reloading .38 short vs .38 long brass

LongRange_Newbie

Private
Minuteman
Jan 26, 2021
2
0
Europe
Hi,
looking for some guidance! My range has started to .38SPL CBC Short rounds. I really like them! Theres very little recoil from my Ruger. I would like to reload them (been collecting the brass on every visit - so I have a few hundred cases)
I cant find any specific data for the .38 short round and I only have 158gr bullets.

So .... can I load 158gr bullets into the .38 Short round and where can I get reliable charge charts (using Vectan BA10)

and !!! can I use the normal .38 Lee dies for resizing the casing etc?

Thanks In Advance
LR_N

22A20D7A-61E0-4F39-BDDA-59EC95B1BE24_1_105_c.jpeg
AFED0554-422F-4D82-8721-CF5AB6CEC256_1_105_c.jpeg
6F0E8C6A-657C-437D-9D85-2AD8D32CC06D_1_105_c.jpeg
9987C380-A100-4513-94C2-471987294114_1_105_c.jpeg
 

Attachments

  • 6F0E8C6A-657C-437D-9D85-2AD8D32CC06D_1_105_c.jpeg
    6F0E8C6A-657C-437D-9D85-2AD8D32CC06D_1_105_c.jpeg
    148.3 KB · Views: 40
I have been shooting the short colt in Smith 627s for about 20 years. Start loads for the 9x19 work pretty well to get you going.

The short colt has more room in the case, the bullet has to jump a long way and then cross a cylinder gap...
 
If you are shooting in a magnum or +p rated revolver, use the 9x19 loads.
FWIW, I used to shoot USPSA and ICORE with an 8 shot .357 magnum.
I used .38 short colt for ICORE and .38 Long Colt loaded to .38 super +p for USPSA major.
 
Hi Folks
Thanks for the replies. I will try a few loads as suggested. I have a Ruger GP100 and I dont plan to compete with it (yet) - its just for fun.
I emailed Vectan and they sent me some load data but its in french! So I will take the advice from experts here :)
LR_N