Hello,

I have a 38 S&W Iver Johnson Top Break Revolver. Now I have the chance to get a box of .38 Colt Short Cartridges in black powder.

It's possible to use this in my IJ?? Thank you in advance.

Best regards
Dirk

Same problem you have with the .32 I-J you asked about. 38 short Colt will likely split in a .38 S&W chamber.

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" .38 short Colt will likely split in a .38 S&W chamber. "

Not so likely. I have fired many .38 SC rounds in .38 S&W revolvers without any case splitting. Who makes BP cartridges in .38 SC today? Are they antiques? BTW, in the 20th Century, the .38 SC was always loaded with .357 bullets. Only the early ones used the heeled full diameter bullets. Sort of like the .38 LC and the .41 LC which did the same. BTW, the .38 SC is a great round to use in .38 Special snubbies with short extractor rods. You get complete extraction using the shorter cases.

If the bullet of the .38 Short Colt is full case diameter (like a .22 LR), it may not work. If it has a typical smaller diameter and crimp along the bullet base, it should work fine. Fiocchi makes a smokeless round called the .38 Corto which is probably similar.

If you use the BP rounds, lots of warm soapy water to clean it afterward will prevent nasty pitting and such.

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

"If you use the BP rounds, lots of warm soapy water to clean it afterward will prevent nasty pitting and such."

Presuming they fire at all (assuming that they are old). I once came into a few pounds (not rounds) of old .38 S&W BP loads (.357 bullets, not the expected .360), and most of them didn't go bang. I salvaged the bullets and brass from those.