Who has hunted with the 38-40 Cartridge

Dominion claimed 1330fps for their 180gr load, which beats the 10mm Auto, which is supposed to be the Bee's Knees for Bear Defence.
 
maple_leaf_eh said:
I had to educate myself on the .38-40 with Cartridges of the World. It is not a very powerful cartridge. It was originally a .38-cal bullet over 40 grains of black for revolvers and lever action rifles. The analogy to a .40 S&W is good. Are your willing to use your tag firing a pistol cartridge at a deer? There haven't been factory loads for this one for 80-90 years. Maybe there is a reason for that.
Click to expand...

It's actually a 40 cal over 38 grains of black powder originally & you can, albeit real hard, still find factory loads for it. There were a few different variations of the 38-40, but the 38 WCF was a 40 cal bullet, the same diameter as the 41 colt I believe.
I figure for hunting with it though, hand loading is the only way to go.
 
DANCESWITHEMPTIES said:
It's actually a 40 cal over 38 grains of black powder originally & you can, albeit real hard, still find factory loads for it. There were a few different variations of the 38-40, but the 38 WCF was a 40 cal bullet, the same diameter as the 41 colt I believe.
I figure for hunting with it though, hand loading is the only way to go.
Click to expand...

That is correct. - dan
 
DANCESWITHEMPTIES said:
It's actually a 40 cal over 38 grains of black powder originally & you can, albeit real hard, still find factory loads for it. There were a few different variations of the 38-40, but the 38 WCF was a 40 cal bullet, the same diameter as the 41 colt I believe.
I figure for hunting with it though, hand loading is the only way to go.
Click to expand...

A 40-cal bullet over 38-grains of black!?!? So, that naming convention means a 45-70 is a .70-calibre bullet over 45-grains of black?

Cartridges of the World gives the 38-40 bullet diameter as .401, and on page 80, the author explains more about the origins as derived from the 44-40 case necked down, and some changes in loading which led to a reversal of nomenclature. He goes on, "... This was considered a pretty god short range deer number (sic. with a 180-gr bullet at 1775 fps) but was not intended for old black powder rifles or revolvers. It was discontinued because it caused a lot of trouble for people who never read labels. ..."
 
maple_leaf_eh said:
A 40-cal bullet over 38-grains of black!?!? So, that naming convention means a 45-70 is a .70-calibre bullet over 45-grains of black?

Cartridges of the World gives the 38-40 bullet diameter as .401, and on page 80, the author explains more about the origins as derived from the 44-40 case necked down, and some changes in loading which led to a reversal of nomenclature. He goes on, "... This was considered a pretty god short range deer number (sic. with a 180-gr bullet at 1775 fps) but was not intended for old black powder rifles or revolvers. It was discontinued because it caused a lot of trouble for people who never read labels. ..."
Click to expand...

What a cartridge is named may, or may not be an accurate description. So it goes. - dan
 
Friends shared a hunting picture, (circa early 1960ā€™s) of their late father, a homesteader in north-central Alberta. The photo shows William standing over a massive bull elk he had killed and proudly holding his prized Winchester. His son inherited the rifle, chambered in 38-40. There are still elk roaming on their land. Back in the day I think they just hunted with what they had.
 
Never took big game with the 38-40, did use it's big brother the 44-40. 4X4 Whitetail buck laser ranged at 127 yds after the shot. 210 grain soft lead home cast bullet, case full of 777, about 1250 FPS.
Bang flop. Buck weighted 187 pounds before dressing out. Complete pass through on the chest. 38-40 would do the same I'm willing to bet.
 
My dad used one on the farm for years. Out the kitchen window was the saying.
Longest distance to said deer would have been 100yds. They did run some if he didn't hit the heart
38-55 was his favorite though. thumped them where they stood.
I laugh when I hear people saying 38-55 is not a deer caliber.
 
Anything legal is a deer chambering, some just give you a lot more options.

mbogo3 said:
Norway issues Glock 20's in 10mm for polar bear protection.
Click to expand...

And itā€™s good at the job seeing as it penetrates as far as any of the big bore revolvers when hot and heavy. Until they make 2 1/2lb holsterable .308s guys like us will use them. Canā€™t say those ballistics would be my choice for a hunting rifle unless it was an heirloom, but whatever is legal is fair.
 
mbogo3 said:
Yes much.........the 38-40 is actually .40 caliber with 180gr bullet around 1200fps+ The 38-55 uses a 255gr in a .377-.379+ diameter bullet anywhere between a sedate 1200 fps to 1600fps+ in warmer factory loads.Depending on the firearm strength handloading improves both .
Click to expand...
Blackpowder .44-40 was 1325-1350fps out of a rifle barrel, my understanding is that .38-40 blackpowder velocity was approx 100fps faster than .44-40.

https://sites.google.com/view/44winchester/chasing-the-44-40

As with most things there is a lot of BS and factory cowboy actiom loads are gamer like - just fast enough to (barely) make it out of the barrel reliably.
 
24gr of RE#7 under a 220gr .430 Jet cast bullet in Starline or Win brass makes one hole at 50 yards in a 92 44-40
 
The 38-40 prolly isnt my first choice in a Deer gun, but the .22 rimfire is not even on the horizon as a choice , unless of course I am in a survival situation and that is all that I have.
There are better marginal choices and the 25-20 comes to mind and if the owner of the 38-40 wants to play old time prospector/trapper have at 'er if they choose , I aint gonna give 'em an atta boy for trying.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom