Author Topic: 38 S&W Safety Hammerless 2nd model Lemon Squeezer  (Read 2380 times)

Offline ndnchf

  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 1419
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 1
38 S&W Safety Hammerless 2nd model Lemon Squeezer
« on: December 13, 2020, 06:36:56 PM »
I've always like the looks of these mid-sized break tops. This one is quite nice, retaining almost all its original nickel plating. It has a very good, near excellent bore too. Its a 2nd model from the 1880s. Not wanting to wanting to shoot smokeless in it, I pulled the bullets from some Remington factory smokeless, 146gr  rounds and reloaded them with 6.5gr of Blackhorn 209.

I also had some old WRA rounds. Since these were a different bullet, I pulled one apart too check it out. I was surprised to
see they were black powder rounds! It was packed in tight and took some scraping to get it out. It looks like 3F, and weighs 12.6gr. There was a little still in the case that was stuck on. I expect it was originally 13gr. I tried to fire just the primer. But as expected it was dead. So after cleaning the balloon head case, I put in a new CCI SP primer. Then drop tubed the original powder back in. After putting fresh lube on the bullet, it was seated and crimped. I hope to get to the range soon to try them out.
"We're all travelers in this world.  From the sweet grass to the packing house, birth till death, we travel between the eternities"  Prentiss Ritter, Broken Trail

Offline ndnchf

  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 1419
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 1
Re: 38 S&W Safety Hammerless 2nd model Lemmon Squeezer
« Reply #1 on: December 13, 2020, 06:38:45 PM »
Here is the WRA black powder round.
"We're all travelers in this world.  From the sweet grass to the packing house, birth till death, we travel between the eternities"  Prentiss Ritter, Broken Trail

Offline ndnchf

  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 1419
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 1
Re: 38 S&W Safety Hammerless 2nd model Lemmon Squeezer
« Reply #2 on: December 15, 2020, 08:02:50 AM »
I loaded up a few rounds with the 38 PRS snakebite bullet to try out.
"We're all travelers in this world.  From the sweet grass to the packing house, birth till death, we travel between the eternities"  Prentiss Ritter, Broken Trail

Advertising

  • Guest
Re: 38 S&W Safety Hammerless 2nd model Lemon Squeezer
« Reply #3 on: Today at 06:38:39 AM »

Offline ndnchf

  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 1419
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 1
Re: 38 S&W Safety Hammerless 2nd model Lemon Squeezer
« Reply #3 on: December 28, 2020, 03:31:35 PM »
I finally got to the range today and tried out the .38 S&W. It was a lot of fun  ;D. Here is a short video.

"We're all travelers in this world.  From the sweet grass to the packing house, birth till death, we travel between the eternities"  Prentiss Ritter, Broken Trail

Offline Professor Marvel

  • purveyor of useless items to the gentry
  • American Plainsmen Society
  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 3081
  • learn from the past, or be doomed to repeat it
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 1118
Re: 38 S&W Safety Hammerless 2nd model Lemon Squeezer
« Reply #4 on: December 28, 2020, 10:38:49 PM »
Great Job!

But OMG you ejected those precious empties onto the ground!

yhs
prf mrvl
Your Humble Servant
~~~~~Professor Algernon Horatio Ubiquitous Marvel The First~~~~~~
President, CEO, Chairman,  and Chief Bottle Washer of


Professor Marvel's
Traveling Apothecary
and
Fortune Telling Emporium


Acclaimed By The Crowned Heads of Europe
Purveyor of Patent Remedies, Snake Oil, Powder, Percussion Caps, Cleaning Supplies, Dry Goods,
and
Picture Postcards

Offering Unwanted Advice for All Occasions
and
Providing Useless Items to the Gentry
Since 1822
[
Available by Appointment for Lectures on Any Topic


Offline ndnchf

  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 1419
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 1
Re: 38 S&W Safety Hammerless 2nd model Lemon Squeezer
« Reply #5 on: December 29, 2020, 06:55:00 AM »
As soon as the camera was off, I got down on my hands and knees and picked them all up. I'll be reloading them today  ;D
"We're all travelers in this world.  From the sweet grass to the packing house, birth till death, we travel between the eternities"  Prentiss Ritter, Broken Trail

Offline Professor Marvel

  • purveyor of useless items to the gentry
  • American Plainsmen Society
  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 3081
  • learn from the past, or be doomed to repeat it
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 1118
Re: 38 S&W Safety Hammerless 2nd model Lemon Squeezer
« Reply #6 on: December 29, 2020, 04:25:39 PM »
As soon as the camera was off, I got down on my hands and knees and picked them all up. I'll be reloading them today  ;D

Ah good, my faith in you is restored!

Can you show a tintype of the target?
What sort of group did you get?
Could you possibly shoot some pine boards for the mil req' penetration test?

thanks in advacne
prf mrvl
Your Humble Servant
~~~~~Professor Algernon Horatio Ubiquitous Marvel The First~~~~~~
President, CEO, Chairman,  and Chief Bottle Washer of


Professor Marvel's
Traveling Apothecary
and
Fortune Telling Emporium


Acclaimed By The Crowned Heads of Europe
Purveyor of Patent Remedies, Snake Oil, Powder, Percussion Caps, Cleaning Supplies, Dry Goods,
and
Picture Postcards

Offering Unwanted Advice for All Occasions
and
Providing Useless Items to the Gentry
Since 1822
[
Available by Appointment for Lectures on Any Topic


Offline Drydock

  • MA1 USN ret. GAF #19, Colonel, Chief of Staff. BC, CC, SoM. SASS 1248 Life
  • American Plainsmen Society
  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 4831
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 18
Re: 38 S&W Safety Hammerless 2nd model Lemon Squeezer
« Reply #7 on: December 29, 2020, 04:44:38 PM »
How did the rounds with the original powder perform?
Civilize them with a Krag . . .

Offline ndnchf

  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 1419
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 1
Re: 38 S&W Safety Hammerless 2nd model Lemon Squeezer
« Reply #8 on: December 29, 2020, 05:02:11 PM »
Professor - I was shooting at about 10', but didn't keep the target. But it shot surprisingly well, they were all going into a 2 5" - 3" circle. The double action is quite smooth and not to heavy. I'll try to remember to bring some pine board the next time I go out. I have this Ideal loading tool with mold that I'm going to clean up and make some bullets with.

Drydock - I only had one original cartridge that I reprimed, then reloaded the original black powder. I completely forgot to shoot it! I'm getting forgetful! I'll try to remember next time.
"We're all travelers in this world.  From the sweet grass to the packing house, birth till death, we travel between the eternities"  Prentiss Ritter, Broken Trail

Offline Niederlander

  • American Plainsmen Society
  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 3099
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 6
Re: 38 S&W Safety Hammerless 2nd model Lemon Squeezer
« Reply #9 on: December 29, 2020, 05:51:36 PM »
That sounds like an interesting experiment.  My Lemon Squeezer is a .38 in blue.  I load mine with the lightest Red Dot load you can load for it.  I need to test mine for accuracy, too.  I know it's fine for hitting a man size target from across a table, but it would be nice to know just how accurate it really is.
"There go those Nebraskans, and all hell couldn't stop them!"

Offline ndnchf

  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 1419
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 1
Re: 38 S&W Safety Hammerless 2nd model Lemon Squeezer
« Reply #10 on: December 30, 2020, 06:39:08 PM »
Got these two all ready to make some bullets tomorrow, assuming it warms up enough.
"We're all travelers in this world.  From the sweet grass to the packing house, birth till death, we travel between the eternities"  Prentiss Ritter, Broken Trail

Offline ndnchf

  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 1419
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 1
Re: 38 S&W Safety Hammerless 2nd model Lemon Squeezer
« Reply #11 on: December 31, 2020, 01:31:37 PM »
Got some bullets cast today. In 30-1 alloy they came out at 151gr, .361" diameter. I loaded some over 10.5gr of Old Eynsford 3F.
"We're all travelers in this world.  From the sweet grass to the packing house, birth till death, we travel between the eternities"  Prentiss Ritter, Broken Trail

Offline dusty texian

  • Chief Scout Wehmeyer Ranch's.
  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 2134
  • Dusty Texian
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 107
Re: 38 S&W Safety Hammerless 2nd model Lemon Squeezer
« Reply #12 on: January 01, 2021, 09:20:06 AM »
Great video Steve , good job bringing that one back to life . I cant think of anyone I know that has made the obsolete cartridges for old time guns and got them shooting more than you my friend . Keep up the good work and Thanks for sharing .Happy New Yr.,,,DT

Offline ndnchf

  • Top Active Citizen
  • *
  • Posts: 1419
  • Liked:
  • Likes Given: 1
Re: 38 S&W Safety Hammerless 2nd model Lemon Squeezer
« Reply #13 on: January 01, 2021, 10:16:42 AM »
Thanks Dusty, I appreciate your kind words. I have to admit that I really enjoy the challenge of loading for old iron. Very satisfying to see them come back to life.
"We're all travelers in this world.  From the sweet grass to the packing house, birth till death, we travel between the eternities"  Prentiss Ritter, Broken Trail

 

SMF spam blocked by CleanTalk

© 1995 - 2023 CAScity.com