Ear Safe Reduced Loads (38 special)

[RandallOfLegend]

Has anyone tried to reload 38 special down to the point of ear safety? I am thinking in the ball park of 300-500 FPS would probably be safe. Tossing lead at paintball speeds!

[usmcveteran]

Definitely interesting idea! Where would you start with something like that? 80% of min load in reloading manual?

[thughes]

Cowboy loads (primer only with wax bullets). Shoot 'em in your garage!

[harleyhutch]

Try loading wad cutters, at lower powder charges. Doesn't make sense to try to push a heavier round nose bullet at those speeds, accuracy will suffer but by using lighter wad cutters you should see improved accuracy as well as well defined holes in paper or card board targets.

[RandallOfLegend]

Try loading wad cutters, at lower powder charges. Doesn't make sense to try to push a heavier round nose bullet at those speeds, accuracy will suffer but by using lighter wad cutters you should see improved accuracy as well as well defined holes in paper or card board targets.

I have all kinds of 38 projectiles. 147 grain HWBC, 125 grain SJHP, 158 grain plated SWC, 190 grain Hard cast, etc etc.

My lee loading book has a reduced load section. Going to do some research. They talk about "the slowest burning powder should not be reduced by more than 20%, the reduce by 1% for each powder after" and "Never reduce any powder load by more that 50%". There is some "pressure" factors in the book as well for calculating reduced loads.

[harleyhutch]

Kudos to Randalloflegend, most excellent post.

[RandallOfLegend]

Cowboy loads (primer only with wax bullets). Shoot 'em in your garage!

I have read about people using rubber bullets in the same way. I might give this a go for my own amusement.