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Hodgdon 2023 Annual Reloading Manual lists the following 38spl loads for a 146 grain Speer JHP out of a 7.7″ barrel with a WIN SP primer and a COL of 1.37 – (That seems awful short to me. I would load it longer):

HS-6
Start: 5.6 grains = 808 fps @ 11,700 CUP
Max: 6.3 grains = 969 fps @ 16,100 CUP

700X
Start: 3.2 grains =724 fps @ 13,800 PSI
Max : 3.6 grains = 815 fps @ 16,000 PSI

CFE Pistol
Start: 4.7 grains = 845 fps @ 13,000 PSI
Max: 5.1 grains = 964 fps @ 15,700 PSI

Good luck!

[spclement]

I just purchased the second edition of Modern Reloading by Richard Lee (revised in 2021)
I don’t think Lee does their own testing, but rather compiles load data from several different sources.
This manual includes many loads for a 146 Grain Jacketed Bullet in .38 spl, .38spl+p and .357 magnum.
It does not specify the brand or length of the bullet, it just says “146 grain Jacketed Bullet”.
It has loads for:
.357 magnum using 15 different powders
.38 spl using 13 different powders
.38 spl +p using 15 different powders.

[spclement]

I haven’t yet purchased any of the 147 grain smiley bullets because Lyman’s 50th is the only load data I can find for anything close to a 147 grain fmj bullet. Their data is for a .357 magnum load using a 145 grain Winchester Jacketed Silvertip with 8 different powders. I have no idea how the RMR Smiley bullet compares to the Silvertip in composition or length. A guy named Rollis Karvellis posted in the RMR In-House bullets forum with his results using the RMR 147 grain Smiley with a load of Alliant 2400 that was slightly less than Lyman’s starting load for the 145 grain Silvertip.
As far as the RMR 124 grain Teardrop bullets go, I just purchased 1000 of them and plan to start using .357 magnum data for 125 grain XTP bullets. The length of the RMR teardrops average only .003 shorter than my XTP JHPs, but not knowing how their metallurgy compares, I plan to stick with starting to mid-range XTP loads with the RMR teardrops at first. I have put a cannelure in them with a Buffalo Arms Cannelure tool so I can apply a good roll crimp, and plan on loading them at the maximum (for .357) 1.59 OAL. If I was still loading .38 spl, I would reference the vast amount of .38 load data available for 125 grain XTP bullets.

[spclement]

Thanks for the post Rollis. I have not purchased any the smiley bullets yet. Mostly because the Lyman 50th data you referenced was the only source of load data I could find for anything close to a 147 fmj bullet. I appreciate you filling us in on your experience with these Smiley bullets and Alliant 2400, which is one of my favorite powders. I just may have to give them a try.
I did just purchase the teardrop 124 grain bullets and loaded them over what Lyman considers a mid-range .357 charge of 15.4 grains of 2400 for a 125 grain XTP after putting a cannelure in them with a Buffalo Arms cannelure tool. I loaded them with an OAL of 1.59 but haven’t fired any yet.

[spclement]

Love my Hornady Powder Cop Die. It has saved me a few times from seating a bullet over a light charge.

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