I have an antique Belgian bulldog revolver and I'm wondering if I can shoot custom loaded smokeless powder cartridges out of it (.38 s&w short) eventhough it is designed for black powder. The velocity is the same (around 700fps) but a few people have said the pressure curve is different and can be dangerous. Can anyone chime in
Antique reloading question
- Thread starter stumo
- Start date
I would want some solid repeatable evidence of what pressures are generated and that those pressures do not exceed those generated by a period factory black powder load. If you do find such a load, you will probably have to use a filler such as drier lint to keep the powder against the primer. A heavy filler will increase the pressures generated because you have more mass to move
cheers mooncoon
cheers mooncoon
Before you even think about powder you have to start with the projectile. Slug the barrel with a piece of soft lead and measure it with calipers. Compare this with the projectile you were hoping to use. What caliber is the bulldog supposed to be? .380 revolver is fairly common for these and the diameter for those is listed as .375 on this Pistol Cartridge List this same list indicates the 38s&w is .359. The 38s&w would be much too small but you still have to slug the bore to be sure.
.380 revolver is also a heeled bullet design as I recall which makes reloading for it even more challenging. I use cut down 38 spl cases to get the proper OAL when I reload for .380 revolver.
If you buy an antique firearm and just stick whatever fits in the chamber and shoot it you are risking damage to the arm and to yourself. In the example above the projectile would be much smaller than the bore so you probably won't hurt yourself but it easily could be too big and therefore very dangerous. ALWAYS slug the bore so that you know.
Until you get the size of the projectile correct, conversations about pressure are pointless. In this example of too small a projectile, most of the pressure is escaping down the barrel and going around the projectile as it doesn't fit. Accuracy and power would be greatly diminished.
The joy of a black powder load is that you don't need any formula of X grains of Y powder or a filler. You simply select the correct black powder (typically fff for a pistol) and fill the case so that it will be slightly compressed (no air) when you seat the projectile.
.380 revolver is also a heeled bullet design as I recall which makes reloading for it even more challenging. I use cut down 38 spl cases to get the proper OAL when I reload for .380 revolver.
If you buy an antique firearm and just stick whatever fits in the chamber and shoot it you are risking damage to the arm and to yourself. In the example above the projectile would be much smaller than the bore so you probably won't hurt yourself but it easily could be too big and therefore very dangerous. ALWAYS slug the bore so that you know.
Until you get the size of the projectile correct, conversations about pressure are pointless. In this example of too small a projectile, most of the pressure is escaping down the barrel and going around the projectile as it doesn't fit. Accuracy and power would be greatly diminished.
The joy of a black powder load is that you don't need any formula of X grains of Y powder or a filler. You simply select the correct black powder (typically fff for a pistol) and fill the case so that it will be slightly compressed (no air) when you seat the projectile.
Last edited:
Ever played with F & W's?
That will shake all conventional logic and theory about slugging bores. Tapers from .429 to .410 in about...oh 2 1/2"
Stick with BP & PL...that's what it was designed for. Especially with Belgian pistols. It's one thing to begin the smokeless journey with a Colt, S & W or Remmy...they are usually of a know quality. Belgian...no thanks for me on smokeless.
And as the above have stated...slug it 1st
That will shake all conventional logic and theory about slugging bores. Tapers from .429 to .410 in about...oh 2 1/2"
Stick with BP & PL...that's what it was designed for. Especially with Belgian pistols. It's one thing to begin the smokeless journey with a Colt, S & W or Remmy...they are usually of a know quality. Belgian...no thanks for me on smokeless.
And as the above have stated...slug it 1st
