964

My new to me .38 Super with SC brass

Larry and Bart, I know I need to chrono the loads working my way up. I had one, loaned it out a few years back and forgot who the heck has it. I have another one ordered. I searched and found a range here on the forum of 7.0 to 7.8 with velocities running 1324 to 1405 and PFs running 165.6 to 175.7 I am also acutely aware of the lot variations in powders. I understand the risk of using someone elses data and accept that risk as this isn't my first rodeo. I worked up to those points and concluded after numerous searches that the likely contributor was a standard length firing pin. The SR 7625 loads were the first ones up in the loading block. I recognized it probably wasn't a firing pin so much when the other powders I was trying, N350 and SR 4756 showed no signs of pressure or shearing. Thats when the flag went up the pole. Sure, a chrono would have caught the excess velocity. Shame on me for not waiting on it.

My RCBS information shows a #39. Thats what I use on my 4X4 Ammomaster progressive. Works perfect on Super and Super Comp.

COCBolo: Wow are you trying to blow youself up? Well, no, I'm not bent on self destruction. I am returning from about a 15 year layoff and the PF was 170 back then. I keep trying to load to that end and a little cushion. I'll pull the throttle back a little to a buck sixty five and change. Thats gonna be sweet!

I am using small rifle primers, Remington BR, as I had a couple thousand of them. I do not have a chrono. I usually rented one at the indoor range but was out at my place this afternoon. I see the need now to go ahead and get my own chrono now. I was working up from a low powder charge, figuratively speaking, based on comments from here on the board. I was very surprised to see the shearing at 7.4 and 7.6. Since I did not see any other signs of pressure, I had a hunch that it was a firing pin issue associated with the major .38 Super pressures. Thus I decided to try a round at 7.8. When that round showed no pressure sign, I fired the remainig 4 rounds of which only one even hinted at a little primer cratering. I'm pretty conservative, and have been loading .40 / .45 for IPSC, benchrest (.22 PPC / 6mm PPC / .30 HBR / and Skeet for 30 plus years. I was especially cautious with my lack of experience with the .38 Super, but I never felt I was at any safety limit. It seems like it was a reduced charge issue at 7.4 and 7.6 as it improved at 7.8 Gun is a Caspian frame and slide with a EGW 9 port , 6 chamber comp with one popple and a standard lenght firing pin. Pistol functioned perfectly.

Hi, I'm new to loading for .38 Super (Styarline SC brass) and I was testing loads this afternoon and had an unusal occurrence. I was testing VV N350, SR 7625 and SR 4756, all with MG 124 JHPs. The N350 loads all looked fine, up to 8.0 grs (yes I am being cautious as I have never loaded .38 Super before) with no excessive pressure. The Sr 4756 also looked good up to 8.4 grs. What was strange was the SR 7625, which was flowing primers and shearing the flow off at 7.4 grs, 7.6 grs, but not at 7.8 grs. The 7.8 gr load showed a little primer cratering (very little, but it was there). At first I thought I just needed an extended firing pin, but then I had no primer problems with any of the other powders or loads. The decrease in primer deformation as the powder harge was increased is what threw me. I was under the impression that 7.4 to 7.8 of SR 7625 wasn't all that hot. Is 7.4 a 'reduced load'? I sure didn't think it was. Any thoughts??? Thanks, Lynn

Just a heads up for those in the minority like me using an RBS 4X4 Ammomaster Progressive loader. Being a new .38 Super/SC shooter, I read many posts regarding the use of .223 shell plates for Super Comp brass in Dillon presses, and incorrectly assumed (should have asked here first, I guess) that I would need the same in my RCBS. That was not the case. The SC brass would not even go into the .223 (#10) plate. I reordered the standard .38 Super plate (#39) and the plate works just fine. Lynn

Just a heads up for those in the minority like me using an RBS 4X4 Ammomaster Progressive loader. Being a new '39 Super shooter, I read many posts regarding the use of .223 shell plates for Super Comp brass in Dillon presses, and incorrectly assumed (should have asked here first, I guess) that I would need the same in my RCBS. That was not the case. The SC brass would not even go into the .223 (#10) plate. I reordered the standard .38 Super plate (#39) and the plate works just fine.

Thanks guys for all the powder and load advice, it is greatly appreciated. Lynn

I had these primers and I figured I might as well use em up. Sounds like I need to load a few and see if I get leakage or erratic strikes. I'll let you know my experience. Thanks all.

Hi Guys, I appreciate bwit's concern. Yes, I have checked the zero on the beam scale and do so as he correctly suggested any time it is moved, disturbed etc and I keep it dust free. Like XRe said, I did not have experience with .38 Super at IPSC PF and I was not sure about the compressed charge, so I asked, before pulling a trigger. Everything is in order and the test loads are ready to go. I appreciate all the responses to my questions and to XRe for the time he sent on the phone discussing .38 Super loading. I look forward to getting a load worked up, spending some time on the range with the new blaster and then coming to a match and meeting you guys. lg

WOW! a 914-6GT, now theres a cool race car.

Another Pcar pilot! Yep, the new one's are really nice (read expensive). But, I like the earlier body styles and the 964 was the last of the old 911s but the first with all the hi tech AWD, torque biasing and ABS. It was years ahead of the competition. It is a driving experience. Its an Open gun on wheels! Thanks for all the welcomes. Makes you want to get out there and blast! lg

I have had many replies both here and in other forums here onsite, where folks stepped out for quite a while and got back in within the last year. It must have something to do with the smell of napalm, ummm, nitrocellulose in the morning. I'll be giving the N350 a go as well. I thought I'd play with those three powders first as they seemed to have a consistent following. For me, anyway, half the fun is getting the load and the gun working together. I am sure I have a steep curve ahead of me in loading for and shooting an open gun, but I do look forward to having a lot of fun along the way. Thanks for everyone's help and advice. lg

I had to put the project on hold today for a 2nd Thanksgiving. So, if the OU/OS game is boring, I'll get back on the seating/sizing mystery. Thanks for all the advice, guys. lg