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March 27, 2013
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I have finally finished a few reloads. 
I'm using a Lyman T-mag II press which seemed to do a fine job.
41 Magnum, 170 gr JHC
20 gr IMR 4227
38 Special, 148 gr HBWC
3 gr Bullseye
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Dans Club
February 22, 2009
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Looking good- should work just fine. IMO, the 41 has about the right amount of crimp and you could lighten up a bit on the 38s. Hard to tell from your pics but the primers may be seated a bit too deep. It could just be the angle and lighting etc... All you can do is try them to find out. Watch for pressure signs while shooting and let us know how things turn out!
Best Regards,
Ron
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
March 27, 2013
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I loaded the 38's first and learned a few lessons with them. I agree that the crimps are a bit too much. While loading the 41's I realized how to adjust the crimp, so I'll go back to the 38's and try again. I'm not loading very many rounds until I'm happy with how they shoot. Thanks for the tips.
March 27, 2013
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Well the first trip to the range with some nice inexpensive reloads was a success.
13 cents for the 38's and 50 cents for the 41's.
The 41's were a lot tamer than the Remington factory rounds I had on hand. It was a very windy day and I don't have a pistol rest so I'll have to load a few more and try again. I'm still not used to the large frame.
The 38's did great, but I'm going to bump the powder up about half a grain. I haven't cleaned the gun yet so I haven't checked for any leading yet. I'll report back later about that.
On a side note I need to find a different outdoor range. American Shooting Centers in Houston downright scared me today. I saw way more scary gun handling in one hour than I would want to see in a lifetime. While I was setting up the lady next to me swung her pistol in my direction with her finger on the trigger. I moved slots after that one. Yikes!
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March 2, 2008
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SMKYTXN said
On a side note I need to find a different outdoor range. American Shooting Centers in Houston downright scared me today. I saw way more scary gun handling in one hour than I would want to see in a lifetime. While I was setting up the lady next to me swung her pistol in my direction with her finger on the trigger. I moved slots after that one. Yikes!
This is a sad commentary on what is happening in the shooting sports, too many people rushing to embrace the rights that they believe will be taken away without the basic grounding in safety and fundamentals.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
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July 2, 2011
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SMKYTXN said
On a side note I need to find a different outdoor range. American Shooting Centers in Houston downright scared me today. I saw way more scary gun handling in one hour than I would want to see in a lifetime. While I was setting up the lady next to me swung her pistol in my direction with her finger on the trigger. I moved slots after that one. Yikes!
I'm curious, is this a private club or an open to the public range? My club up here in North TX requires a day long orientation class before you have membership privileges. Every member has a key and if you purchased the membership plus guest privileges, you are responsible for them. We don't have any range nazis...er, officers and I it like that way. Except for a couple of instances, basic firearms safety is the norm.
To the paranoid people who check behind shower curtains for murderers:
if you find one...what's your plan?
March 27, 2013
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This is an open to the public range with range officers on the pistol and 100 yard rifle ranges. You have to read one sheet of paper and listen to a brief orientation before being allowed to shoot. It's a pretty lame safety orientation.
The range does have a nice rifle setup, out to 800 yards. The 300-800 yard ranges do not have range masters as they're self policed. It's a different group of people than what you find on the pistol line.
There are a couple of private clubs around me but they're hard to get in too so I'm stuck with the public ones.
Yesterday there was a group of chinese businessmen out shooting the same two guns. I swear one of the guys was going to put a hole through is hand. He was holding the bottom of the barrel on the 1911 he was shooting and holding the gun about six inches from his face. Every time he shot his off hand came up in front of the barrel. 
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July 2, 2011
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Doesn't sound like fun. I drive about 40 miles to get to my club out in the boonies. Kind of nice because the drive in the country let's me unwind and enjoy the range more.
You've probably checked, but I did a quick search.....
http://www.yellowpages.com/houston-tx/shooting-range
I prefer outdoor ranges my self.
To the paranoid people who check behind shower curtains for murderers:
if you find one...what's your plan?
March 27, 2013
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Headed out to the range tomorrow with some experiments. I have IMR4227 for my 357 mags. The recommended loads start at 12 grains and end at 15 grains. So what I've done is load 20 rounds at 12, 13, 14, and 15 grains just to see what the difference is. I'll be shooting at an indoor range at 20 yards and will be using a rest for the tests. Can't wait to see what if any differences there are between the loads, besides more recoil.
Brass: Once fired Remington
Round: 158 grain SWC, Friendswood bullet company
Powder: IMR 4227
Primer: Federal Small Pistol Magnum Match
March 27, 2013
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Well that was a bit of a let down. The lighter loads of the IMR didn't fully ignite leaving the gun sooty and flecks of unburnt powder all over the place. The accuracy wasn't fantastic either, but today wasn't my best day of shooting either. The higher grain loads, 15 grains, seem to do better about burning all of the powder. My first thoughts are that I need to stick to the heavier loads and possibly increase the crimp a little. Thoughts?
I also have an issue with my 38 specials. After a few rounds the cylinder starts sticking. I have the gap set at the full .006 and I'm shooting full wadcutters so the rounds aren't sticking out of the cylinder or anything. I'm a little stumped. The same gun will roll through factory ammo just fine.
Thanks for any insight.
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February 22, 2009
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If it went boom, it fully ignited. If the unburned powder is in the barrel, you need a longer barrel or a faster burning powder- IMR 4227 is a middle of the road powder. If the cases are sooty, then you didn't build enough pressure for the case to seal in the cylinder- you can seat the bullets deeper or increase the crimp or use a faster burning powder. Lots to experiment with but a word of advice- only change one thing at a time- that way you know what happened for a load to act a particular way. Have fun!
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
March 27, 2013
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Well the barrel is a 10" so I don't think that's the issue. I believe that there may not have been enough pressure like you said. The cast bullets are seated to the proper depth for the shape of the bullet. I will try increasing the crimp on the top end of the powder charge and see what happens. I have two pounds of the 4227 and getting different powders for experimenting is hard to do right now so I'm stuck with it for the time being.
June 16, 2013
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I've had the same problem with 4227 in my 45. It just doesn't seem to burn completely, whereas H110 and 2400 burn completely. I know at least one other poster on here has had the same results. I relegated the 4227 to the back of my cabinet and will probably only use it for my leverguns. It seems to burn cleanly in those.
Just didn't want you to think you were doing something wrong. You are not alone with the 4227 issue.
February 11, 2010
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Another +1 for 2400
-Blacktop
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January 24, 2009
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The only load that I have used so far that seems happy with 4227 is my .445 SM load, that one works nicely. I also use it in my .375 SM loads, but it does show a slight bit of unburned residue at times. .357's & .38's sure don't seem to like it.
I have rapidly become a fan of Unique powder, it works great for me in the smaller calibers.
March 27, 2013
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Well, the 4227 will be sitting on the shelf for a while. Brucertx was kind enough to help me out with a sample of 2400. It meters nicely and shoots great.
Bullet: 158 gr SWC
Powder: 2400, 14.5 gr
Primer: Federal Small Pistol Magnum Match
These rounds grouped nicely and were fairly clean. I didn't find any leftover powder.
Now I did load some 41's with some Unique and really liked that load as well. My only complaint about unique is that it's a pain to meter.
July 22, 2013
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Sometimes I do also have traces of unignited powder in the barrel. I guess itvis because of powder quality. Ive used different powder types and differen durning speeds. But some unburned powder sometimes is in the barrel.
Important is that the reloads make a good group at the target at 25 meters. And that bullet speed is same (allmost).
Goal is accuracy and power. That is the real challenge.
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