"The Guns of the Roysl Canadian Mounted Police" (1986)

[josquin]

An interesting 3-page article from the March/April edition of American Handgunner (page 37) on the RCMP's handguns up to that date, ending with the Model 10, introduced in 1954.

I think this is a typo, though: "...The next handgun in the history of the RCMP was the Colt New Service in .45 Long Colt, firing a 265 grain bullet at 750 fps..." which is the same description given above for the .476 Enfield. Should read more like "250 grain bullet at 850 fps."

 

[Lee Enfield]

The blackpowder load was 255 at 1050fps.

Early smokeless would have been very close to the original BP velocity.

Current smokeless loadings are significantly downloaded, usually to about 850fps, gamer cowboy action loads even slower to about 700fps.

 

[josquin]

The blackpowder load was 255 at 1050fps....

Pretty impressive for 1873. The Dirty Harry magnum of the day. (slightly downloaded in the years after its introduction, according to COTW.) Even at 850-900 fps. it would be pretty formidable.

 

[passengerseven]

The article is referring to this issue sidearm and this particular revolver is a Colt New Service Issued to the RNWMP (Royal North West Mounted Police) in 1919. It formed part of a shipment of 250 revolvers forwarded to the Commissioner of the RNWMP on October 24th, 1919.

They are a robust piece of iron with a long, smooth double action pull.

Issue ammunition for the detachments was 255 gr round nose lead bullets in .45 long colt. Dominion was the flavor of the day. The load data is not printed on the box.

 

[passengerseven]

I managed to dig up a couple of boxes of the older detachment issue ammunition. The 45 long colt is a big chunk of 255 gr lead, in a rounded/conical flat point bullet shape. Again, no load data was printed on the boxes.

For comparison, it is next to standard 158 gr round nose lead in 38 special from the same era. No load data.

 

[Canuck44]

Thanks for posting the magazine.

Take Care

Bob

 

[josquin]

I managed to dig up a couple of boxes of the older detachment issue ammunition. The 45 long colt is a big chunk of 255 gr lead, in a rounded/conical flat point bullet shape. Again, no load data was printed on the boxes.

Nice! That big .45 slug looks pretty effective. Even more so if it had been a Keith-style wadcutter. As to the .38 Spec. I was under the impression that the RCMP were issued +P ammo, although that might have happened somewhat after the switch-over from .45. Apparently here in BC, before the RCMP took over, there was a "BC Police" force who were issued N-frames marked .38 Special but they were issued 38-44 ammo. At the 2-day gun show in Chilliwack last March there were 4 of those revolvers for sale, stamped "B.C. Police". I was sore tempted, but $1200 was more than I was prepared to shell out at that point.

 

[Canuck44]

josquin +P 38 spl isn;t much more powerful IDPA lowered the Power Factor for Stock Service Revolver division because 125 PF was well into +P territory and factory ammo was not always available to shooters. Regular 38 spl factory ammo was tested and found to run from a low of 95 to a high of 119. IDPA settled on 105PF to accommodate the few shooters who shoot revolver in IDPA. The sport is supposed to allow regular factory ammo to be shot. As it was at 125 it wasn't. I have some of the RCMP issued ammo and it is regular 38spl. There may have been times when +P was issued but even at that the round is no magnum. Adequate but not a fire breather for certain.

Take Care

Bob