RotoMetals2Load DataTitan ReloadingReloading Everything
Lee PrecisionInline FabricationMidSouth Shooters SupplyWideners
Repackbox Snyders Jerky
Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: Anyone ever saw factory 38/40 shotshells?

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Monticello, KY
    Posts
    1,737

    Anyone ever saw factory 38/40 shotshells?

    A buddy of mine picked up 3 at a flea market, guy told him they were made to hunt small game with same rifle, by the Govt. i never knew of a rifle being adopted by the Govt in this caliber. He is bring them over this weekend for me to look at.

  2. #2
    Boolit Grand Master Outpost75's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    over the hill, out in the woods and far away
    Posts
    10,170
    U.S. Cartridge Co. made them until about the WW1 period. The US headstamp leads some people to think they were government issue, but that is not the case. US Ctg.Co also produced them in .44-40, .45 Colt and .45-70. The .44-40 shot I broke down contain 1/3 oz. of 7-1/2 shot and a charge of semi-smokeless to attain about 800 fps from a revolver. They will kill rabbits or grouse to about 20 ft. from my Colt New Service. These days I load my own in Starline 5 in 1 Blank cases with 5 grains of Bullseye. I always carry a Speed Strip of them when hunting.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	USCtg44Shot.jpg 
Views:	24 
Size:	93.1 KB 
ID:	303517Click image for larger version. 

Name:	pix589724500.jpg 
Views:	24 
Size:	74.1 KB 
ID:	303518Click image for larger version. 

Name:	pix408698436.jpg 
Views:	23 
Size:	71.5 KB 
ID:	303519
    Last edited by Outpost75; 08-25-2022 at 12:38 PM.
    The ENEMY is listening.
    HE wants to know what YOU know.
    Keep it to yourself.

  3. #3
    Boolit Buddy Brassmonkey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2020
    Location
    Danby VT
    Posts
    293
    I've got a few 44 xl shot cartridges, nicely formed paper capsule sticking up out the shell full of shot.

    44 mag I presume?

  4. #4
    Boolit Master


    Join Date
    May 2010
    Posts
    2,113
    I had a 44-40 shot cartridge in my hand literally less than 20 minutes ago.

    My father had an old H&R 44 Shot double barrel.
    Not the XL shot. The old one that was basically a 44-40 brass as long as a loaded cartridge with the same profile as a cartridge loaded with a bullet.

    I scored them for him at a junk shop. They didn’t fire so I kept them for fun. One of these days I’ll load some up and hunt bunnies with them in remembrance.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Monticello, KY
    Posts
    1,737
    The caliber is 38/40

  6. #6
    Boolit Master


    Join Date
    May 2010
    Posts
    2,113
    Yes sir. I was just mentioning it in response to the post stating that they were also made in many other cartridges.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master

    Eddie Southgate's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Location
    Southern Middle Tennessee/ Hillsboro Alabama
    Posts
    1,180
    The only ones I have personally seen used a wood capsule just like some of the old .45 Colt shot loads
    Grumpy Old Man With A Gun....... Do Not Touch !!

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Monticello, KY
    Posts
    1,737
    The guy brought two of them by this evening and we cut one open, it looked like 2FFG black powder, and maybe 6 shot. And it looks like those in the pic above, but it had small primers, not the big ones. I sent TBG some pics, he will post them when his internet comes back up.

  9. #9
    Moderator
    Texas by God's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    14,432
    Here you go.

    Sent from my SM-A716U using Tapatalk

  10. #10
    Boolit Grand Master
    Mk42gunner's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Butler, MO
    Posts
    9,050
    That's quite a step down from the neck to the "bullet" portion of the case. Probably done to ensure feeding from a magazine tube.

    Robert

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Posts
    1,076
    I might have one in my old cartridge collecting. Or I may be thinking of a .44-40.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

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