In revolver rounds, we're pretty much tied to the .38 Special ctg. down here. You can't have a .357, although a Model 65 with a Model 64 barrel installed would pass muster if it came down to that. I've seen that done.

A friend just got an old Colt Revolver registered by the "powers that be", with the permit to take it out to the range, that is actually a .38-40. The revolver was marked .38 W.C.F. and since the "powers that be" are clueless, they just assumed it was permitted under their own laws and gave him the permit.

Our permits list both the weapon and caliber, as well as the caliber of ammunition and amount thereof you are allowed to transport from your home to the range. So, buddy now has a permit for his .38-40 and 200 rounds of ammo as well. And herein lies the problem; we're going to need to come up with some casings that say ".38 WCF" because that's the way his firearm is registered. I doubt that ".38-40 WCF" would pass. In fact, I can guarantee you it wouldn't pass.

I've been through enough Goon check-stops down here to know what you can and cannot get away with. You are dealing with morons who have an extremely LOW level of knowledge but who will enforce the written word to the letter. If what you got is what your permit says you can have, "drive on". If not, big problems that perhaps any reasonable amount of money cannot solve. (I have been told many times by people with no experience that "anything can be resolved in Mexico with money" but they simply do not know what they are talking about. Many things can be, most things might be, but some things cannot. If "they" think that a weapons bust will get them that promotion -- or if there are simply too many officials around when you get caught -- the amount of cash you would need to buy your way out is more than I'm ever going to the range with. Reality often has a way of clashing with Urban Legend.)

So it would be really neat and nice if there was some modern manufacturer of .38-40 casings who was actually marking the cases ".38 WCF". If anyone out there knows of such an example, please let me know. Maybe I could get myself a Peacemaker I could actually use here, you know? I'll sure appreciate any advice and knowledge available on this matter. Thanks. Cheers!

WOW!!!

That's some silly laws.

Ya just have to try and find some older brass or ammo stamped .38 WCF.

Some indoor ranges do not allow any ammo headstamped MAGNUM. You could handload it down to pipsqueek levels , but if it says MAG or MAGNUM , it's still forbidden.

OTOH , you could load Elmer Keith level loads into .44 SPECIAL brass and it's OK.

.30 Carbine = OK. .32 H&R Mag , not!

Unfortunately no U.S. manufacturer has head-stamped the cartridge as .38 W.C.F. for something like 80-90 years. The best he could do would be to document that the .38-40 and .38 W.C.F. are the same cartridge, and there is much documentation available on the internet and in print, and see what he can do about getting the registration ammended to show both cartridges.

Also unfortunately, .38-40 may be on the restricted list. Mexico has even more inane gun laws than New York City, Chicago, or New Jersey.

__________________
Gunsmithing since 1961

I'm sure Starline would be able to make you brass with a 38 WCF headstamp but you would have to purchase a huge quantity.

True, but as I recall there is a 100,000 minimum order! Makes it somewhat useless information.

__________________
Gunsmithing since 1961

.38-40 CAN be registered for a rifle. So, you have given me an idea. I can just go register an old beater .38-40...or maybe get myself one of the new 1866 or 1873 copies in .38-40. Man, wouldn't THAT be nice!!!

Then, I'd have the permit to carry the ammo. You see? This would all work out, and although it requires buying the rifle (the mechanics of which we won't go into here on a public forum, obviously), I really would not feel upset to HAVE an 1866 short rifle in .38-40 laying around. In fact, I'd be darned happy. Talk about a totally great, totally legal substitute assault weapon for around the house, exactly as practical as a .41 magnum carbine. And fun.

Thanks for your answers, you've given me a direction to go that will require some work but will be MOST enjoyable.

hmmmm... makes me want to start an export business