I think I'm going to cut down some 38 spl cases and load a few for my model 36 just to pass some time on these dark, cold, wet winter days.
Anyone reloading 38 Short Colt?
- Thread starter LostintheOzone
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I think I'm going to cut down some 38 spl cases and load a few for my model 36 just to pass some time on these dark, cold, wet winter days.
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DWalt
Member
Just use any .38 S&W data. Very good for use in snubbies with short extractor rods.
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Just make sure you use enough powder to push the bullet style out of the barrel. 
Have fun.
Have fun.
Shooting Times Feb 2023 just had an article on it that I saved - looks interesting.
I shoot a lot of those in competition with moon clips. My load is 4.0 gr. of 231/HP38 with 160 gr. roundnose polymer coated bullet. They have light recoil, plenty of knockdown on the steel plates, reload super fast, and are very accurate, even in the 8 shot 357 chambers. No down side. The case length and case volume are very close to 9mm, so they are essentially a rimmed 9mm.
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I have done something similar. The only thing I'd suggest is to use American made brass like Winchester/Remington/Federal. The foreign stuff often has thicker case walls down near the base. If you're using a longer bullet it can cause problems with bulging.
In my case I was making a rimmed .380 for a .380 revolver.
In my case I was making a rimmed .380 for a .380 revolver.
DWalt
Member
The .38 SC is a fairly popular caliber among ICORE shooters. I believe both cases and loaded ammunition are available, but I don’t know where.
I have 100 SC cases I bought new maybe 10 years ago, all have been reloaded numerous times. Reserved for use in my M&P and Colt DS snubbies. They extract well. It is a cartridge that deserves more respect. BTW, in a pinch it can be used in revolvers chambered for the .38 S&W.
I have 100 SC cases I bought new maybe 10 years ago, all have been reloaded numerous times. Reserved for use in my M&P and Colt DS snubbies. They extract well. It is a cartridge that deserves more respect. BTW, in a pinch it can be used in revolvers chambered for the .38 S&W.
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Gripgrabber
US Veteran
Hello, I have been using some (several hundred) of 38 cases I got from a local LE dept they are from practice paint ball rounds used in real life training. They are marked IVI 38 FX. They work great with 2.0 gr BE and a lee 105 sw. They actually hit poa in a model 60. They are like shooting a 22. Left to right 38SW, 38FX, 38 spl.
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I just ordered some brass from Starline. I tried to cut down some 38 spl brass with my trimmer and gave up on that experiment. Once I have the brass I'll be trying to use my 38 spl dies to size, a 9mm expander and seater and a 38 spl LFC die to crimp. I know that Lee makes dies for 38 SC but I'm going to try it without those. Not sure if this will work but will see what happens when I get the brass. I may end up buying the Lee dies.
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DWalt
Member
That is what I do, use the .38 Spl sizing die and expand and seat with 9mm dies. No need to crimp. You won’t have any problems. I load .38 S&W in exactly the same way, except I use a .38 Super sizing die. Have been loading both calibers that way for many years.
I made some 38 Long Colt cases by cutting down some 38 Special cases. Worked just fine, so I don't see why cutting them down further to make 38 Short Colt wouldn't work just as well.
max503
Member
I applaud your efforts. My reloading gets creative during the long winter months. I've been smelting backstop lead through a Lee lead pot. People say don't do that with a Lee pot but it has always worked fine for me. I've never had a problem and it gives me nice ingots to make into even nicer boolits.
My range has a small, indoor shooting pit. I've thought about taking the Lee pot there and smelting lead right at the range. Just wish I could go there at night after supper and work.
puebloshooter
Member
I made up a bunch of 38 Medium Colt brass by cutting 38 Long Colt down to 38 Super length.
Starline 38 Short Colt brass was too thick at the base to use the bullet I wanted at the OAL that I wanted.
So I ordered a CH4D trim die and went to work on my 1050.
From L-R.
38 Medium Colt
38 Short Colt
38 Medium Colt
38 Long Colt
38 Special
Not long after this project, Smith released their 929. I bought two of them and have not shot my 627s since.
Starline 38 Short Colt brass was too thick at the base to use the bullet I wanted at the OAL that I wanted.
So I ordered a CH4D trim die and went to work on my 1050.
From L-R.
38 Medium Colt
38 Short Colt
38 Medium Colt
38 Long Colt
38 Special
Not long after this project, Smith released their 929. I bought two of them and have not shot my 627s since.
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I made up a bunch of 38 Medium Colt brass by cutting 38 Long Colt down to 38 Super length.
Starline 38 Short Colt brass was too thick at the base to use the bullet I wanted at the OAL that I wanted.
So I ordered a CH4D trim die and went to work on my 1050.
From L-R.
38 Medium Colt
38 Short Colt
38 Long Colt
38 Special
Not long after this project, Smith released their 929. I bought two of them and have not shot my 627s since.
So I'm confused here. You list 4 rounds, but including the loaded one there are 5 rounds in your photo. So including the loaded round I am guessing they are
LOADED 38 medium Colt
38 short Colt
38 medium colt
38 long Colt
38 special
Is that correct?
I've never heard of the "medium" Colt - is that a wildcat you came up with yourself? Or if not, can you give some more details on its origins?
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DWalt
Member
As he said, the .38 Medium is just a .38 LC (or it could be a .38 Special) case cut to the length of a .38 Super case. Not a factory loading now or ever, just a project caliber. You could probably get the same result by FL sizing a .38 Super case in a .38 Special die. It might or might not chamber in a .38 Special revolver. Some brands of .38 Super ammunition will chamber in some .38/.357 revolvers right out of the box.
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OK, so then it is a wildcat cartridge? Or is there some history for it that my Google-fu is too weak to find?
DWalt
Member
It is somewhat extreme to call a cartridge case that is only shortened from a standard case a wildcat. In general usage a wildcat cartridge is one designed and intended for use in a firearm having a non-standard dimensioned chamber, i.e., one that is not routinely manufactured in quantity for commercial sale nor recognized by SAAMI, but custom made. As a cartridge made from a standard .38 Special case shortened to any arbitrary length, it can still be used in any revolver chambered for .38 Special or .357 Magnum ammunition.
There are many cartridges which started out as wildcats which later became standardized for commercial sale. Examples include the .257 Roberts, .22-250, and the .25-‘06.
There are many cartridges which started out as wildcats which later became standardized for commercial sale. Examples include the .257 Roberts, .22-250, and the .25-‘06.
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I understand the role of wildcatting in the development of new cartridges.
In my way of thinking, modifying existing commercially available brass enough that it no longer falls within the specs for any commercially recognized cartridge, and then developing a load for it that also doesn't match up with published loads for any recognized commercial cartridge fits the definition of wildcatting.
If there is no recognized data for it, and you have christened it with a new unrecognized name (i.e. medium Colt) that makes it a wildcat in my book.
Not all wildcatting is out on the ragged edge.
But that is just one person's opinion I guess.
In my way of thinking, modifying existing commercially available brass enough that it no longer falls within the specs for any commercially recognized cartridge, and then developing a load for it that also doesn't match up with published loads for any recognized commercial cartridge fits the definition of wildcatting.
If there is no recognized data for it, and you have christened it with a new unrecognized name (i.e. medium Colt) that makes it a wildcat in my book.
Not all wildcatting is out on the ragged edge.
But that is just one person's opinion I guess.
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