pre 1950 K frame reloading help

by rob, clarkstown , ny @, warm northeast, Sunday, December 28, 2014, 10:50 (3608 days ago)

Hi guys , I require your advice, I am planning on doing bulk reloading for my 1930- 1948 S&W k frame using the Lyman 357446 Thompson SWC bullet with the AOL of 1.457 utilizing the lower crimping groove.
The revolvers are of following a 1932 M&P, a early post war commercial victory, a WW2
Victory & a 1948 C series M&P snubby.
All revolvers are safe to fire and are in very good to excellent condition.
The plan is to have a quality reloads with the same point of aim as 158 gr factory police loads.
I plan I using 4 to 4.4 grs of Unique, I am concerned if these loads may be too much for
these vintage revolvers, any suggestions would be appreciated.

Happy Holidays,

Withoput checking that sounds like they are within current

by Rob Leahy ⌂ @, Prescott, Arizona, Sunday, December 28, 2014, 12:02 (3608 days ago) @ rob, clarkstown , ny

reloading manuals for standard .38 spl loads. Are you using a up to date reloading manual? If not please do so.

--
Of the Troops & For the Troops

pre 1950 K frame reloading help

by Bob Hatfield @, Sunday, December 28, 2014, 18:54 (3608 days ago) @ rob, clarkstown , ny

You might want to try 3.5 grains of Bullseye also. Don't use too hard of alloy as these have thin barrel forcing cones. I"ve had one crack but it was made in 1915. I always suspected it was from using a "hard cast bullet". Started using swaged jobs or wheel weights after that.

Bob

Keep your alloy soft Rob

by Miles ⌂, CIVITATES AMERICAE, Monday, December 29, 2014, 01:37 (3608 days ago) @ rob, clarkstown , ny

it may lead the bores, but it will be easier on these old gentlemen.

pre 1950 K frame reloading help

by jgt, Monday, December 29, 2014, 09:46 (3607 days ago) @ rob, clarkstown , ny

The Smith & Wesson revolvers made before 1936 would have the most concern were these my guns. Sometime in 1935 Smith & Wesson started to heat treat their cylinders. This was when they came out with the 357 magnum and probably had something to do with why they chose this time period to start doing it. Of course as always, technology evolution plays a part also. The point is, those guns prior to this time period did not have heat treated cylinders so I ere on the side of mild. The ones made afterwards should be fine with regular 38 special loads if the guns are in good repair.

You posted this over on Cast Boolits

by Charles, Monday, December 29, 2014, 14:12 (3607 days ago) @ rob, clarkstown , ny
edited by Charles, Monday, December 29, 2014, 14:17

and got some sound advice. Some of it came from no less than Ed Harris under a different name. I would take it, for if anybody know the facts on this matter it would be him. If you don't know who Ed is, he is a small arms mechanical engineer, who worked at Aberdeen proving ground, them was a technical writer for the American Rifleman and then spend many years heading up quality control at Ruger. He understands these things the way very few of us do.

You posted this over on Cast Boolits

by Drago, Monday, December 29, 2014, 20:42 (3607 days ago) @ Charles

Link please, Charles.

Link to CB post

by Cherokee @, Medina, Ohio, Tuesday, December 30, 2014, 07:34 (3606 days ago) @ Drago

Thank you.

by Drago, Tuesday, December 30, 2014, 11:03 (3606 days ago) @ Cherokee

:-)

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