Handload of the day: Hornady 38 Caliber 125gr XTP

[JGalt]

I have three-100 piece boxes of Hornady #37510 30 caliber 125 grain jacketed hollow-point XTP bullets I got a few years back. These were designed to open up and mushroom at 800-1600 fps. Since the pistol I was loading them for was a 60's era Colt Cobra with a 2" barrel and an alloy frame, I didn't want to load them up to +P pressures.

So here's what I did:

Primers: CCI No. 500

Powder: Alliant Unique

OAL: 1.445" (where the crimp groove was, with a medium rolled crimp)

Desired velocity: 820-850 fps

Powder charge in grains and velocity of one round:

5.0 gr - 738 fps

5.1 gr - 773 fps

5.2 gr - 752 fps

5.3 gr - 787 fps

5.4 gr - 806 fps

Powder charge in grains and velocity of three rounds:

5.2 gr
# FPS FT-LBS PF
3 742 152.84 92.75
2 743 153.25 92.88
1 776 167.17 97.00
Average: 753.67
StdDev: 19.35
Min: 742
Max: 776
Spread: 34
True MV: 754.52

5.3 gr
# FPS FT-LBS PF
3 817 185.30 102.12
2 767 163.31 95.88
1 791 173.69 98.88
Average: 791.67
StdDev: 25.01
Min: 767
Max: 817
Spread: 50
True MV: 792.57

5.4 gr
# FPS FT-LBS PF
3 830 191.24 103.75
2 776 167.17 97.00
1 789 172.81 98.62
Average: 798.33
StdDev: 28.18
Min: 776
Max: 830
Spread: 54
True MV: 799.24

5.5 gr
# FPS FT-LBS PF
3 802 178.56 100.25
2 832 192.16 104.00
1 820 186.66 102.50
Average: 818.00
StdDev: 15.10
Min: 802
Max: 832
Spread: 30
True MV: 818.93

The last one (5.5 gr) resulted in a 2" group at 25 yards from a sandbagged rest. I'll probably stick with that, to compensate for the variables when loading a couple hundred rounds, and the change in temperature when shooting them. As the outside temperature and the temperature of the ammunition rises, so does the pressure and velocity.

 

[Shawnee_b]

My 4" S&W stainless 38 M64 would like those

 

[JGalt]

My 4" S&W stainless 38 M64 would like those

They'd probably do 950 fps with that extra 2" of barrel. But you could load them up to the full 1600 fps in a 357 magnum case.

 

[Shawnee_b]

Looking for another 357 as we speak. (looking for Desert Eagle actually but rev fine) Wife has a scandium S&W 2", damn she shoots it too. Put out a milk carton and say "shoot that letter" she nails it, double action at that. My 64 is a DAO, don't care. Had a Beretta 40 cal DAO also, just a little getting used to. I LOVE 38's.

 

[JGalt]

Looking for another 357 as we speak. (looking for Desert Eagle actually but rev fine) Wife has a scandium S&W 2", damn she shoots it too. Put out a milk carton and say "shoot that letter" she nails it, double action at that. My 64 is a DAO, don't care. Had a Beretta 40 cal DAO also, just a little getting used to. I LOVE 38's.

The 38 is probably the easiest cartridge to handload. I started out with that and a S&W Model 10 back in 1978 but gave it up until the last 10 years or so.

 

[Shawnee_b]

The 38 is probably the easiest cartridge to handload. I started out with that and a S&W Model 10 back in 1978 but gave it up until the last 10 years or so.

Can't count how many Mod 10's I have had! Even S&W Victory models.