Okay, this was not a blackpowder workaround.
I decided to try smokeless instead. Using these Dynamit Nobel 9mm acorn BB caps, I pried up each BB with a pair of needlenose pliers.
Then measured out 2.0 grains of Red Dot powder for each cartridge. Putting the powder in and keeping it there was kind of tricky as one cannot get a firm grasp on each tiny 9mm case. I pushed the empty case into the bottom of a standard funnel, that all of us reloaders are well acquainted with. Then used a foamy earplug to hold it in place and poured the measured charge into the case. Carefully I lowered each case ensuring my fingertips grasped it before it could fall out spilling the tiny charge.
Then it was a simple matter of replacing each "BB cap" and half-ass crimping it using the same pliers to gently tap the soft lead ball back into place.
The next matter to deal with was reliable ignition. As this was a constant headache before. To resolve this I took .22 calibre cleaning patches, and these cotton wipes just over one half inch by one half inch, were perfectly fitting to place over each charge hole of the cylinder and then seat a newly 'handloaded' round into place.
This kept the loose fitting 9mm rimfire case from moving around and the hammer could strike it better, without loosing steam, so to speak.
I looked really silly in retrospect, wearing canvas workgloves along with my safety glasses and a hat for the first shot. But this is untrod ground with an antique firearm. For the first shot I turned my face away, and shot it into the ground underneath the target, but I had ignition!
I did loose one charge, as the makeshift crimp did not hold it in place. But at 7 yards, after a sufficient bang, there were two holes on the target out of the four, and one I fired dilerberately into the ground. Not too bad for the first try I think!
The next four were oddly placed into the upper LH corner of the target.
Of the last two shots, one went who knows where, and the last shot is the one closest to the bullseye. Note it did not have sufficient power to bust through into the 3/4 inch plywood board and it must have bounced back into the grass on the range.
This was common with the original factory 9mm BB cap. I think maybe my improvised crimp did not hold and there was an incomplete burn of the powder charge.
Anyways, I consider myself very lucky to get this 38 rimfire shooting experiment done in between rain showers up here in the Bonnyville/Cold Lake area.
I did all of this at the Bonnyville range. I'm thinking a .375 roundball should tighten things up on the target.
I'm hoping this will open doors for other owners of 38 rimfire firearms, that are safe enough to shoot.
I never had a burst case, but occassionally had a hangup on the cylinder, from the blackened cotton of a fired case, seizing the cylinder timing, as I pulled back the SA hammer to #### the gun and advance the cylinder.
This happened sometimes, but only twice in 11 shots. I tried greasepaper too, instead of the cotton, but had one misfire. The cotton seemed to work better for relaible ignition I think so myself. And held the loaded cartridge fast inside the cylinder.
There is one or two shots that I just cannot account for. Who knows where they went?? Not me.....
I cannot find my calipers right now, but if my memory serves me, the bullets they were .360 diameter. I call this a probable cause for internmittent accuracy. I tried this so others may get the idea to make some noise at the range with thier very old and little wheelguns that are in good enough condition to actually fire.
Anyways............something to share on a rainy day.
Cheers!
