Todd B. Posted July 9, 2012 Share Posted July 9, 2012 Hi Everybody, I'm working on a .38 Super major load and I'm wondering about my chrono results. Chrono is a CED M2 and seems to be working OK. My other loads in other calibers seem to read normally. Barrel is a Clark .38 Super 4.5" with an EGW cone comp. It's an old barrel but with a low round count. I'm rehabing an old safe queen. After researching loads around here, I was expecting to be between 7.8 and 8.2 to make major comfortably with some room to spare. Load is 8.3 gr Viht 3N37 with a 125 Zero JHP loaded to 1.25" with CCI SPP and mixed brass (Federal, Win and Starline) Today I chrono'ed 8.3 of 3N37 (working my up) and it was only averaging 1325 FPS which is lower than I expected. SD was 8.0 Cases look good after firing with no apparent pressure signs. I guess I'll try 8.4 and see what happens. Do I just have a slow barrel? thanks, -todd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ofishl1 Posted July 9, 2012 Share Posted July 9, 2012 (edited) Hi Everybody, I'm working on a .38 Super major load and I'm wondering about my chrono results. Chrono is a CED M2 and seems to be working OK. My other loads in other calibers seem to read normally. Barrel is a Clark .38 Super 4.5" with an EGW cone comp. It's an old barrel but with a low round count. I'm rehabing an old safe queen. After researching loads around here, I was expecting to be between 7.8 and 8.2 to make major comfortably with some room to spare. Load is 8.3 gr Viht 3N37 with a 125 Zero JHP loaded to 1.25" with CCI SPP and mixed brass (Federal, Win and Starline) Today I chrono'ed 8.3 of 3N37 (working my up) and it was only averaging 1325 FPS which is lower than I expected. SD was 8.0 Cases look good after firing with no apparent pressure signs. I guess I'll try 8.4 and see what happens. Do I just have a slow barrel? thanks, -todd I dont know if that is necessarily slow, I have Bedell Shorty with a AET Ultimatch barrel, when I ran 3N37 I would get 167.4 -168 PF at 8.4 stuffed in a Supercomp case under a MG 124 JHP with a WIN SR primer....(the Small Rifle primer may be giving me a complete burn over your SPP) So if thats slow, I guess we both are, but i dont think so, the longer barrels would have more time to burn-create gas, I have a Caspian .38 Super Open gun in 5", and it will make PF with less, same barrel by the way........also I got too much muzzle flash w/ 3N37, so I switched to N105 at 9.8- 9.9 and it works great, dot is up and down, ....with the 3N37 it was squirrelly....but YMMV....FYI.... O1 Edited July 9, 2012 by Ofishl1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd B. Posted July 9, 2012 Author Share Posted July 9, 2012 Thanks for the quick reply O1. It sounds like maybe I need to try some N105. I've got a 4lb jug of 3N37 that I got from a friend so I was hoping I could make that work. I have some Win SRP so I can give those primers a try also and keep working my up carefully. Thanks for the input. -todd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desmo412 Posted July 9, 2012 Share Posted July 9, 2012 I just ran some 9-major rounds with 3N37 over the chrono last week. 8.5gr with MG 115 JHP and Fed Small Rifle Primer at 1.165" gave me a 171PF in a 5.4" Schuemann Ultimatch with Thundercomp II and no holes. It feels very similar to my usual load with 9.0gr of HS6 out of my gun, except 3N37 takes up a lot of room in the case. I will definitely be loading up a few hundred rounds with 3N37, since it is MUCH cleaner than HS6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray_Z Posted July 9, 2012 Share Posted July 9, 2012 I've been using 3n37 for a long time. I love the stuff. My race gun has a Schumann ported barrel with a 5 port comp. I use MG 115hp's with 9.0gr of 3n37. Extreme deviation is 15 with mixed brass. Right now 3n38 is the fad. It takes a little more to get the same velocity and lord! will you get a muzzle flash in the cold months with that stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ofishl1 Posted July 9, 2012 Share Posted July 9, 2012 I've been using 3n37 for a long time. I love the stuff. My race gun has a Schumann ported barrel with a 5 port comp. I use MG 115hp's with 9.0gr of 3n37. Extreme deviation is 15 with mixed brass. Right now 3n38 is the fad. It takes a little more to get the same velocity and lord! will you get a muzzle flash in the cold months with that stuff. Yea, no doubt on the flash, sold off my 3 lbs to a Buddy Open shooter who runs a full size SV Infifnity, they told him to run "exclusively" 3N38, so he is hooked on it....3N37 is ok in my full size Open Gun....but I found N105 (9.8g) to be LESS harsh for my Bedell Open shorty which I run every week, C-More stays pretty clean too...(sidemount) I have run SR4756 which is harsh, but the dot goes straight up...and straight down....I like it in my full size Caspian .38 SC, the other big fad around here is Long Shot,...(or...LOUD SHOT)....some of the Super Sqaud in our club rant and rave about it and claim little Dot movement...I didnt like it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BSeevers Posted July 10, 2012 Share Posted July 10, 2012 I think I load like 9.2 on a 115 gr MG bullet. Don't use the scale cause I don't touch the powder measure but use the chrono to verify loads 3n37 is plenty safe I used to load like 9.7 in the old Real Power Factor days for 1550+. That puts the V in DVC and never understood why it was lowered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd B. Posted July 10, 2012 Author Share Posted July 10, 2012 Thanks guys. I loaded up some at 8.4 gr and 8.5 gr with a CCI SPP to try next time out. I'd also like to try some with SRP. How far should I back the load off to switch to a SRP. My last tested load was 8.3 gr with a SPP which chrono'ed at 1325 avg. thanks, -todd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ofishl1 Posted July 12, 2012 Share Posted July 12, 2012 Thanks guys. I loaded up some at 8.4 gr and 8.5 gr with a CCI SPP to try next time out. I'd also like to try some with SRP. How far should I back the load off to switch to a SRP. My last tested load was 8.3 gr with a SPP which chrono'ed at 1325 avg. thanks, -todd Well, I guess it depends on what you are trying to do,..make chrono, or settle the dot,...I mean you are already at 165pf, so 1375fps will put you at the comfort zone for a match chrono. You may make it with SPP, but I would try the same load with both primers and see where you chrono..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mturnbull333 Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 I use 3n37 at 7.8 gr and I am at 166 PF, I just load shorter oal at 1.20 to get a little more pressure, love that load it runs great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike3232 Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 I am also running a shorty gun and found that N105 makes power easily and runs pretty flat. I'm running 10.4 N105 124 gr MG CCI small rifle primers and an OAL of 1.225. My last Chrono was 1390 which is 172 PF. Plenty of wiggle room and runs the comp much better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antti Posted March 6, 2013 Share Posted March 6, 2013 8,6gr 3n37 with 125gr bullet 1320 fps from v12 gold custom. Seems like it takes 10gr 3n38 to major... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Todd B. Posted May 1, 2013 Author Share Posted May 1, 2013 Hi everybody, It's been awhile since I updated my results here. I've continued to test and I think I've settled in on the following load: 8.6 grains of Viht. 3N37 is averaging about 1380 FPS with a 125 Zero JHP loaded to 1.23" oal. I'm using CCI Small Pistol primers with no pressure signs. This load is very accurate in my pistol and the dot movement seems pretty good. thanks, -todd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traveler1 Posted January 6, 2015 Share Posted January 6, 2015 i used to use imr 7625 for reloading 38 super in a race gun. Cant find it anymore, so if anyone knows a powder, and where its available in 8lb id be happy to change. Cant seem to find powder here in Arizona for sale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdinga Posted January 7, 2015 Share Posted January 7, 2015 Curious were you using the .355 bullet or the .356 bullet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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