Just posting this for learning / entertainment purposes...
I just recently started working up a 38 Special load. One of the powders that I have on-hand and that has published 38 Special load data is Longshot. Longshot is fantastic for 40 S&W and 10 Auto but I didn't like it for 45 Auto. I figured I would give it a try in 38. I recall that Longshot can be position sensitive in some cartridges so I thought I would put it to the test.
My test procedure:
UP: I placed the ammo on the table nose-up (letting powder fall to the back of the case nearest the primer.) I loaded and shot each round one at a time. When I loaded the round, I kept the bullet nose-up as long as possible and then flat (horizontal to ground) until it fired, leaving the powder near the primer in the case.
DOWN: I loaded the ammo in a nose-down orientation (letting powder fall to the front of the case nearest the bullet.) I loaded and shot each round one at a time. When I loaded the round, the revolver was pointed at the ground and I slowly raised the gun to firing position, leaving the powder near the bullet in the case.
FLAT: I placed the rounds on their side on a table and rolled them around to distribute the powder. I loaded and shot each round one at a time. When I loaded the round, I picked it up from the table (it was on its side) and kept the round parallel to the ground as I loaded the round and fired it.
Here are the results from the lowest velocity to the highest:
As you can see Longshot is VERY position sensitive in a 38 Special case. Some of the "DOWN" rounds were so light I literally double-checked the barrel to make sure the bullet cleared it. Longshot will develop some respectable velocities but only if the powder is near the primer. If you are firing a whole cylinder of Longshot rounds in 38 or 357, you will frequently notice the first round as being very light but the recoil of the first shot will usually cause enough movement of the powder in the other cartridges that the subsequent shots are closer to "flat" velocity (unless you point the gun down between shots.)
Just thought I'd share some nerd stuff. Obviously I won't be using Longshot as my go-to powder for 38 or 357.
I just recently started working up a 38 Special load. One of the powders that I have on-hand and that has published 38 Special load data is Longshot. Longshot is fantastic for 40 S&W and 10 Auto but I didn't like it for 45 Auto. I figured I would give it a try in 38. I recall that Longshot can be position sensitive in some cartridges so I thought I would put it to the test.
My test procedure:
- I can't find a "starting" load for 38+P it so I took the published max +P and subtracted 10% as a starting point
- I loaded rounds of 38 Special / +P with: 6.3gr, 6.5gr, 6.8gr and 7.0gr
- All test loads were fired from the same gun (a Rossi RP63, which is a 357 Magnum with 3" barrel)
- Temperature was 83 degrees (today 7-Jul-2024)
- For each charge weight I fired 5 or 6 shots for each orientation (See Orientation below) over a chronograph and averaged the velocities
- All bullets were 125gn X-Treme FP
- Primers were standard small (not magnum)
UP: I placed the ammo on the table nose-up (letting powder fall to the back of the case nearest the primer.) I loaded and shot each round one at a time. When I loaded the round, I kept the bullet nose-up as long as possible and then flat (horizontal to ground) until it fired, leaving the powder near the primer in the case.
DOWN: I loaded the ammo in a nose-down orientation (letting powder fall to the front of the case nearest the bullet.) I loaded and shot each round one at a time. When I loaded the round, the revolver was pointed at the ground and I slowly raised the gun to firing position, leaving the powder near the bullet in the case.
FLAT: I placed the rounds on their side on a table and rolled them around to distribute the powder. I loaded and shot each round one at a time. When I loaded the round, I picked it up from the table (it was on its side) and kept the round parallel to the ground as I loaded the round and fired it.
Here are the results from the lowest velocity to the highest:
| Gun | Powder (type) | Powder (gn) | Orientation | Average fps |
| Rossi RP63 (3" barrel) | Hodgdon Longshot | 6.3 | Down | 334 |
| Rossi RP63 (3" barrel) | Hodgdon Longshot | 6.5 | Down | 555 |
| Rossi RP63 (3" barrel) | Hodgdon Longshot | 6.8 | Down | 678 |
| Rossi RP63 (3" barrel) | Hodgdon Longshot | 7.0 | Down | 697 |
| Rossi RP63 (3" barrel) | Hodgdon Longshot | 6.3 | Flat | 711 |
| Rossi RP63 (3" barrel) | Hodgdon Longshot | 6.5 | Flat | 725 |
| Rossi RP63 (3" barrel) | Hodgdon Longshot | 6.8 | Flat | 739 |
| Rossi RP63 (3" barrel) | Hodgdon Longshot | 6.3 | Up | 847 |
| Rossi RP63 (3" barrel) | Hodgdon Longshot | 7.0 | Flat | 899 |
| Rossi RP63 (3" barrel) | Hodgdon Longshot | 6.5 | Up | 927 |
| Rossi RP63 (3" barrel) | Hodgdon Longshot | 6.8 | Up | 935 |
| Rossi RP63 (3" barrel) | Hodgdon Longshot | 7.0 | Up | 972 |
As you can see Longshot is VERY position sensitive in a 38 Special case. Some of the "DOWN" rounds were so light I literally double-checked the barrel to make sure the bullet cleared it. Longshot will develop some respectable velocities but only if the powder is near the primer. If you are firing a whole cylinder of Longshot rounds in 38 or 357, you will frequently notice the first round as being very light but the recoil of the first shot will usually cause enough movement of the powder in the other cartridges that the subsequent shots are closer to "flat" velocity (unless you point the gun down between shots.)
Just thought I'd share some nerd stuff. Obviously I won't be using Longshot as my go-to powder for 38 or 357.
