Using 38 special ammo in Colt 1877?

[Daybreak Dave]

I am wanting to hear my Colt 1877 in 38 Colt roar again, very infrequent plinking, no match shooting  (In fact, I have never shot a match although a member for several years).  My original Colt is early 1900's vintage, so OK for smokeless.  I have looked at case dimensions of original .38 Colt Army Cartridge , and specs for everything are nearly same as 38 special EXCEPT I would need to shorten the 38 special cases.  They seem to chamber fine in my 1877, as specs would indicate.  Now for the main question.

Is there anything potentially bad with shooting the 158 gr. hard cast lead 38 Specials (light loads) in the 1877 other that poor accuracy? If I fire these .358 bullets in the 1877, I realize that they are undersize.  I have used a crude dial caliper method and my bore at riflings seems to be about .37.  I think I read the originals were about that or .375, and used heeled bullets.  I guess later in the 38 Colt firearms, they changed bullets to about .358, with a hollow base bullet to expand and fill bore?

Anyway, I have rambled on about what I know for sure, somewhat sure, and not very sure at all.  What say you experts?  Any problem with my plan, or should I go another route to make this 1877 bark again?

Daybreak Dave

[Deadeye Don]

Since you wont be shooting it much,  just buy some factory 38 colts.   Oh,   and I really dont think Lightnings ever "roared".   

[Fox Creek Kid]

Have you slugged the gun? I'll bet it's close to 0.375 meaning you need heel based bullets and NOT .357 bullets.

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[Montana Slim]

...or try 148gr HBWC bullets. These have worked well with BP (& the other stuff) in some modern coversions having .375 bores.....and with BP only in an original Colt RM 1861 (38 Colt CF) using .38 SPL brass.

I've also fired .358 hard cast in some of these guns....sthese were plenty accurate for hitting typical SASS pistol targets.
But, you'll like HBWC better.

Regards,
Slim

[Daybreak Dave]

Thanks for the help fellas, but I am still very slightly befuddled.  Only slightly. 

Bore size on my 1877  - I have not actually slugged it, but it seems to be the .375 of the original bores (a .358 just falls in easily).  However, there are two different terms being tossed around, both with the initials "HB".  "Heel based" and "hollow base".  I believe I understand the difference;  the heel based were the original configuration, nearly of the .375 bore size.  However, I understand from some writings that a common and easier solution developed later on was a hollow base bullet of the normal .357-.358 diameter, of pure load, which would easily fill the bore upon firing.

Montana Slim, when you refer to 148 gr. HBWC, does the "HB" refer to hollow base .358 or heel base .375? 

Also, I may just try your suggestion, backed by experience, that a normal hard cast .358 may work well enough.

If I buy a box or two of factory 38 colt, like some of the cowboy ammo companies sell, am I getting .358 hollow base bullets in those?  The descriptions I have seen, like Ultramax, do not say.  I "think" it must be hollow base .358 ?

Thanks again,
Daybreak Dave

[French Jack]

Rapine makes a hollow base .38 bullet mould.  They work much better than the HBWC or other avenues.  You get better accuracy, and should not have any problem with leading.