Need data for 38 long colt

[clearwater]

First, I am assuming I can fire 38 long colt in my 357 mag handi rifle.

If so, I have some brass and some 125 grain flat base i would like to use.

Any load data out there?

[clearwater]

I found one in sharp's manual.

125 grain bullet
3.3 to 4 grains of Dupont Pistol #6

I have some #6 so will try it out.
Anyone have any other loads?

[oldhickory]

I'll look, I have some old manuals around here, just gotta find the load info...After I find the books!;-)

[clearwater]

Thanks,

I've got Unique, 2400, 5744, win500hs, trailboss.

[oldhickory]

The only published data I found for a 125gr. boolit called for a flat charge of 3.0gr. of unique. The velocoty given is only 650fps. out of a 6" revolver bbl. It's no doubt a light load intended for the old Black Powder Colts. Heck, a Black Powder load would do better than that!

Seeing as how you're shooting them in a modern rifle and not an old Colt Lightning and using modern solid head cases, I would say just about any starting load for STANDARD velocity .38spl. for the 125gr. boolit should be fine. To be on the safe side you could reduce the starting loads by 10% or so and work up since the case is shorter.

Factory published data for the .38 long was a 150gr. lrn boolit at 770fps.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

[clearwater]

Thanks, thats good enough. I just want to have a very light load for plinking
with my little boy. I have a box of 38 long colt and will see what the velocity
is for the factory and compare it to the unique and the pistol #6.

[missionary5155]

Good evening
Accuracy may not be an issue but all my lever guns shoot better when the boolit is seated to near or at max length. 38 Colt would leave a good 1/4 "Jump" for the boolit to reach the throat and the rifling.
I have loaded 357 with as little as 3 grains unique in my S&W 5 shot. In a rifle I doubt it makes much more noise than a ballon popping & recoil should be non-existent.
If those are OLD Green Box or YELLOW Box ammo collectors are buying them.

[clearwater]

Good evening

If those are OLD Green Box or YELLOW Box ammo collectors are buying them.

Good to know, these are old green box and half have been fired.

Any links on where to trade or sell these? I think I would just as well get some
357 brass and load light.

[1874Sharps]

If you can find load data for the 38 S&W, you can use it for the 38 LC. They are very close in dimensions, but cannot be interchanged in their respectively chambered firearms. Hope this helps!

[sargenv]

There are a few ICORE shooters who prefer to use the 38 Short/Long colts to aid in speed up reloading. I was playing with semi-pointed 180's in the Long colt but did not feel that my accuracy was any better with a long slow bullet over the 158 RN's I was already using. I believe that you can check Alliant's website for 38 long colt data.

[clearwater]

There are a few ICORE shooters who prefer to use the 38 Short/Long colts to aid in speed up reloading. I was playing with semi-pointed 180's in the Long colt but did not feel that my accuracy was any better with a long slow bullet over the 158 RN's I was already using. I believe that you can check Alliant's website for 38 long colt data.


Didn't see any under alliants web site.

[lmcollins]

Load data from and old 1972 3rd ed. "Cartridges of the World."

There is a Hercules chart, and it is for a 150 grain lead bullet:

Bulleyse 3.2 grains 810 fps
Red Dot 3.0 grains 780 fps
Green Dot 3.5 grains 800 fps
Unique 4.0 grains 810 fps
Herco 4.2 grains 800 fps

I have used this data, and once loaded some ammo for a collecting friend's vintage 1900 revolver. I used 38 Special RCBS dies, and had to make a new flaring piece on my lathe. I still have the outfit, and will sell it to you for $15.00 plus postage.

You can then load 38 Long Colt, 38 Special, and 357 Mag with the same set of dies. You need to put a spacer in the primer punch out to do the 357's. I used a piece of drill shank. It's probably all in the box.

[TAWILDCATT]

38 long was the father of the 38 spec.and the 38 spec was father to the 357 so they have same case diam.
use 2.8 of bullseye and 148 gr bullet.your looking for light load.over that is not a light load as 3.5 is supposed to be standard in the 38 spec.
I use 2.8 of 700X with 148 wc in my model 10 target gun.it will stay in X ring if you do your part at 50 ft.:coffee:

[lylejb]

I think I would just as well get some
357 brass and load light.


+1 on that.

I load 2.6 of trail boss with a lee 158 RF in 357 brass for my son to shoot in my pistol. It's about like a 22lr times 2 ie. very low recoil, and a good POP for a report. It's as accurate as I can hold. I think the velocity is about 600 fps.

The 38LC is a collector's item. As you can fire other ammo in your rifle, save those for your collection.

[SE-Okla.Shooter]

I used 38 Special RCBS dies, and had to make a new flaring piece on my lathe. I still have the outfit, and will sell it to you for $15.00 plus postage
IM if you still have the die I would like to buy it.
Thanks Guy

[OldFotoMan]

Maybe the right place to ask this. I have a Remington Navy made in 1864 that has been converted to fire 38 LC. Also own a S&W Air Crewman that requires very light 38 Special loads. I just got several boxes of reloaded 38 special hollow based wad cutters. These are loaded with 3 gr of Bullseye and 148 gr hollow based wad cutters. From what I've been able to find with the Bullseye, 2.8 seems to be the standard load for 38LC and 3.5 for the 38 Special, but the info I'm finding is listing a 150 gr bullet for the LC and 158 for the Special. So I'm trying to find out if these would be safe to fire in either of these old guns. Can anyone tell me if 3 gr of Bullseye behind a 148 gr hollow based wad cutter in a 38 Special case would be (or should be) safe to fire in a gun designed for a 38 Long Colt? Thanks in advance for any info you may be able to provide.

[JMax]

I use a 158gr cast RN on top of 3.3 gr of Clays with chronoed velocity’s of 840 ft/sec in ICORE matches. When I do my job at 50 yards I can shoot Xs.