Just got a notification from Track of the Wolf that they have received some new Starline brass for .38 Long Colt.
Just got a notification from Track of the Wolf that they have received some new Starline brass for .38 Long Colt.
If you do not mind wrong head stamps you can just shorten 38 Specials .
Firing up some of my grandpas old ammo I found some .38 long colt mixed in with .38 Special it shot fine.
THE SAME CAN NOT BE DONE WITH .38 S&W !
When I think back on all the **** I learned in high school it's a wonder I can think at all ! And then my lack of education hasn't hurt me none I can read the writing on the wall.
Dittos on the .38 Special brass. And, if using in a rifle, you can tune case length to your chamber if using heel bullets to minimize jump to the throat.
OTOH, I haven't found a smokeless load that obturates well enough to seal the chamber and prevent blowback along the case. The black powder loads seal much better. I tried Unique, IIRC around 3.5-4.0 gr(??) Reliable ignition, but always smudges on the case from poor obturation.
John Wells in PA
Peabody's and Peabody-Martini's wanted
Also shoot a 10-PDR Parrott Rifle in competition
You must be using 38 Special bullets in your 38 LC. If you use heel type bullets you will not have that problem.
Nope, properly lubricated heel bullet, mouth-crimped with the Old West crimping die. Using this design, https://accuratemolds.com/bullet_det...bullet=38-160H cast 1:20 lead:tin Shoots quite well, but doesn't obturate the case enough to prevent blowback along case wall.
John Wells in PA
Peabody's and Peabody-Martini's wanted
Also shoot a 10-PDR Parrott Rifle in competition
No.
I use this crimping die:
https://oldwestbulletmoulds.com/shop...llet-crimp-die
And these bullets:
https://oldwestbulletmoulds.com/shop...n-heel-bullets
I'm using a heel bullet and the old west crimping die already. .358 heel, .375 bearing surfaces, same dimensions as the old west bullet. Seals well with GOEX, doesn't seal with Unique. I thought about experimenting with Trail Boss...
What smokeless powder are you using?
I have thought about annealing the brass but it's easy to overdo annealing on such a short cartridge case.
John Wells in PA
Peabody's and Peabody-Martini's wanted
Also shoot a 10-PDR Parrott Rifle in competition
I have been using Bullseye per the instructions that came from Old West. It seems to be a pleasant enough load and not terribly dirty.
I have a revolver in 38 lc that I use 38 special brass full length with hollow based wadcutters. Works great.
I have a 1901 Colt DA 38 army. I simply use a 38 special case and a hollow base wadcutter seated outside of the case a small bit( a button wadcutter). With 2.8 grains bullseye. This is the classic target 38 special wadcutter load. The hollow base bullet expands well enough for the .375 bore. These bullets are available commercially of course. Originally I used 38 LC cases but it’s not needed.
I thought they had changed from the .375 to the .357 bore by then, but apparently that was later. I know if you use a conversion cylendar in a .36 black powder revolver you either get the equipment to make heel based bullets (a total pain to make and load) or you order a hollow base mold from Boznia as that seems to be the only place they are made anymore. Anything else keyholes due to the oversized bore.
I kind of have to call you on this. Before I had proper brass, I shot my 38 S&W Baby Russian using shortened 38 Special brass with no issues. I even shot it with undersized bullets, as cast bullets at around .359". Can't say that the accuracy was not affected but it is not like they tumbled. They did not split or seem unacceptable. No leading or other adverse effects. I used Lyman handbook starting loads for similar weight bullets. I still have that shortened brass. I don't use it, I have plenty of proper brass, just saying it works in a way. Not dangerous.
Tim
Words are weapons sharper than knives - INXS
The pen is mightier than the sword - Edward Bulwer-Lytton
The tongue is mightier than the blade - Euripides
You may want to slug your bore. My 1896 measured .364
Though you'd want the best bullet to fit your cylinder
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |