38 Express Range Test

[Dave Waits]

Well, reloaded Sunday and did some testing with 357magnum loads. Temp was 80 degrees, humidity was about 30%, skies sunny. All velocities are an average of ten rounds fired through a Prochrono at ten feet from the muzzle. Target was at 30 feet. 357 used was a six-inch Model 28 S&W.

38 Express- First of all a very important WARNING. While this load uses a 38Spl case, it is NOT a 38Spl load. This is for a 357magnum only, estimated pressures are 29-30,000PSI.

Back in the 70s a gunwriter named Skeeter Skelton, who really liked the 357Magnum, was having trouble finding 357 brass. So, being the western stock he was, he improvised. He had plenty of 38Spl cases so that's what he used, along with a good dose of 2400 and a bunch of cast SWCs he had(H&G #358156). What he ended up with was the 38 Express.

Recipe- The 38 Express uses either a virgin or once-fired 38 Special case, a standard Small-Pistol Primer, 12.5 grains of 2400 and a hardcast 158grain SWC. Do not start 10% lower or try to load hotter, this is specific recipe. Also, this is a 100% fill load, the seated bullet will touch but, not compress the powder. Average velocity for ten rounds was 1243FPS for 542 FPE. Recoil was mild, cases ejected easily and no pressure-signs were noted. Groupsize for the ten rounds offhand at 30 feet was a little over 2". This is a very nice range-load if you want to save wear on your 357 cases or, if you want to hunt according to Skeeter's writing of it, it will take a Whitetail out to around 75 yards with good shot placement.

Load two- 357magnum. New Starline brass, Standard Small-pistol Primer(Winchester), 13.5 grains of 2400, hardcast 158 SWC.
Average Velocity-1349FPS for 638FPE
Recoil- Well, it's a slightly hotter than factory 357 load, recoil was negligable but, you knew you were shooting a 357.
Pressure- Cases ejected easily, no pressure-signs were noted on the case.
Accuracy- All ten rounds went into a hair over 2" at 30 feet.

Now you can start 10% below listed and work up.

Load three- 357Magnum. New Starline Brass, Standard Small-Pistol Primer(Winchester), 14 grains of 2400, hardcast 158 SWC.
Average Velocity- 1396FPS for 687FPE.
Recoil- Snappy but Controllable. Now you're shooting a 357!
Pressure- cases ejected easily, no signs of pressure on the cases.
Accuracy- Evidently, my Model 28 likes this load, all ten rounds went into a hair less than 1-3/4" at 30 feet.

Overall lengths- the 38 Express was loaded to 1.55 inches, the 357 magnum loads were at 1.6".

Now, as for accuracy-levels with these loads. 30 feet isn't very far( Distance limitations for Chuck's test range) so, don't think I'm some sort of deadeye. However, the numbers do speak for the basic accuracy of the loads and the Revolver used.