New to reloading and the .38 Short Colt

[RM0]

I've been doing a lot of reading here for a while before joining, but had a few more specific questions I hadn't found answers to, yet.  My local club has a steel match coming up, which I have never shot.  There are no power factors required.  I bought a 627 a number of months back with the intention of participating in these quarterly matches; I expect to be the only revolver shooter present.  My concerns are that being new to reloading, and trying to sort through the masses of data for taking an old cartridge and blending it with modern reloading data, it seems often from 9mm data, I may take on some risk I'm not knowledgeable enough to mitigate. 

 

Last night I loaded up Starline .38 Short Colt brass with CCI small pistol primers, 125gr LCN .358" bullets, and Clays from 1.8gr to 2.9gr, and OALs ranging from 1.124-1.130 (I was learning how to set up my seater).  Were I to use 9mm data from Hodgdon, I would start at 2.9gr and work up to 3.3gr with an OAL of 1.125".  I read on here of folks using up to 4.2gr of Clays at 1.1", but don't think I need to push that hard. 

 

I'd like to go to the range as soon as possible and test these for pressure signs and chronograph them.  Should I take the variation in the OAL out and re-seat to a consistent 1.125" across the board?  What else should I be asking or doing?  Thanks.

 

I have Clays, Titegroup, and Unique, already.

[Para super]

I have shot a lot of steel matches using special cases.  I just started using short colt cases.  I like a little more power for the steel.

They used to have a minimum velocity for steel matches. 750 ft/second to reduce ricochets.  That was from

the steel target manufacturer.  Still a low end load especially for a 125 grain bullet.  I think you will like the short colt cases.

They need less powder than special cases and don't have the powder not filling the case problem.

Get enough revolver supply moon clips and you can shoot the whole match without loading clips at the range.

 

 

[jcc7x7]

38 short colt Starline Brass

160 gr Bayou RN .358 dia

Fed spp

2.8-3.0 grs of titgroup

col 1.150

Makes 128-130 PF depending on which gun I shoot it through

Great load for uspsa, icore or steel challenge, very soft shooting and accurate

[RM0]

I worked up to 3.0gr of Clays and settled on a COAL of 1.126.  It feels pretty good, shows no signs of pressure, and the 2.8-3.0gr test loads gave me a 2" or so group at 7 yards.  The biggest problem was a lot of failures to fire.  I think the headspace is excessive with the .38 Short Colt's rim since having the revolver cut for moon clips.  It fired a bit better using the moon clips, but I may need to swap in a longer firing pin.

 

My club's steel match is informal, so there are not power factor standards, yet.  I need to go zero the sights today.

[RM0]

I zeroed last night.  My primary, the 627, was still only igniting about 50% of the primers, so I put it away until I can put in an extended firing pin.  My backup, an old 686, fired 90% or better, but was giving me 2-2.5" groups at 15 yards in double action slow fire. 

[UFO]

4 hours ago, RM0 said:

I zeroed last night.  My primary, the 627, was still only igniting about 50% of the primers, so I put it away until I can put in an extended firing pin.  My backup, an old 686, fired 90% or better, but was giving me 2-2.5" groups at 15 yards in double action slow fire. 

Use Federal primers, if you have any trigger work done on that gun, it will not light off CCI's.

[RM0]

On 3/1/2018 at 7:59 PM, UFO said:

Use Federal primers, if you have any trigger work done on that gun, it will not light off CCI's.

 

I picked some up, reloaded the balance of my .38 SC cases, then my match was cancelled.  I'll get out and try out the new loads with the Federal primers soon.  Thanks!