38-40 Ammo thoughts

[Muddyboot]

Having recently acquired a Colt SAA in 38-40 (along with 41 LC cylinder) and hearing a lot of horror stories about finding 38-40 ammo. I was surprised on how easy it was to find 38-40 if you know where to look (GunBroker in my case.)

Yes, prices are a bit high, but years of accumulating .41 Long Colt taught me to be patient, bid often at a price you're willing to pay, and don't worry about losing to other bidders, which I do most of the time.

In the last three months I've won enough auctions to acquire almost a thousand rounds of 38-40. I've ordered Redding dies and will be reloading the used brass shortly.

So, if you find yourself pining for an oddball caliber as I always seem to do.
and are willing to pay a little more, reloading helps too, don't fear making that oddball caliber purchase.

 

[chief38]

I have always suggested that if you buy a gun in an odd-ball caliber you reload your ammunition. Not so much for savings, but to insure a steady supply, velocity, power and grain weight of bullet.

I would also say that if reloading us not something you are interested in, then when you do find a good source of ammo - stock up! I'd also save the brass just in case you change your mind down the road.

 

[.455_Hunter]

I have a 1908 production Colt New Service in .38 WCF and a Old Vaquero convertible in .38 WCF and .40 S&W. Some ammo, like Winchester Super-X, fit fine in both guns. However, other ammo, like Black Hills, would frequently not want to fully seat in the Vaquero's cylinder. Looking at the two rounds, the shoulder is much further forward on the BH than the Super-X. I had my gunsmith kiss the Ruger chambers with a .38-40 reamers and open the throats slightly. Now everything chambers fine in both guns.

.38-40 is a great round and almost exactly duplicates .40 S&W performance with proper loads. In fact, the Super-X .38-40 180 gr JSP bullets were used by Winchester in early .40 load development. The dual cylinder Vaquero is outstanding since it allows cheap 180 gr .40 ammo to be used for range practice, saving the good .38 WCF stuff for more focused occasions.

 

[375hh1973]

I have always suggested that if you buy a gun in an odd-ball caliber you reload your ammunition. Not so much for savings, but to insure a steady supply, velocity, power and grain weight of bullet.

I would also say that if reloading us not something you are interested in, then when you do find a good source of ammo - stock up! I'd also save the brass just in case you change your mind down the road.

I agree.

Last year I bought a new Winchester 1895 in .405win.

I have zero interest in reloading for this.

Found a bunch of Hornady .405 ammo, broke out the AMEX and bought it all.

Ouch.

But now I have 160 rounds of ammo for a rifle I am not gonna shoot a whole lot.

Found someone who will pay me $2 apiece for the brass.

Win/win

 

[Muddyboot]

I agree.

Last year I bought a new Winchester 1895 in .405win.

I have zero interest in reloading for this.

Found a bunch of Hornady .405 ammo, broke out the AMEX and bought it all.

Ouch.

But now I have 160 rounds of ammo for a rifle I am not gonna shoot a whole lot.

Found someone who will pay me $2 apiece for the brass.

Win/win

The .405 in another caliber I lust for, along with the .348, and .375 Winchester. I just can't seem to take the easy path when it comes to ammo choices.

 

[sigp220.45]

I’m always on the lookout for .38/40 ammo. I’ve have zero interest in reloading these days, so a box or two a year will hold me. My only .38/40 is this old warrior.

 

[DWalt]

.44-40 brass is probably more easily found than .38-40 and can easily be formed to .38-40. I once fired some .38-40 rounds in a .45 Colt revolver and kept most of the hits on the target.

 

[john17427]

I've always like the idea of 38-40, but unfortunately have never chased one down. I got back into reloading after being away from it for 30 years so I could load 45-60 WCF. Took a while to collect a good supply of brass, but I think I'm good. Could always make some from 45-70 if it came down to it. 50-70 gov is another one I'd like to have.

 

[375hh1973]

The .405 in another caliber I lust for, along with the .348, and .375 Winchester. I just can't seem to take the easy path when it comes to ammo choices.

I have never taken a deer with a wood/blue gun or a gun without an optic of some type.

So that was an itch I needed to scratch. About the same time I had been reading about Teddy Roosevelt and his African adventures. So naturally I needed an 1895 in .405win, lol!

I had no interest in spending a ton of money on an old, original rifle when Winchester was producing modern ones. I am a user, not a collector.

Threw in a low bid on a gunbroker item, was a gun that was part of an estate, new in box, never fired.

Wow, I won. Now what?

Got the gun, had the rear sight removed and had a Williams receiver sight installed.

Got the ammo, got it sighted in. Will have no issue at all killing a deer at 100 yards considering the area I plan to hunt with this gun most deer are 50 to 80 yards.

Let me tell you, that gun is DEER REPELLANT, lol.

Took it out to a spot that is over run with does. No deer to be found. Did that 3 days in a row.

4th day, took out my Seekins PH2 with a NightForce and had deer running all over, killed 2.

So in a couple months I will once again try to kill a deer with a Teddy Roosevelt rifle

 

[Muddyboot]

I have never taken a deer with a wood/blue gun or a gun without an optic of some type.

So that was an itch I needed to scratch. About the same time I had been reading about Teddy Roosevelt and his African adventures. So naturally I needed an 1895 in .405win, lol!

I had no interest in spending a ton of money on an old, original rifle when Winchester was producing modern ones. I am a user, not a collector.

Threw in a low bid on a gunbroker item, was a gun that was part of an estate, new in box, never fired.

Wow, I won. Now what?

Got the gun, had the rear sight removed and had a Williams receiver sight installed.

Got the ammo, got it sighted in. Will have no issue at all killing a deer at 100 yards considering the area I plan to hunt with this gun most deer are 50 to 80 yards.

Let me tell you, that gun is DEER REPELLANT, lol.

Took it out to a spot that is over run with does. No deer to be found. Did that 3 days in a row.

4th day, took out my Seekins PH2 with a NightForce and had deer running all over, killed 2.

So in a couple months I will once again try to kill a deer with a Teddy Roosevelt rifle

Oh well, at least you got the meat, the 405 will have its day.

 

[Buford57]

Oh well, at least you got the meat, the 405 will have its day.

And if you encounter a rhino instead, you're ready.

 

[Muddyboot]

And if you encounter a rhino instead, you're ready.

True, one can't be too careful.