Accurate 36-168H and 36-175H

Outpost75

Active Member
These Keith types are designed for the .38 Special for heavy loads approximating the old .38/44s. Both have the same .395" meplat to crimp length and .25" meplat diameter. The lighter bullet is shorter in the base to crimp length to reduce seating depth. Overall cartridge length is the same, 1.55" in .38 Special brass. I had Tom cut the lighter bullet to adjust point of impact sightly in older fixed sight guns, Colt New Service, S&W .38/44 Heavy Duty, and to mitigate the pressure rise in standard-pressure loads used in the Model 12-2 Airweight, in which +P loads should be avoided.

.38 Special Standard-Pressure and +P Factory Loads and Equivalent Handloads
Ammunition____________________S&W .38-44 HD 4”

Factory Loads for Reference
:
Rem-UMC 148 HBWC______________804 fps, 7 Sd
WRA SuperMatch 148 HBWC______772 fps, 13 Sd
Rem-UMC Police Service 158 LRN__793 fps, 10 Sd
Rem-UMC 200 LRN_________________747 fps, 16 Sd
Old Super-X 158 LRN .38-44________994 fps, 23 Sd
Winch. X38SPD 158-gr. LHP+P_____909 fps, 16 Sd

Standard-Pressure .38 Special Handloads to Approximate Factory Velocity

Saeco #348 146 DEWC, wheel weights, OAL 1.25”

3.2 grs. Bullseye_____________________804 fps, 17 Sd
3.5 grs. Bullseye_____________________863 fps, 7 Sd
4.0 grs. W231_______________________837 fps, 22 Sd

Acc. 36-168H 168-grain “Keith" SWC, wheel weights, OAL 1.55”
3.5 grs. Bullseye_____________________853 fps, 21 Sd
4.9 grs. AutoComp__________________850 fps, 15 Sd

Accurate 36-175H 175 grain "Keith" SWC, wheel weights, OAL 1.55”
3.5 grs. Bullseye_____________________865 fps, 24 Sd
4.5 grs. AutoComp__________________811fps, 30 Sd

“.38-44” Handloads in .38 Special brass, W-W cases, WSP primer:
Saeco#348 146DEWC 8.9 grs.#2400__922 fps,12 Sd
Acc. 36-168H 11 grs. #2400_+P+___1005fps, 34 Sd
Acc. 36-175H 4.0 grs. Bullseye+P_____871 fps, 5 Sd
Acc. 36-175H 5.5 grs. AutoComp+P__902 fps, 14 Sd
Acc. 36-175H 11.5 IMR4227+P_______914 fps, 22 Sd
Acc. 36-175H 8.9 #2400+P___________888 fps, 21 Sd
 

Attachments

  • 36-168H-D.png
    36-168H-D.png
    20.4 KB · Views: 12
  • 36-175H-D.png
    36-175H-D.png
    20.2 KB · Views: 12
Last edited:

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
A nice-condition 38/44 revolver is one of those Grail Guns I would like to some day acquire. I do not yet own any 38 Special revolvers safely spec'ed to use 38/44 level loadings, though a lot of my 357 Magnum ammo gets put up at 38/44 performance levels. That intensity is a friendly spot for the 357 Magnum--safe in K-frame 357s and pretty docile in L- and N-frame platforms. I enjoy them GREATLY. I don't have enough experience with the J-frame 357 genre to say one way or the other, but I suspect my 357 x 38/44 loads would be safe in those thumb-web beaters as well. No thank you, though.
 

Outpost75

Active Member
A nice-condition 38/44 revolver is one of those Grail Guns I would like to some day acquire. I do not yet own any 38 Special revolvers safely spec'ed to use 38/44 level loadings, though a lot of my 357 Magnum ammo gets put up at 38/44 performance levels. That intensity is a friendly spot for the 357 Magnum--safe in K-frame 357s and pretty docile in L- and N-frame platforms. I enjoy them GREATLY. I don't have enough experience with the J-frame 357 genre to say one way or the other, but I suspect my 357 x 38/44 loads would be safe in those thumb-web beaters as well. No thank you, though.

The Ruger "Six" series revolvers were often chambered in .38 Special for departmental orders where the powers that be didn't want their cops carrying "Magnums". If you can find one of those you can have a .38 Special chambered gun which will hold up to steady use of the .38/44 loads as well as the +P+ LE speciality loads. The Colt OP was also designed to handle those loads.
1984RugerSpeedSixDAO25yds.jpgpix950672855.jpg38ServiceSix.jpgColtOP38Spl4inch.jpg
 

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
I knew about the Ruger "Six-series" 38s being 38/44-capable from your prior writings on that subject. I'll confess--I was unaware that the Colt I-frame Official Police 38 Specials were that stalwart. An OP from the late 1950s was my original issued sidearm at my old shop. It was.......tired. And not very reliable with the reloads being assembled by the jail trusties that ran the armory machinery at our Academy. I knew a great deal less about arms and ammo at age 22 than I do now at 64, but I had the abundant good sense to buy my own sidearm within a week of landing at my first duty station--a Colt Trooper Mk III x 4" that worked wonderfully and reliably for many years.

I definitely wouldn't mind having another OP x 38 Special in decent shape these days, but I haven't really sought one out either. I got close a few years ago with a NICE Army Special x 5" in 32/20 WCF, and I treasure that one greatly. One nice attribute of a Colt OP--most were made prior to 1970, so they are not subject to the CA Handgun Safety Certification drag sequence.
 
Last edited: