.38 special "FBI" load

[cephas]

Disclaimer: Come on man, boomer here and I know it's 2021, and ammo has made many advancements since the 60's.
Short story. Yes there's a longer one.
I've looked and attempted to work with this load for...awhile.
Basic info is a 158 gr swchp going 800 fps. or so.
Had loading data I've done from over the years, but the one thing that plum eluded me was the bullet itself.
I've tried various swc's, even attempting to drill the hp's.
Enter the info that the bullets should be very soft. One company even swagged them for the load.
When a 158 gr .359 mold with cramer pins from those crazy Slovenians at MP molds came available I got one.
Mixed up some 40:1, bhn coming in around 7. Mold dropped them .358 at exactly 158 grs.
From my work before and most importantly powder on hand, 5.0 grs. of Unique with a cci primer and firm crimp over the chrono showed an average of 792 fps out of my 2" Colt agent. That load used to be classic standard but now a mild +P.
At 10 yds. sights right on.
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Now the what made me me smile was the expanded bullet in the lower right corner. Through 2 layers of denim, 2 water jugs, a slim 1/8" or so piece of wood into a box filled with packing crap at 7 yds. Came through that weighing 155 grs.
Not high end testing but results were beyond what I expected.

[Boo Vuccla]

That's beyond what I would have expected too at that velocity!
Now.................shoot that at 25 feet at a windshield with the sound proofing layer into the same media. If it penetrates the auto glass intact, I wonder how much effectiveness it would have on a target in the driver's seat?

[Gunsnwater]

Powder coat them.

[85MikeTPI]

I was thinking I had a box of these in the safe, but realized I have the Treasury version..

Fun Times back then..

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[DukeConnor]

I dont have a book in front of me but 8 grains of unique seems pretty hot.

[Hoppy]

I dont have a book in front of me but 8 grains of unique seems pretty hot.

2004 Alliant guide shows 4.2 or so for 158g lead. I've loaded 158g lswc that I've cast and I don't think I even went over 4 with unique. Not near a box to see at the moment.

Cephas, great rundown. Thanks for sharing that. I picked up some 148g wc to load in 38 special. I'll probably use unique although I did find some bullseye a little while back.

[cephas]

I dont have a book in front of me but 8 grains of unique seems pretty hot.

DANGER>>>>DUKE IS RIGHT!!!
I used 5.0 grs.
Hoppy is in todays range.
My mistake and a reason to double check any load given on the net.
Damn, and I started the post mimicking a demented politician.
Better look in the mirror for awhile.

[cephas]

Powder coat them.

Why?

[ArmyVet]

Good, dependable defensive load.

I was given a bunch of these. Stout for a. 38 Special but very controllable with excellent performance.

[Boo Vuccla]

DANGER>>>>DUKE IS RIGHT!!!
I used 5.0 grs.
Hoppy is in todays range.
My mistake and a reason to double check any load given on the net.

But going back to my post, if you shot the original........rather compressed load.......I think it would have easily passed the FBI test on automobile glass. And if you had a hand left, you could throw the rest of the gun with blood & flesh spatter at the purps!

It happens cephas! Please don't lower yourself and enter politics!!!