.38 Long Colt Brass

[36g]

Just got a notification from Track of the Wolf that they have received some new Starline brass for .38 Long Colt.

[firefly1957]

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 !

[John in PA]

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.

[Tall]

You must be using 38 Special bullets in your 38 LC. If you use heel type bullets you will not have that problem.

[barnetmill]

You must be using 38 Special bullets in your 38 LC. If you use heel type bullets you will not have that problem.
will hollow base wad cutters work?

[John in PA]

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_detail.php?bullet=38-160H cast 1:20 lead:tin Shoots quite well, but doesn't obturate the case enough to prevent blowback along case wall.

[Tall]

No.

I use this crimping die:
https://oldwestbulletmoulds.com/shop/ols/products/38-long-and-short-colt-heel-bullet-crimp-die
And these bullets:
https://oldwestbulletmoulds.com/shop/ols/products/38-caliber-150-grain-heel-bullets

[John in PA]

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.

[Tall]

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.

[freakonaleash]

I have a revolver in 38 lc that I use 38 special brass full length with hollow based wadcutters. Works great.

[Tall]

I have a revolver in 38 lc that I use 38 special brass full length with hollow based wadcutters. Works great.

I could probably do that with mine. It's a Colt Model 1901 Army and it accepts 357 Magnum no problem.

320612

Edit - Not sure how accurate that would be with a .375" barrel and .357" bullets.......

[freakonaleash]

I could probably do that with mine. It's a Colt Model 1901 Army and it accepts 357 Magnum no problem.

320612

Edit - Not sure how accurate that would be with a .375" barrel and .357" bullets.......
It would probably work with hollow base wadcutters.

[smkummer]

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.

[freakonaleash]

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.
Exactly what I do.

[2TM101]

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.

[dtknowles]

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 !

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

[dtknowles]

I could probably do that with mine. It's a Colt Model 1901 Army and it accepts 357 Magnum no problem.

320612

Edit - Not sure how accurate that would be with a .375" barrel and .357" bullets.......

My Revolver with barrel marked .38 Long Colt accepts .357 Mag. ammo too. I guess it is a thing, a dangerous thing.
Tim

[Tall]

My Revolver with barrel marked .38 Long Colt accepts .357 Mag. ammo too.
Tim

I would not dare use that ammunition! I bet yours, like mine, is only marked "38 Colt".

[barnetmill]

My Revolver with barrel marked .38 Long Colt accepts .357 Mag. ammo too. I guess it is a thing, a dangerous thing.
Tim

That would a horrible if the only ammo you had was .357 Mag and you were being attacked.

[Ajohns]

You may want to slug your bore. My 1896 measured .364
Though you'd want the best bullet to fit your cylinder

[Tall]

You may want to slug your bore. My 1896 measured .364
Though you'd want the best bullet to fit your cylinder

Mine is very accurate with my handloads using RP brass and the heeled 150gr bullets and Lee FCD from Old West. This is 12 rounds at 15 yards.

322253

[smkummer]

You may want to slug your bore. My 1896 measured .364
Though you'd want the best bullet to fit your cylinder
If my bore is .364, I would still need hollowbase bullets in my 1901. If I recall, .358 bullets fell through the barrel.

[Tall]

If my bore is .364, I would still need hollowbase bullets in my 1901. If I recall, .358 bullets fell through the barrel.

Hollow base bullets will also fall through the bore if it is like mine and .375" diameter. If that is the case you will need the bullets :https://oldwestbulletmoulds.com/shop/ols/products/38-375-diameter-125-grain-heel-bullets
and tool from OWBM : https://oldwestbulletmoulds.com/shop/ols/products/38-long-and-short-colt-heel-bullet-crimp-die