Got my 180 gr. 38 Specials loaded....

[fortyshooter]

I loaded up 25 rounds to try maybe tomorrow and compare to my 180 Mag. case loads. Went with 11.1 gr. of 2400 powder on this first
batch. One thing that was causing a slight issue was a variance in my COL. I was setup for a 1.575 length but due to the lube groove being
a radius shape at bottom if there was a +.005 length difference in case length it would roll in and pull the bullet down an additional .010-.015.
Actually not a bad thing since the crimp looks better,tighter at the 1.560 length as you can see in picture.
At left is the 1.570 COL and right is the 1.560

A big thanks to Vaquero for helping out with this project!

[BigAl52]

Those look good Forty hope to them on camera soon

[Vaquero]

Looks good to me, I'm betting you will like them.
11.2 was the load I tried.
Wait to hear your results and thoughts.

RP

[runnin n gunnin]

So, I've been offline for the past month. Work sucks, but I need the bucks to keep doing what I love to do.

I have never loaded 180 grn 38 loads, and I am a 38/357 guy. My go to has always been 158 grains. On the range, mission carry, whatever, I have been anal about 158 grain. Probably goes back to my early days in the early 70s and real world deployment with successful results.

I am interested to see how the 180 preform. As I said my favorite calibers are 38, 357, 45 Colt, both pistol and rifle.

On another note, I received 500 rounds of Hornady 110 grain XTP from Hornady as a rebate for the Hornady LNL Ap press I got for Xmas from the Mrs.
I have never loaded 110 grain, always saw them as sissy rounds.

Well ,slap me in the lips and call me late to dinner, I just loaded 38 and 357 and LOVE them ! (as range rounds only).

38 was with 4.9 grns of Bullseye at 950 fps, and the .357 was Alliant 2400 with 16.0 grn for pistol (1350 fps) and 16.4 grns for rifle at 1800 fps.

I set up my range yesterday with steel at 50 yards. Boy, was I surprised. I am sorry I did not set up silhouettes, but the 110 was hitting the steel consistently with all three loads from the bench with the Henry. Pistol was good (Blackhawk/El Patron) from the bench rest, kind of shaky from the unbraced off hand position, but hitting the steel at least one of six rounds. (yeah I'm old and my hands shake, but it was 50 yards with iron sights).

Long story short, love the 110 grn for plinking (not for duty carry), and will continue to load them up. Still very interested in the 180 grn and how they preform (Pistol and/or rifle).

Got the AP press set up for 45 colt tomorrow, more to come. Hope all hands are doing well !

10 inch at 50 yards.png (1.11 MiB) Viewed 3363 times

10 inch at 50 yards.png (1.11 MiB) Viewed 3363 times

10 and 8 inch steel.jpg (375.24 KiB) Viewed 3362 times

Pistol round that missed the steel and hit the dirt.jpg (269.82 KiB) Viewed 3362 times

[BigAl52]

Lots of tests on the 180gr in the Range reports section. Vaquero FortyShooter Rifletom and myself have shot them with great success. 180gr Pugnose from Missouri cast there a coated bullet with 11.2 to 11.5 grains for 2400. Works very well. Its Rifletoms load and hes the one who pointed the rest of us to them.

[Vaquero]

Nice lookin shootin irons R n G.
Al speaks the truth, Tom's load is a good one.

RP

[runnin n gunnin]

Ill be trying them out !

[fortyshooter]

I did a short test of the MB 180 bullets in the Mag and 38 Special case. Now with the 38 Special case I seated the bullet to the empty lube groove right under the crimp groove for a 1.560 COL. I did this to give very close to same powder space as when loaded in the Magnum case...within .030 of same.
Ran both the .357 Mag and 38 Special load over my chrono. The Magnum load was 11.5 gr. of Alliant 2400 and the Special load was 11.1 of 2400.

Result was,as shot thru my Henry BB 357, 1380's FPS with a very tight speed spread like 9 FPS! The 38 Special/Mag load was close at 1310- 1327 FPS.
From that I think it could be safe to bump it up to 11.4 and might match the speed.
The 180's shoot very well in the 357 Mag case. I did this little trial since I had a bunch of .38 Special brass on hand and wanted to try it.

Now I have a new batch of Starline .357 Mag brass coming and will continue to load those.

Give those 180's a shot when you can RNG!

Oh and like that El Patron!

[runnin n gunnin]

Thanks 40 S, I love the El Patron, short spur, smooth as silk. Iron sights are amazingly spot on.

Where do you order your Meister bullets? My source only goes up to 158 grain for .38.

[fortyshooter]

Thanks 40 S, I love the El Patron, short spur, smooth as silk. Iron sights are amazingly spot on.

Where do you order your Meister bullets? My source only goes up to 158 grain for .38.

The 180 Pugs as they are called are from Missouri Bullets and the ones I get are Hi Tec coated. I think those are 49.95 per 500 box.
But just check out their website. Easy folks to do business with!

[runnin n gunnin]

Thank you sir, I thought they were Meister. Heard allot about Missouri bullets, I will check out their website and give them a try!

"Pugs", I like it !

[runnin n gunnin]

Just checked the website 40S, price down to 47 per 500. Order Up !

[Rifletom]

Thanks guys for the replies on the 180/357 load. That is one I tried from the Lyman cast book and sort of hit the middle ground and Viola! It worked.
r-n-g, you'll like that load in your Henry. Guessing in the handguns too. Though I was out of the 180's. Found 50 of 'em in the shop! Heh-heh, guess what I'm doing tomorrow? I'll tell ya, we have some pretty good shooters here. Good company.

[runnin n gunnin]

Thanks RT. I just made a sample order of 100 rounds of Hi Tek 180's from MB. (I also ordered a sample of 405 grain Hi Tek for my 45-70, says on the website "Good for large Buffalo!")

Based on what I read on the thread, 11.1 to 11.5 of Alliant 2400. Just happened to have picked some up last month !

Thanks for the great info. Looking forward to putting some down range.

[runnin n gunnin]

RT: Received my MB 180 grain Hi-Tek for the .357 toda7 (along with 405 grain 45-70 Buffalo Killers). They look great and can't wait to load them up!

Thanks again for the info.