Author Topic: .38 cartridges  (Read 1517 times)

Offline Froogal

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.38 cartridges
« on: October 25, 2022, 12:30:11 PM »
I'm curious about the various .38 caliber cartridges. How does a .38 short colt compare to a .38 special? How does a .38 long colt compare to the .38 special? I know that the long colt is still shorter than a .38 special, and the .38 short colt is shorter yet.

I assume that both the short colt and the long colt will probably work just fine in a 6 shooter, but would there be a problem with chambering in a lever action rifle?

Offline Reverend P. Babcock Chase

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Re: .38 cartridges
« Reply #1 on: October 25, 2022, 02:27:47 PM »
Don't forget the .38 S&W.

Rev. Chase
(who is too lazy to look for his "Cartridges of the World")

Offline Froogal

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Re: .38 cartridges
« Reply #2 on: October 25, 2022, 02:38:48 PM »
Don't forget the .38 S&W.

Rev. Chase
(who is too lazy to look for his "Cartridges of the World")

I knew I was forgetting one!

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Re: .38 cartridges
« Reply #3 on: Today at 10:16:48 AM »

Offline Abilene

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Re: .38 cartridges
« Reply #3 on: October 25, 2022, 02:51:35 PM »
As you surmised .38 short and long Colt are same as .38 Spcl, just shorter, and fine in revolvers.  In olden times those short and long colts might have used heeled bullets, not sure, but modern versions are fine.  .38 S&W is a totally different animal and not compatible.  As for lever guns, pretty much all of them would jam up with short or long Colts.  A Marlin might be able to be short stroked and modified for the shorter cartridges.  For a toggle link rifle, you would need a special modified carrier.  Those are available for big bore but not for .38/.357 so it would have to be custom made.

Offline Froogal

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Re: .38 cartridges
« Reply #4 on: October 26, 2022, 07:34:08 AM »
As you surmised .38 short and long Colt are same as .38 Spcl, just shorter, and fine in revolvers.  In olden times those short and long colts might have used heeled bullets, not sure, but modern versions are fine.  .38 S&W is a totally different animal and not compatible.  As for lever guns, pretty much all of them would jam up with short or long Colts.  A Marlin might be able to be short stroked and modified for the shorter cartridges.  For a toggle link rifle, you would need a special modified carrier.  Those are available for big bore but not for .38/.357 so it would have to be custom made.

Thank you. That is what I needed to know. Just trying to come up with a cartridge that is a bit more period correct than a .38 special, and will function in both the rifle and the pistol.

Offline Johnson Barr

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Re: .38 cartridges
« Reply #5 on: October 30, 2022, 12:14:35 PM »
Those rifle and revolver period combinations are: .32-20 (32 WCF), 38-40 (38 WCF) and .44-40 (44 WCF). The bottle necks are not so fearfully difficult to load than any other cartridge; given you enjoy building rounds one at a time with a single stage press. My RCBS Rock Chucker has been do just that since my college days in the mid '70's.   
"Peace is that glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading"  -Thomas Jefferson

Offline Froogal

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Re: .38 cartridges
« Reply #6 on: October 30, 2022, 03:14:56 PM »
Those rifle and revolver period combinations are: .32-20 (32 WCF), 38-40 (38 WCF) and .44-40 (44 WCF). The bottle necks are not so fearfully difficult to load than any other cartridge; given you enjoy building rounds one at a time with a single stage press. My RCBS Rock Chucker has been do just that since my college days in the mid '70's.

Thank you. Food for thought right there. The .38-40 holds my interest.

Offline Johnson Barr

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Re: .38 cartridges
« Reply #7 on: October 31, 2022, 12:32:47 PM »
My fave. Load and shoot all three but the 38-40 is a Daisy out of my '66 Carbine and 5 1/2" Model P using the same powder charge and 180gr. RNFP cast bullet.
"Peace is that glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading"  -Thomas Jefferson

Offline Galloway

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Re: .38 cartridges
« Reply #8 on: October 31, 2022, 01:09:46 PM »
38 long colt was 6th in popularity of the saa, if I wanted authenticity in a 357 chambered replica thats what i would shoot.

Offline pony express

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Re: .38 cartridges
« Reply #9 on: October 31, 2022, 09:04:32 PM »
38 long colt was 6th in popularity of the saa, if I wanted authenticity in a 357 chambered replica thats what i would shoot.

Works great in revolvers, but not so great for lever guns. It's hard to make the shorter cartridge feed well in a gun designed for .357 length rounds.

Offline Froogal

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Re: .38 cartridges
« Reply #10 on: November 01, 2022, 08:44:38 AM »
Works great in revolvers, but not so great for lever guns. It's hard to make the shorter cartridge feed well in a gun designed for .357 length rounds.

Kind of what I thought.

Offline paperchaser

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Re: .38 cartridges
« Reply #11 on: January 13, 2023, 05:20:02 PM »
My favorite black powder revolver round is the 38 Long Colt; put enough Swiss in them and they sound (and smoke) just fine. And 125grain or 158grain bullets don't matter to me.
And I have to admit the 45 Colt favorite rifle round; the shotgun shells are LOADED up and I use fiber wads (hate those plastic ones)
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