Let's say, hypothetically, that you chanced into an S&W that dates to black powder days... a lemonsqueezer, perchance, or a Russian model. A top-break, in any case.
I understand that Remington, Winchester, and all the other big concerns offer standard loadings of rifle cartridges, like the .45-70 for example, in smokeless configuration but which burn at low pressures, to be safe in early guns.
Is this true of handgun ammo also? If I were to buy a 50-count of "green box" Remington in .44 Russian (assuming they make this), could I expect that it would be loaded to black powder pressures? How can you tell?
Posts: 216 | Location: Cow Hampshire, USA | Registered: 17 December 2007
They specialize in obsolete black powder catridge gun ammo and stock GOEX "BLACK DAWGE CARTRIDGES" which are loaded with the cleaner burning black powder substitute.
Magtech, Winchester, TEN-X and Hornady (among others) also make lower pressure Cowboy Action ammo in various calibers.
MOONDAWG
Posts: 9341 | Location: REPUBLIC OF WEST FLORIDA | Registered: 19 October 2006
If the ammunition is loaded to SAAMI specs it should be safe to shoot in firearms that were made for that caliber. However it is critical that the firearm be in good condition and you must remember that firearms that are very old can be un-safe to fire because of their age and the possibility that the metal 'structure' has changed. There were firearms that were not real strong to shoot when they were first made, such as some cheap top break revolvers, and extra care should be taken when shooting these.
