.38 Long Colt

drache

drache

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Are there any places in Canada that actually sell this ammo? I'm not set up for reloading at this time so I would need to find factory made ammo for awhile but I can't find a place that sells it. The guns aren't rated for .38 S&W Special so that's out of the question.
 
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A lee loader, a little black powda, some .38 spl components and a little creativity and you'd be off to the races...
 
Rare as hen's teeth, that ammo.
Considering that you can't hardly give the guns away, not a big surprise.
I think Black Hills sells it, but in Canada...good luck with that.
 
drache said:
.38 S&W Special or .38 Spl has 5000psi more than the .38 Long Colt so sadly no. Ad like 9mms2k stated, the .38 S&W won't fit at all.

No idea is the short colt can be used in the long colt cylinder or not.
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9mms2k said:
A lee loader, a little black powda, some .38 spl components and a little creativity and you'd be off to the races...
Click to expand...

My post above is your answer.... I'm talking about the lee loader you whack with a hammer. I just bought one on the ee for $25.
 
You should be able to trim .38 Special brass and load it down to LC levels, double check but I looked into it some time ago....38 Short Colt had a heeled bullet but not the LC. Long Colt is same dimensions as .38 Special EXCEPT the special brass is slightly longer.
 
NorthCoastBigBore said:
You should be able to trim .38 Special brass and load it down to LC levels, double check but I looked into it some time ago....38 Short Colt had a heeled bullet but not the LC. Long Colt is same dimensions as .38 Special EXCEPT the special brass is slightly longer.
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Bingo...
 
NorthCoastBigBore said:
You should be able to trim .38 Special brass and load it down to LC levels, double check but I looked into it some time ago....38 Short Colt had a heeled bullet but not the LC. Long Colt is same dimensions as .38 Special EXCEPT the special brass is slightly longer.
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Yeah they are pretty darn close. Colt actually tested .38spl in their .38 Colt DA Army Navy revolvers in the early 1900's and then later sold them chambered in .38spl with a proper cylinder.
 
I've 2 of them in '92's
I used trimmed down / fireformed 38 special brass initially (i've a 38 spl so I trimmed it to ensure no mix ups) and an Keith style (.358) hollow based bullet. The trimmed brass is too thick to work with easily.
If you've only a 38 LC the 38 spl brass works though. It expands enough that reloading is not an opinion with 38 spl dies
.362 is the cyl / bore dia on mine. PITA, but doable. I held the bullet in place, gave it a slight crimp with pliers to ensure proper seating and carefully ran it up into a 9mm luger crimping die.
Some folk use wadcutter bullets drilled into a HP and inserted backwards (IIRC)
 
Ps. Where did you get the 5,000 number? Max pressure is 12,000? Seems mighty low for a 700fps cartridge.
 
drache said:
Sorry that is 12,000 CUP and 17,000 PSI.
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And those aren't interchangeable. There is an equation to convert one into another but I have used it and ended up with NEGATIVE pressure.

Looking through my Lyman manual .38spl is listed in CUP and depending on the bullet goes from 5,700 CUP up to 14,900 CUP for starting loads.
 
41 Colt said:
And those aren't interchangeable. There is an equation to convert one into another but I have used it and ended up with NEGATIVE pressure.

Looking through my Lyman manual .38spl is listed in CUP and depending on the bullet goes from 5,700 CUP up to 14,900 CUP for starting loads.
Click to expand...

Mr. Colt is correct. IMHO.
 
41 Colt said:
And those aren't interchangeable. There is an equation to convert one into another but I have used it and ended up with NEGATIVE pressure.

Looking through my Lyman manual .38spl is listed in CUP and depending on the bullet goes from 5,700 CUP up to 14,900 CUP for starting loads.
Click to expand...

Yeah Ive tried to use the equations before and had some weird results.

Either way the cylinder cant handle the pressure of .38 special. The Cimarron model though can... just need to find one though and they are as rare as factory .38LC ammo :p
 
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