Author Topic: The Black Hills / Kirst / EMF .38 Colt ammunition project begins!  (Read 21276 times)

Offline Marshal Will Wingam

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Re: The Black Hills / Kirst / EMF .38 Colt ammunition project begins!
« Reply #100 on: January 30, 2022, 03:47:17 PM »
I have to admit that I am really Jonesing to get the bullets and load them up.  I REALLY like how sleek and slick the 1851s point.  I'll need to put taller front sights on them, but thats OK.  I might just load up some 148 HBWCs in the .38 colt cases to get a feel of what it will be like.
Blade front sights work great and look fairly historically correct. It doesn't even have to be that tall on a .38.


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Offline Tuolumne Lawman

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Re: The Black Hills / Kirst / EMF .38 Colt ammunition project begins!
« Reply #101 on: January 30, 2022, 05:15:47 PM »
NICE!  Was that originally a Dance Brothers percussion, or did you do it yourself from an 1851?
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Offline Marshal Will Wingam

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Re: The Black Hills / Kirst / EMF .38 Colt ammunition project begins!
« Reply #102 on: January 30, 2022, 05:38:58 PM »
It's actually a Uberti Leech & Rigdon. Didn't even have to make the barrel round. It still has the recoil shields but the sides may yet get flattened to become a Dance. For now it's an L&R. I did cut it to 6", which I feel is the ideal length.

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Offline Coffinmaker

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Re: The Black Hills / Kirst / EMF .38 Colt ammunition project begins!
« Reply #103 on: January 31, 2022, 09:32:01 AM »

 :)  NO FAIR   ;)

Not fair atall you guys.  You're causing a nasty itch.  I'm beginning to get the itch to build a pair of 1851 conversions (again).  I currently shoot a pair of Capt. Schaeffer replicas from Pietta with R&D conversion cylinders innem.  they run particularly fine and are actually quite accurate.  I load them with 38Spl cases and 148Gr Hollow Base Wadcutters.

Of course, there is entirely too much steel left on the end of those Conversion Barrels you guys have.   ;D  Way Too much.  I only have one pair of 1860 Conversions left, and I naturally have cut the barrel to the same length as the Ejector Assembly.   ::)  They balance very nicely at that length.   8)

There is however, nothing "economic" about setting out from square one to "build" a pair of 1851 conversions.  After sourcing the donor guns and the Kirst Konverter parts, one can be investing some serious folding money.  Especially if one opts for the Kirst "Saber River" set (for 1860s).  Tiz however, serious FUN.

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Offline Tuolumne Lawman

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Re: The Black Hills / Kirst / EMF .38 Colt ammunition project begins!
« Reply #104 on: February 01, 2022, 04:37:12 PM »
I really hope this 150 grain hollow base round nose bullet works out.  There is literally no one offering it except Buffalo Arms, and Dave only offers it in their hand crafted, hand cast bullet ammo, which they are 6 months behind on because he can't get components.

I have a bunch of 148 grain, soft lead wadcutters that work well in the bore, but are a pain in the butt to load.
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Re: The Black Hills / Kirst / EMF .38 Colt ammunition project begins!
« Reply #105 on: February 02, 2022, 11:59:57 AM »
There is a local match a week from Saturday.  I have some factory Black Hills .38 special HBWC left.  I'll probably use the pair of Kirst Konverted 1851s at that match and give them a whirl....
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Offline Marshal Will Wingam

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Re: The Black Hills / Kirst / EMF .38 Colt ammunition project begins!
« Reply #106 on: February 02, 2022, 01:17:18 PM »
Sounds like fun to be had. Looking forward to hearing your report on them.

How long will it be before the hollow base bullets will be available?

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Offline Tuolumne Lawman

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Re: The Black Hills / Kirst / EMF .38 Colt ammunition project begins!
« Reply #107 on: February 02, 2022, 01:48:43 PM »
Well, Steve at Bear Creek has an original I sent him and is working on adapting the core of his 148 HBWC and re-working it into a 150 grain RNFP hollow base that can be used in .38/,357 pistols and rifles also!
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Offline Marshal Will Wingam

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Re: The Black Hills / Kirst / EMF .38 Colt ammunition project begins!
« Reply #108 on: February 02, 2022, 04:23:41 PM »
Sounds like it could work out good.

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Re: The Black Hills / Kirst / EMF .38 Colt ammunition project begins!
« Reply #109 on: February 11, 2022, 08:11:56 PM »
It really is amazing how close to originals the Kirst Konverters are! ;D ;D

My Kirst 1851 Richards .38 Colt conversions:



Original 1851 Richards .38 Colt conversions:

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Offline Coffinmaker

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Re: The Black Hills / Kirst / EMF .38 Colt ammunition project begins!
« Reply #110 on: February 12, 2022, 11:28:48 AM »

 :)  TL  ;)

You Betcha.  The Kirst Converter for the 1851 is really good.  It is a "cross" between a Richards and a Richards-Mason but is just soooo darn'd close.  I really like them.

I still don't really know what I agreed to sell the last pair I built.  Silly thing to do.

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Re: The Black Hills / Kirst / EMF .38 Colt ammunition project begins!
« Reply #111 on: April 09, 2022, 02:02:36 PM »
Looks like the Bear Creek 150 grain, .357 RN hollow base bullet is a go.  Just talked to Steve at Bear Creek.  The mould is made, just waiting for a big shipment of lead.  I should have a trial run in 2-3 weeks!  I am EXCITED!
TUOLUMNE LAWMAN
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Offline Marshal Will Wingam

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Re: The Black Hills / Kirst / EMF .38 Colt ammunition project begins!
« Reply #112 on: April 09, 2022, 03:17:39 PM »
Very cool! 150 grain will work beautifully. Looking forward to hearing the results. Will he make them soft lead so they expand easily in conversions?

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Offline Tuolumne Lawman

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Re: The Black Hills / Kirst / EMF .38 Colt ammunition project begins!
« Reply #113 on: April 12, 2022, 04:59:47 PM »
I am thinking 3.5 to 4 grains of WW231 or Unique, loaded long in the .38 Colt Case, closer to .38 Spcl. OAL.
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Offline Marshal Will Wingam

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Re: The Black Hills / Kirst / EMF .38 Colt ammunition project begins!
« Reply #114 on: April 12, 2022, 07:17:30 PM »
It'll be interesting to hear how that works out. The loading data is really scant for that caliber.

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Offline Tuolumne Lawman

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Re: The Black Hills / Kirst / EMF .38 Colt ammunition project begins!
« Reply #115 on: April 12, 2022, 09:55:30 PM »
Yep. The meager data says 3.3 grains but I know from the healed bullets it is a mouse fart load.  The 38 special is 4.8 grains.
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Offline Marshal Will Wingam

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Re: The Black Hills / Kirst / EMF .38 Colt ammunition project begins!
« Reply #116 on: April 12, 2022, 11:05:58 PM »
That makes sense. Loading long would work provided there's enough bullet around the hollow base to sufficiently crimp to, or would it not be that far extended?

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Re: The Black Hills / Kirst / EMF .38 Colt ammunition project begins!
« Reply #117 on: April 13, 2022, 07:48:34 AM »

 :)  Ha!!  ;)

None of the above.  A lightly compressed load of BP.  Or, APP to the base of the bullet.  None of that Heathen Fad Smokeless Stuff thank you.

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Re: The Black Hills / Kirst / EMF .38 Colt ammunition project begins!
« Reply #118 on: April 13, 2022, 08:14:13 AM »
That makes sense. Loading long would work provided there's enough bullet around the hollow base to sufficiently crimp to, or would it not be that far extended?

The 150 grain hollow base bullet is very long, and can be loaded long.  I sent Bear Creek an original 150 HBRN from a 1950s factory .38 long Colt round.
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Offline Marshal Will Wingam

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Re: The Black Hills / Kirst / EMF .38 Colt ammunition project begins!
« Reply #119 on: April 13, 2022, 08:45:17 AM »
They must have a fairly deep cavity in the hollow base. I look forward to seeing the Bear Creek ones.

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