Zebulon said
Understood. I have the 1908 Hammer Pocket but without nearly as much condition as your Military.  I haven't shot it beyond a magazine of vintage Western 130 ball. The magazine is, sadly, aftermarket and the retaining slot has been buggered. 
My 38 shooter is a bright stainless ELCEN serial prefix, an overrun from the Colt Custom Shop for a distributor order intended for sales South of the Mexican Border. Gaudy?  It will blind you on a Sunny day but the barrel is cut to headspace on the case mouth and it's the most accurate .38 Super I've ever had. Back when I still had to requalify to renew my LTC, it was always the gun I used.  
  

Bill,

If you have not seen this, I highly recommend it - Ken Hackathorn Discusses Wilson Combat Flat Wire Recoil Springs - YouTube

Bert

Chuck said

Bert H. said

Zebulon said
Are you shooting that .38 Auto load in a Super?
  

No I am not.  I am shooting it in my 1917 production Colt Model 1902 Military.  I do have a heavier (aftermarket) recoil spring in it though.  I installed heavier (Wilson Combat) flat wire recoil springs in nearly all of my semi-auto pistols. 
The load I am using for it is .1 grain under the recommended starting load (per Lyman's 41st edition), and .5 grains under the Max suggested load.
For my Colt 1911A1, I have a 19-lb spring in it versus the standard 16-lb.  It enables me to shoot P+ loads without harming the gun.
Bert
  

The 1902 Military is my favorite of the early Browning/Colt semi autos.  Wish I had one that actually went to the Military.
  

Mine did... my dad brought it home from Korea in early 1953.

My 38 shooter is a bright stainless ELCEN serial prefix, an overrun from the Colt Custom Shop for a distributor order intended for sales South of the Mexican Border. Gaudy?  It will blind you on a Sunny day but the barrel is cut to headspace on the case mouth and it's the most accurate .38 Super I've ever had. Back when I still had to requalify to renew my LTC, it was always the gun I used.  

Nevada Paul said

Chuck said
In P. O. Ackley's book on page 329 he shows a load for a 25-20 WCF with an 86 gr. bullet and 5.5 grs. of Unique for 1,795 fps.
8.5 grs. of 4227 will get 1,400 fps.  10.5 grs. of 4227 he says will get you 1,725 fps.  He also shows 2 loads with a 60 gr. bullet but these he uses 2400, 11.5 gr for 2,200 fps. and 4227, 12.5 grs. for 2,150 fps. 
Start low and work up....
  

Chuck, I have Ackley's volumes from way back in the day. Colorful and inventive guy, and interesting reading. But Ackley, much like Elmer Keith, seemed to have a bent to maximize velocity from every cartridge they encountered.   While that may be a worthwhile endeavor, it gave me great reluctance to jump into any of their loading data.
Paul
  

Not just Ackley and Keith.  The other thing is the older powders weren't as hot as the same powder today.  My chrono has found this out many times.

Bert H. said

Zebulon said
Are you shooting that .38 Auto load in a Super?
  

No I am not.  I am shooting it in my 1917 production Colt Model 1902 Military.  I do have a heavier (aftermarket) recoil spring in it though.  I installed heavier (Wilson Combat) flat wire recoil springs in nearly all of my semi-auto pistols. 

The load I am using for it is .1 grain under the recommended starting load (per Lyman's 41st edition), and .5 grains under the Max suggested load.

For my Colt 1911A1, I have a 19-lb spring in it versus the standard 16-lb.  It enables me to shoot P+ loads without harming the gun.
Bert
  

The 1902 Military is my favorite of the early Browning/Colt semi autos.  Wish I had one that actually went to the Military.

Mike

Zebulon said
Are you shooting that .38 Auto load in a Super?
  

No I am not.  I am shooting it in my 1917 production Colt Model 1902 Military.  I do have a heavier (aftermarket) recoil spring in it though.  I installed heavier (Wilson Combat) flat wire recoil springs in nearly all of my semi-auto pistols. 

The load I am using for it is .1 grain under the recommended starting load (per Lyman's 41st edition), and .5 grains under the Max suggested load.

For my Colt 1911A1, I have a 19-lb spring in it versus the standard 16-lb.  It enables me to shoot P+ loads without harming the gun.

Bert

Chuck said
In P. O. Ackley's book on page 329 he shows a load for a 25-20 WCF with an 86 gr. bullet and 5.5 grs. of Unique for 1,795 fps.
8.5 grs. of 4227 will get 1,400 fps.  10.5 grs. of 4227 he says will get you 1,725 fps.  He also shows 2 loads with a 60 gr. bullet but these he uses 2400, 11.5 gr for 2,200 fps. and 4227, 12.5 grs. for 2,150 fps. 
Start low and work up....
  

Chuck, I have Ackley's volumes from way back in the day. Colorful and inventive guy, and interesting reading. But Ackley, much like Elmer Keith, seemed to have a bent to maximize velocity from every cartridge they encountered.   While that may be a worthwhile endeavor, it gave me great reluctance to jump into any of their loading data.

Paul

1. 9 MM - 115-gr ball with 5.0 grains

2. 38 ACP - 130-gr ball with 4.5 grains

3. 38 Spl - 158 SWC with 5.0 grains

4. 357 Mag - 125-gr JHP with 8.8 grains

5. 38 WCF - 180-gr XTP with 5.5 grains

6. 45 ACP - 230-gr ball with 5.5 grains.

Bert

Nevada Paul said
I'd be very wary of Unique in any bottleneck case unless I found published and tested loading data. Even then, I don't think I ever have, or ever will, use any of the really fast powders (Unique, Bullseye, etc.) in any of my original Winchesters out of fear of a double charge.
Paul
  

A legitimate concern, Paul. But that's the reason I batch load anything that could get into my collectible guns. With an old fashioned loading tray and a flashlight to check powder levels all at once. A double charge of Bullseye can be hard to spot if you are looking at only one case. When examining 20 or so in the block, a  double charge of even a 3 grain load stands out. 

I inherited a fine old Star progressive, modified to incorporate a Dillon case feeder and with dies for several calibers.

I load 38 Special and 357 magnum with it, using Bullseye and Power Pistol. But the only Winchester it goes in is a nifty, rice-powered 73 carbine.

Which, incidentally and contrary to rumor,  feeds flawlessly with either length round and even with a mixture of them in the tube. It makes a serious Redneck Assault Rifle.