullseye. The .44's, they are in a bag waiting for me to decide whom to give them to. I won't shoot them in my Ruger 77/44. There is a Charter Arms .44 Special revolver in Dave's stuff that's in storage, I'll never shoot that.

I just bought a set of Lee .38 S&W dies so I wouldn't have to screw around with multiple die sets. It was worth the money.

I was considering that. I had a set of Lee dies in .38 S&W some time ago when I had a Smith & Wesson .38/200. Thought I wouldn't need them again when I downsized and that revolver went away. You can never tell what's coming down the road at you, though. It would be safe to never sell a set of dies, like never selling a scope, just in case. I don't mind fooling around with multiple die sets. I'm not going to be back to shooting .38 S&W for some time. I've got lots of other stuff to do.

 

[eb in oregon]

In the same bunch of stuff, there were quantities of .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum "factory" reloads that had cast bullets, no gas checks. I broke all those down.

Actually the first .357 and .44 Magnum loads didn't have gas checks. Those came later. I don't think Elmer Keith used them at first.

And the .38 S&W has a slightly bigger base, so .38 Special and .357 dies are not optimum. Tried that, not satisfied.

 

[gmerkt]

Actually the first .357 and .44 Magnum loads didn't have gas checks. Those came later. I don't think Elmer Keith used them at first.

Yes, but I won't fire any more bare based lead bullets in magnums. Particularly since I'm no longer casting my own. Nor will I fire any more plain lead bullets in 9mm. But.32's and .38's, yes to both.

 

[eb in oregon]

Yes, but I won't fire any more bare based lead bullets in magnums. Particularly since I'm no longer casting my own. Nor will I fire any more plain lead bullets in 9mm. But.32's and .38's, yes to both.

Your choice. I shoot mostly plain based bullets of all pistol calibers from .25 to .45 (which includes .357 and 44 mag) and have never had an issue. The only gas checked bullets I've used were given to me. But then I usually stay below 1200 fps.