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Old 12-30-2016, 10:34 PM
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Default 32-44 S&W, 38-44 S&W ammo

Normally I post over on the gunleather forum here, yet lately have become interested in the early Hand Ejectors.

Those of you with 32-44 and 38-44 S&W revolvers (not the 38+P+ of the early 1930s; I mean the late 19th century target loads), what do you do for ammo? Is it commercially available or must it be handloaded?

Thanks in advance.
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Old 12-31-2016, 04:26 AM
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.32-44 was a target cartridge specifically for a large frame S&W top-break revolver built on the #3 frame.

There are 2 very different .38-44 cartridges. The early one is for the #3 Target and loaded with black powder and comments for the .32-44 apply to this one too. Both of these must be hand-loaded and correct brass is not available!

The second .38-44, introduced ca.1929, is nothing more than the .38 Special loaded to significantly higher pressure, around 25,000 PSI or higher. It was originally intended as a Police Service cartridge and chambered in a gun built on the 3rd Model .44 Hand Ejector frame, hence the .38-44 designation. These were the .38-44 Heavy Duty and .38-44 Outdoorsman. The difference being fixed or target sights respectively. Since it is a simply a .38 Spl. it is a much simpler proposition to hand load, but hand loaded it must be as factory loads have not been available since the 1960s or shortly thereafter. Published velocities for factory ammunition when it was available range from 1115-1150 FPS with the 158 gr. RN bullet, either lead or copper-capped lead. Proper bullets, the 158 gr. capped round-nose with lead bearing surface, have not been available to hand loaders for many years.
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Old 12-31-2016, 05:07 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alk8944 View Post
.32-44 was a target cartridge specifically for a large frame S&W top-break revolver built on the #3 frame.

There are 2 very different .38-44 cartridges. The early one is for the #3 Target and loaded with black powder and comments for the .32-44 apply to this one too. Both of these must be hand-loaded and correct brass is not available!

The second .38-44, introduced ca.1929, is nothing more than the .38 Special loaded to significantly higher pressure, around 25,000 PSI or higher. It was originally intended as a Police Service cartridge and chambered in a gun built on the 3rd Model .44 Hand Ejector frame, hence the .38-44 designation. These were the .38-44 Heavy Duty and .38-44 Outdoorsman. The difference being fixed or target sights respectively. Since it is a simply a .38 Spl. it is a much simpler proposition to hand load, but hand loaded it must be as factory loads have not been available since the 1960s or shortly thereafter. Published velocities for factory ammunition when it was available range from 1115-1150 FPS with the 158 gr. RN bullet, either lead or copper-capped lead. Proper bullets, the 158 gr. capped round-nose with lead bearing surface, have not been available to hand loaders for many years.
Thank you so much.
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Old 01-01-2017, 08:58 PM
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.32-44 cartridge cases can be formed from .32-20 brass but it must be expanded to a straight wall configuration. It uses .321" bullets. The bullet is seated fully inside the case. No idea where one would find reloading dies. I don't know anything about the early .38-44 case or what it could be formed from, or even if it's possible to do so.
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Old 01-02-2017, 01:02 PM
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I have been doing some research on loading the 38-44 Target caliber. Check out this thread for more details.

Solving the 38 Single Shot Accuracy Mystery
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