Running Bear's April 2025 Coffee Shop

[Marlin39]

Yeah you'll need a bigger charge for 158 grain jacketed. And a slower powder. Which may reflect as a heavier recoil. I'm sure there are bounteous safe loads for 158grain jacketed 38 specials. Maybe not in the conservative loading manuals but it should be doable with the right powder. They'll be standard loads and not light target loads. Most wad cutter loads are super light for accuracy.

I was just chatting with my brother about general powered versus bullet weight etc issues this past weekend. How you need to match the expansion rate of the powder burning with the bullet diameter... A .357 bullet (38 special diameter) will be different from a .22 caliber bullet as the .357 is almost 3 times the area so the expanding powder has a lot more space to fill... Anyway, that's more theoretical detail than necessary.

Avoid +P rated loads but the Hornady 9th edition lists a lot of loads that aren't labeled as +P for 158gr XTP jacketed bullets. They only list the hottest 750/800 fps loads as +P. The lighter 600-650 fps etc loads should be fine.

As an example, a 158 grain wadcutter might have 2.8 grains of Bullseye. A non +P load on the 158 grain XTP is 3.4 to 4.2 grains. Even the slowest load is 20% greater and a reasonable load is 40%-45% greater than the wadcutter. So you don't want to just use wadcutter data.

Of course it's all theoretical once you've sold the gun.

I would never put +P loads into a 95 year old Colt OP. My standard 38sp load is 3.5gr of HP38 which pushes a 158gr LSWC @ about 800fps. Unfortunately by switching to a 158gr XTP I found out much too late that it drops to 600fps. I made the mistake about 20 years ago.

You know the old saying, "do it once and it's a mistake. Do it twice and it's a F'up."

I've been using VV N110 for all my .357 loads. It's less soot, less blast, and less flash than 2400.

 

[chadbag]

I would never put +P loads into a 95 year old Colt OP. My standard 38sp load is 3.5gr of HP38 which pushes a 158gr LSWC @ about 800fps. Unfortunately by switching to a 158gr XTP I found out much too late that it drops to 600fps. I made the mistake about 20 years ago.

You know the old saying, "do it once and it's a mistake. Do it twice and it's a F'up."

I've been using VV N110 for all my .357 loads. It's less soot, less blast, and less flash than 2400.

Yeah I didn't say to put +P in. I would agree with you there. I said the lighter loads around 600-650fps aren't +P and are listed in the Hornady 9th edition manual for jacketed bullets. I know you said you sold the gun so I mentioned at the end it was all theoretical... But it should be possible. The problem you seem to have is the amount of powder used was not enough to even get it int the lighter 38 special loads. It's a good warning for others to remember to double check your data and make sure it makes sense.

My revolvers are all bigger bore -- 44 mag and 480 auger (.475 case the same length as 44 mag). So I don't have 38 or 357 experience, though my brother does.

The VV powders are good and I have N110 for my 44 mag stuff. I like VV powders in rifle as well. It is clean burning and performs well.

 

[westtexjohn]

As I mentioned earlier Steel is a difficult color to copy. I have used these three colors from Vallejo but I'm not 100% sold on the outcome. I used intermediate blue then a lite coat of steel gray and then a very lite coat of lite rust. Just a test fit on the flatcar It'll need banding.View attachment 216071View attachment 216072View attachment 216073View attachment 216074

For whatever its worth, standard shipping lengths for steel beams/columns from a mill are 40', 50' and 60'. Pieces longer than 60' can be ordered but are usually special order to length items.
Mills ship to suppliers and suppliers sell to steel fabricators where the beams are cut, punched and have angles and plates added to fit in a specific job requirement.

John

 

[bnsf971]

So I was going through my reloading bench and found a reminder of always check the reloading book before changing recipes.

I had a really nice depression (1930) era heavy barrel Colt Officers Model. I had a very accurate load for a 158gr lead wad cutter, so being young I figured I could use the same load for a jacketed 158gr hollow point. Very bad assumption.

I fired 5 rapid fire rounds before realizing what was happening. Thankfully no damage other than ramming 5 rounds in and a bulge to the barrel. I was able to find a new barrel within about 100 digits of the original. I sold it after replacing barrel due to bad karma.

I went back to the loading manual and it does advise against using jacketed 158gr bullets.

OUCH!

Would you consider this an RTFM moment?

 

[rgeiter]

Ripping down ten sheets of Masonite (hardboard) for my backdrops and trim!

 

[westtexjohn]

Good afternoon to all............

I finally got 4 servos working after programming my BLOCK Signaling Servo Controller. I had to rig a "set-up fixture" with a power ON/OFF toggle to be able to cycle through the programming steps. I'll try to set up the control panels with toggles/LEDs on my fascia later today.

Gotta go to new CPA/book keeper person tomorrow to get my tax extension filed. He will do my taxes (hopefully) in October. The person who had been doing my taxes took a leave from work due to family issues.

As far as soft drinks go, I drink one root beer about every 18 months and I prefer I. B. C. brand. I like ginger ale, usually Canada Dry because I can't get Vernors. Again, one ginger ale about every year, same as my choice of RC Cola over Coke or Pepsi. And Dr Pepper/Cream Soda flavor is my pick for Dr Pepper products. I'm just not a big "soft drink guy" anymore. No alcohol since June 1, 2009. But thats just me. A lot changes in 77 years.

As far as eating out, I have to drive 65 miles to Wichita Falls Texas to find a good restaurant. For me it is Texas Roadhouse with excellent food/service and large portions. Or Taco Casa for some "fast food". They offer a seniors discount and their tacos are better than most. Or the Catfish Grill. Great catfish but a limited selection of sides. If I want a burger, I usually hit Whataburger and I hear their mushroom/swiss cheese burger is back for a limited time.

Super nice day today but I slept until 1:30 pm so I missed most of it. I really need to get out the mower, weed eater and chain saw and put them to good use but I am not in the mood.

I have probably furnished more information today than most care to know about.
Take care...................John

 

[Marlin39]

Would you consider this an RTFM moment?

Oh yes and I never assume anymore. I always check my load notes before charging cartridges.

 

[migalyto]

Ripping down ten sheets of Masonite (hardboard) for my backdrops and trim!

Did that come white, or did you paint/primer first?

 

[rgeiter]

It came white. Bought it at Home Depot. The other stuff they had was tempered and cost $2 more. This is not tempered and bends a heck of a lot easier. At least I won’t have to prime it!

 

[bigfoot13]

Looks like my Wrapped Lumber Load generator works in N-scale too. Progress so far.

 

[bnsf971]

Good morning. It's 59 and clear.

 

[Bill Tidler Jr.]

Good morning! It's 30°F in Tipton.

 

[Patrick]

Morning all,

51° and partly cloudy, clearing and a high later of 79°.

Got the paperwork back on the house. I think we're going to bite the bullet and get the class 4 roof. It will pay for itself within the 2nd year just with the insurance discount. It's about an 11% premium over the standard roof bid, but a 28% discount on the homeowners policy. Even if we sell in the next 5 years (no plans), we're money ahead.

Work to get busy in a while. New copier coming in so we'll need to get everyone hooked up, and since we're short handed, I have to get out with the common man, so to speak. They think all I do is play video games...

BBL

 

[kbkchooch]

Good morning gang!

28° under sunny skies, heading to 50°. Still tired this morning after going to be right after supper last night. slept from 7 til 5:30 this morning.

BBL

 

[Boris]

So, How far away did they move Spring. 29°, with Frost. Going to 49°, with sunny conditions.

 

[bnsf971]

They think all I do is play video games...

You mean you don't?

 

[NYC_George]

About 2 more weeks Boris.
Swal

 

[NYC_George]

I had printer problems for about two weeks and tried everything to resolve it with no luck. My printer will no print anything. After trying about 8 different fixes, I found on YouTube I got one to work. The guy says go into setting and do a computer update on everything not just the printer. I thought I already had automatics, updates but I guess this one was different. I did this update, and the printer started printing out things I sent to it in the last two weeks. I was about to give up and buy a new computer thank God I decided to try one more thing.
Swal

 

[NYC_George]

I'm going to bring a lot of train stuff to the Stromville Airport yard sale June 14 if anyone is in the area nearby. Truck loads go fast at this yard sale.
Swal

 

[TLOC]

Good morning from So Central Wisconsin. 34f degrees now and mid 40’s later.

I’m going to bring the riding lawnmower out. It needs an oil change, battery check, tires refilled and a sharpen or new blades. The grandson may have to start cutting this week but for sure next week. I want the machine to be ready. He’s got our house and 4 others near us he’s going to cut this season. He’ll cut on Thursday’s depending on weather.

Not sure what Terry’s plans are beyond playing day trader at her computer. If she’s working today I will be in the train room.

If she’s not working I have a recommendation for an old fashioned Hamburger shack/stand about 40 minutes East from us. We lost a great drive-in this season about 60 minutes NW of us that we’d visit 2-3 times a season. Had to find a replacement and I hope the new place (45 years old) lives up to the hype of top 5 in Wisconsin.

Before the mower I’m heading over to the house project. The builder says they will have it under roof tomorrow but maybe today. He’s experiencing crew shortages he says that have never been an issue before. The daughter’s studio/office is under roof and the dry wallers moved the materials in Monday. They also moved materials to the son in laws vineyard building. He is putting an office in there to create some separation during the day between him and the daughter.

Breakfast is up next, Flo a water and a menu please!