.38 WCF in 1873 and Colt SAA Powder

[FromTheWoods]

I'm attempting to find a smokeless powder to use in a '73 Winchester (DOM 1885) and a Colt SAA (DOM 1911). The round will be used for hunting deer and other critters, as well as, shooting enough loads out of the Colt to tip the Earth a tad off its axis. Searching for an accurate lead bullet load that will have a close-to-black powder pressure curve.

For over 30(?) years, I've been loading for the '73 with a medium pressure Titegroup load. I prefer Titegroup in most handgun loading, but it is a bit fast, and these guns are old.

After consulting books and the internet, I chose to test Hodgdon's Universal--slower pressure curve than Titegroup, safe maximum pressure, and good velocity/energy, But ten minutes ago, I read in another thread here that Universal is position sensitive. Rats! Does Universal have a "position sensitive" reputation in the .38-40?

RL-7 I've been told is a good powder for this caliber. It used to be listed in the older Alliant Manuals as a powder for the .38-40 using jacketed bullets. Would some of you share your RL-7 Cast bullet loads or point me toward a publication that contains them?

[Outpost75]

I don't load .38-40, but my experience in the .44-40 is that RL7 can be loaded in a compressed caseful with standard weight bullet for the caliber, with 1/8" compression, EXACTLY as you would load black powder and you get a smokeless load matching blackpowder velocity which is safe in the 1873 Winchester and gives normal revolver velocity with good accuracy, although you will have some unburned powder in the revolver.

4198 can be loaded the same way with similar results

[runfiverun]

RL-7 would work.
I always used unique in my 38-40.
the cases come out a tick sooty but the rounds shot well.

[clum553946]

I shoot Unique in my antique 1873 & 1892. I've always been happy with it.

[FromTheWoods]

Thank you, fellows, for your input.

[bob208]

to get the most out of a 73 made in the b-p production time I would use real b-p. you will get the most speed without stressing that old rifle plus use cast bullets also. I have 92's and 73's the 92's get unique. the 73'sget b-p 2f. your colt is in the smokeless range and would be safe with unique loads.


if your realty have to shoot smokeless .38-40 I would get a more modern rifle.

[FromTheWoods]

Can't switch the rifle; it was my Great-grandfather's and has come down the line to me. I could get a '92 and shoot that, but I like the Spirits that are near when I shoot our family's old rifle.

[TXGunNut]

Unique is the best powder so far for my ca 1921 1873 in 38WCF but I've been kicking around using TrailBoss.

[M-Tecs]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?141566-loads-for-Win-1892-in-38-wcf