.38 S&W 200 gr. bulleted loads...

I don't know what it is about the fall, but I always feel invigorated about handloading and shooting this time of year. Maybe somebody remembers that several months ago I got the urge for and then acquired a Webley MK IV .380/200 chambered revolver. I did some work to it, returned it to original configuration and then loaded some 200 gr. MK II bullets from MattsBullets.com. Those worked very well. Over 2.0 gr. of Bullseye they shot to point of aim at 50 yards and were reasonably accurate. I still like the idea of the 200 gr. bullet in this cartridge, rather than a .38 Special wannabe, but the MK II bullet profile just didn't suit. I say that because there is no rational explanation, it is pretty, but I just thought that the older "MK I" or "Super Police" nose form would be "better". Again, logic and reason wasn't employed, just years of emotional prejudice and some slight amount of experience. So, I bought 500 of Matt's 200 gr. "MK I" bullets for this cartridge and 500 pieces of Starline brass and now, finally, am starting to process the brass for loading.

I did catch JT's recently published article on the .38 S&W but he leaned towards the U.S. standard bullet. I have a mold for that one, but it just doesn't (at least right now) float my boat.

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Sincerely,

Hobie

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Me too on the fall thing. I've put my Enfield Mk 6 on hold waiting for a while. My home made brass is not working out for some reason. Bullets keep creeping forward making the velocity spread a large amount. I even had a bullet completely pull out of the case. I need to buy a 45 ACP seat die with roll crimp and grind it down so I can roll crimp the 455 cases into the bullet groove or over the ogive. I don't want to bugger up my normal 45 ACP die. I did buy a 455 taper crimp die from T.O.W and when it arrived it was a standard 45 ACP taper crimp die. I might just grind it down.

I like the 38 S&W or 200 for some reason. My first revolver was an Enfield Mk II 38-200 back in the 70s, but alas I read so much of Elmer and Skeeter and being young had to have a magnum LOL. But then again I've always been attracted to the obscure. I am currently messing with the 7.62 Tokarev at the present.

Bob

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i.e. Contender. However, I don't want to try $400 worth! Dang but those barrels have gotten expensive.

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Sincerely,

Hobie

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Theres a local guy who does some interesting custom barrels for Savages. I bought my .300 blk drop in barrel
From him. He's done some playing with the Tokarev in bolt action rifles. Heavy bullets and small amounts of faster powders. Basically a smaller version of the .300 BLK for suppressed use. He says they are fun, and more economical than the BLK from a loading position, but the brass price kills the economy!

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JD Jones has a Whisper on the case as well as on the .30 Luger case. Interesting indeed!

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Sincerely,

Hobie

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a hundred recently and bullets are cheap as Midway and Grafs has 90 grain XTPs as well as 86 grain soft points.

I've been looking a PPSH 43 with the folding stock permanently folded to buy and turn into a SBR for the 200 dollar fee so I can unfold the stock. The dealer has two tins of surplus to go with it also. Tempting but I've too many projects now

Bob

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I thought of converting one of those little Spanish Police carbines that were imported some years back. IIRC correctly they were the 38 largo cartridge which was favored by the Spanish Police for their handguns. The cost of the work would be in the barrel and I thought a 7.63 would be a nice plinker. Like has been said the coast of the barrel kind of shut it down.

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The 38S&W 200 grain bullet loads for this cartridge can be fun. I had three revolvers for this cartridge and did some experimenting with loads. I used a .35 caliber 200 grain round nose jacketed rifle bullet, and a cast 200 grain bullet which was of similar size and weight. I loaded from what I could find listed for that weight. At a range I found the jacketed loads would not go through the treaded side of a radial tire, which was used in the back stop, it stuck with about 1/8 inch of the base still sticking out. The lead bullet did go through the same portion of the tire, laying inside the tire. Pretty weak velocity it seems. Never shot more to see if I could get something done. If I remember right the original government loads were lead bulleted, but this had to be changed due to complaints under the rules governing ammunition used in combat. The main thing like about the load was it was reported to tumble ort "Flip" when hitting a person. Was claimed to have performance equal to the larger caliber .455 bullet and the 45 ACP's. I guess they had to have a reason to get people to use it. I am no expert and don't claim to be. Hope all have a good day.
AJ

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