FC Posted April 8, 2013 Report Share Posted April 8, 2013 It was nearing the end of the day and I wanted to get some loads going for the S&W 4th model DA. The 3F black powder still hasn't come in. I tried loads using 2F, but my wife said it sounded like a cap gun. I have a lot of Universal Clays, and used it a lot for .44-40 and .45 Colt. No loads are listed for it in .38 S&W, so I figured I'd try some light loads. 2.5 grains I got about 345 fps. I tried 3.0 grains and got around 390 fps. OK, do the math, let's try 4 grains. Well, I didn't feel like dinking around, so I loaded a round and took it out to try. I never figured on an exponential increase- big mistake! 954 fps in something that shouldn't go over about 650 fps! Now I get to figure out how to put it back together. Yeah, I know, I know. Kicked like a mule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacrat Posted April 8, 2013 Report Share Posted April 8, 2013 I didn't feel like dinking around, so I loaded a round and took it out to try. Well did you learn anything??? Like "SAFETY FIRST". Or maybe the first rule of reloading, start low and work up slow??? just ask'n Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FC Posted April 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2013 Yeah, I'm smarter for it. Sounded like a good idea at the time. I'm guessing that there was a more complete burn of the powder with the increase from 3 to 4 grains. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken98k Posted April 8, 2013 Report Share Posted April 8, 2013 Wow!! Glad you didn't get hurt. Is the gun repairable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FC Posted April 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2013 Nope, I'm fine. At first I thought it was broken, but the front and back of the trigger guard have tabs. Putting it back in is proving tough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiley Posted April 8, 2013 Report Share Posted April 8, 2013 http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-antiques/These folks would be helpful for re assembly.. to avoid added grief, I'd be vague on how it happened... You might want to double check the cylinder IDs to see if that load egged out the cylinder. I have an old Webley MkVI that won't extract because all the 45acp in its shooting career did the egg thing to it. Regards, Wiley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FC Posted April 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2013 Actually, I went there to ask about reassembly and said nothing about how it happened. So how do you look for a swelling, I guess you mean, in the chamber? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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