,38 long colt load data

Dandwick · Jul 28, 2016

Hey,
Looking to load some 38 Long Colt for my modern reproduction 1872 open top. Just want some low recoil plinking rounds. have plenty of 38 long colt cases and some hundred twenty-five grain flat point bullets. Thinking 2.3 grains titegroup. Any input?

Troystat · Jul 28, 2016

I would use a light charge of bulleye, maybe take a look at 38s&w loading data.

DWalt · Jul 28, 2016

A long time ago when I had an early 20th century Colt military revolver, my load was 3.5 grains of Unique and a 125 grain semi-conical lead bullet. Note that the early Colt military revolvers had an oversize bore, I think close to around .375 inches, as early .38 LC cartridges used a full diameter heeled bullet. If yours is one of those, the only bullet you should use is a 148 grain HBWC.

ArchAngelCD · Jul 29, 2016

If your replica is made of strong steel you can use smokeless powder but if it's close to the original I would go easy. If it were me I would use Black Powder or a BP substitute but if you want to use smokeless try Trail Boss.

The brass you have, is it for a healed bullet? That would be cool...

Baltimoreed11754 · Jul 29, 2016

I built a swage die to make .375 bore/ .357 heel base bullets using upside down .357 round nose bullets. I shoot them in my 1892 Colt DA revolvers. But you can use any hollow base bullet loaded very light though. The skirt will hopefully open up to engage the rifling. The secret is to get the right combination. Too low powered and the skirt won't open, too fast and you strip the rifling. Accuracy will not be anything much but would work for cas target ranges.

muddocktor · Jul 29, 2016

Doing a quick search, I came up with this thread at coltforum.com, which provided a link to a company called Gad Custom Cartridges. The link I just provided shows their heeled bullets he casts and they have a 150 grain heeled bullet made for the 38 Long Colt. His pricing seems fairly reasonable too, at $8.00 per hundred. I know nothing about this vendor beyond the fact that he makes heeled bullets for your Colt. They look to be unlubed, so you will need to lube them before loading them though.

2152hq · Jul 29, 2016

If it's a Cimmaron reproduction 1872 Open Top in 38 Colt,,,it's probably actually chambered in 38 Special.
They advertise them as being chambered 38Colt/38Special.
I guess the 38Colt chambering sounds better in the marketing world.
The bore/groove is standard 38sp dimensions, not the old oversize specs from the C&B conversion days (though the '72 wasn't a conversion itself).

Cimmaron did the same thing with their 44 cal OpenTop and chambered it for the '44 Colt'. Not the old original 44Colt cartridge but inreality nothing more than a 44Russian chambering w/a new name,, Colt sounds better on a Colt. Same .429 groove dimensions as the 44special/russian.

I have one of the Cimmaron O/Tops marked '44 Special' and it's a favorite shooter.

If you want to load 38 (Long) Colt, There are some loads right from the Hodgdon website.
Click on the cartridge/select 38 Long Colt and go from there.
Set your sights on pistol reloading data | Hodgdon Reloading

I used to load 38 Long Colt for a Colt Lightning revolver and used starting loads ONLY for 38Special and had no problems,,but that was just they way I did it.

Dandwick · Jul 29, 2016

.38lc loads

Thanks for all the info guys very useful. My Revolver is a modern Cimarron open top so it can handle any modern loads. I got some hundred and twenty-five grain round nose Flat Point 125 grain semi wad-cutters and some hundred and fifty grain round nose Flat Point. Looked into heeled bullets but I dont think i have to go that route as the bore is correct size for .357 bullets. I have new star line 38 Long Colt brass, titegroup powder, HI Skor 700 powder, Clay's powder and I have some Trail Boss on the way. I've been looking at the Lymans and the Hodgdon load data and found a few loads...basically down scaled .38sp loads. just looking for some advice on some low-pressure fun to shoot cheap plinking rounds with what i have to work with. thanks again for the help.

Dandwick · Jul 29, 2016

.45 schofield

On the same note, I'm also reloading some .45 schofield loads. Loaded some 200gr rn at 4.6gr HI Skor 700x. Only shot a few but seems to be a nice lighter cowboy load for target practice. Using in an Uberti Cattlemans chambered in .45lc...what fun. Any other suggestions for that one?

ArchAngelCD · Jul 29, 2016

I didn't know Cimarron made an open top 1872 in .38 Long Colt, I thought they were all in .38 Special.

You are correct, if you have new Starline brass you won't need a healed bullet. Keep us up on your results, I know I'm interested...

TripleLock · Jul 30, 2016

The most recent manual I have which gives loading data for .38 Long Colt - with powders that are still available - is the Ideal Handbook No.35 (published by Lyman in 1948), which gives the following: 150-grain bullet (No.35870, a hollow-base design) and 3.0 grains of Bullseye. No velocity is given for this load.

"The Handloader's Manual of Cartridge Conversions", by John J. Donnelly (1987) provides the same load, adding that velocity is 810 fps (barrel length not stated).

Dandwick · Jul 30, 2016

.

Hey thanks again for the input guys I wil load up some of the 38s and let you know how they come out.
Ju just got a custom Magnum Research bfr 460 for my 50th. that's going to be my next load, the big boy! any suggestions?

Dandwick · Jul 30, 2016

Just got a chance to go shoot some newly loaded. 45 schofield w/200gr swc, 4.6 gr Hi Skor from my Uberti Cattlemans Brass. Fun target loads! Low recoil and pretty dang accurate.
Cheers!

nitro-express · Jan 18, 2019

38 Long Colt

I recently embarked on a 38 Long Colt project. I want to shoot 38 LC ammo in my 357 cowboy guns.

Sorry for resurrecting an old thread but there is so little published data.

,38 long colt load data

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