Disappointment using HP-38 for 44-40

[Sedalia Dave]

When lubing pistol caliber cases, I lay them flat on an inexpensive cookie sheet. This helps to keep spray lube out of the inside of the case. It's also a good way to do a final visual inspection for errant cases of the wrong caliber. 

 

 

Be sure to shake the can of Hornady 1-Shot well before using.

[Eyesa Horg]

1 hour ago, Oak Ridge Regulator said:

I ran into the same issue with 231 which is ALMOST exactly the same powder in some 45 colt loads, very sooty and very uneven velocity. It also seemed position sensitive. I wondered if it it was just to little powder for the case volume 

I as well!

[Garrison Joe, SASS #60708]

2 hours ago, Oak Ridge Regulator said:

I ran into the same issue with 231 which is ALMOST exactly the same powder

 

Quote

I know that it's fairly well known that W231 and HP-38 are really the same powder, but I've never actually seen anything documented that confirms it, so I sent an email to Hodgdon asking for confirmation and received this reply:

Brian,

Yes they are the same powder we package it for Winchester. You can use the same data.

Mike Van Dyke
Customer Service Representative
Hodgdon Powder Company

From the Brian Enos forum.

 

 

I sure wish WE all understood that there is no difference in the HP-38 and Win 231 powders.

 

good luck, GJ

Edited July 24 by Garrison Joe, SASS #60708

[Oak Ridge Regulator]

Good to know 231 and HP38 are exactly the same, I said ALMOST in capital letters because I had never seen the posting from Hodgdon and had only seen years worth of reloading books with the exact same loads posted for the two powders. It’s certainly great powder in other cartridges 

[Driftwood Johnson, SASS #38283]

I lube my 44-40 and 38-40 cases with Hornady One Shot spray lube.

 

I usually load up 200 rounds at a time.

 

I place all my cases in 50 round wooden loading blocks .

 

Then I give them a quick spray of Hornady One Shot.

 

Notice the cases are mouth up in this photo.  A quick spray of a One Shot along one side of the loading block, then another quick spray along the other side.

 

You want the spray onto the case mouth, where it is going to meet the most resistance feeding into the sizing die.

 

You don't want a whole lot, too much lube leaves droplets on the cases, which can then dent the brass as it is fed into the sizing die.

 

Just a quick spray along one side of the loading block, followed by another quick spray along the other side.

 

YES, a little bit of One Shot probably  gets into the cases.

 

With my Black Powder loads, IT DOES NOT MATTER!

 

I have never noticed any ill affects from a tiny bit of One Shot Spray lube getting into the cases.

 

I dunno about Smokeless, but with Black Powder, a tiny bit of spray getting into the case does not matter.

 

I do this before setting up my dies. After a few minutes of setting up my dies, the lube is dry to the touch and ready to run through the press.

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a photo of loading 44-40 with my Hornady Lock and Load AP progressive press. These happen to be shiny, brand-spanky new cases. I am about halfway through loading 200 rounds, there are 200 finished rounds in the red plastic hopper, and 200 more cases in 50 round loading blocks ready to be loaded.