Thomas,
Rem-Umc catalogs back then showed 960 f.p.s. A check of the original reprimed ammunition in my 6 1/2" Ruger turned up 967 f.p.s.. Interestingly, there was no loss of power in the past 100 years or so.
In the Marlin levergun, velocity was 1,218 f.p.s. average.
.38 b.p. bullets...
w30wcf
aka w44wcf
aka Jack Christian SASS 11993 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
aka John Kort
NRA Life Member
.22 W.C.F., .30 W.C.F., .44 W.C.F. Cartridge Historian
w30wcf, Thank you for that information. I find that to be very interesting. I'm afraid to hijack the thread here with a few more questions, so I hope folks forgive me.
Do standard factory loads meet this velocity? Why have +p and FBI loads? Why have ammo companies and reloading manuals downloaded the cartridge? Finally, while I have not shot BP in some time, I wonder if the recoil from BP loads of 21.5 grains of black powder is less sharp than say the +P loadings in smokeless cartridges? Can you comment on this?
Again, my apologies for the hijack.
T
Thomas,
The standard .38 Special 158 gr loading is cataloged at 755 f.p.s. The current +P 158 is 890 fps. Earlier +P loads were in the 900-over 1,000 f.p.s. range. The reason for downloading could possibly be because of a switch to faster burning powders.
Regarding the recoil between the +P and b.p. loadings I do not have any actual experience but based on the velocities I would think they should be pretty similar.
w30wcf
aka w44wcf
aka Jack Christian SASS 11993 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
aka John Kort
NRA Life Member
.22 W.C.F., .30 W.C.F., .44 W.C.F. Cartridge Historian
Swiss is the best, no doubt at all. I get 1102 fps from my Old Army with 41 gr of Swiss FFFG and it puts deer on the ground fast. I remove the cylinder to load with a tool I made that seats the same distance with the same compression.
Lanolin really helps a BP lube, seems to absorb moisture to keep fouling softer.
"Swiss is the best."
+1
Olde Enysford is right up there too.
w30wcf
aka w44wcf
aka Jack Christian SASS 11993 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
aka John Kort
NRA Life Member
.22 W.C.F., .30 W.C.F., .44 W.C.F. Cartridge Historian
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |