.38 cartridges

[Froogal]

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?

[Reverend P. Babcock Chase]

Don't forget the .38 S&W.

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

[Froogal]

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!

[Abilene]

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.

[Froogal]

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.

[Johnson Barr]

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.   

[Froogal]

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.

[Johnson Barr]

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.

[Galloway]

38 long colt was 6th in popularity of the saa, if I wanted authenticity in a 357 chambered replica thats what i would shoot.

[pony express]

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.

[Froogal]

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.

[paperchaser]

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)