Many questions on this SW hand ejector

[Jim Watson]

The muzzle velocity of the 158 grain bullet load from 1925 is 858 feet per second. This from S&W's catalog of the time.

The muzzle velocity of today's 158 grain bullet load is 755 feet per second. This from the tables published in the Gun Digest.

Then there's the muzzle velocity of today's +P 158 grain bullet load some of the folks are cautioning you about using (also from the Gun Digest tables)----890 feet per second. I reckon you can see why they're concerned----or then again, maybe not.

But consider test conditions. I don't have anything from 1925 but in 1939 the standard velocity was 850 fps from a 6" barrel. Now was that a straight test barrel or a real revolver?

Nowadays, SAAMI authorizes both a 7.7" test barrel - which will get you all enthused if you load by Hodgdon - and a 4" vented barrel to simulate a revolver. Gun Digest is apparently going by the vented values.

For the common reload of a 158 gr lead bullet and 3.5 gr Bullseye, I find
Sharpe prewar 910 fps in 6" by Hercules. "factory lead"
Lyman #44 826 fps in 6" K38. #358311
Lyman #49 863 fps in 4" test. #358311
Alliant today 814 fps in 6" Speer swaged SWC.

 

[glenwolde]

This responder makes an interesting, and perhaps controversial point: "The design has a focus on accuracy and little else."

There are those of us, in yet another department of the "lunatic fringe" besides collectors, who focus on accuracy---and little else. I was one of those-----a loooooooooooong time ago, when I took up handloading. My objective, my ONLY objective was accuracy---out to 50 yards---because that's the greatest distance encountered in what was called Bullseye competition.

Job one was to make ammo more accurate than factory. That was accomplished in short order, and I found myself moving on from there to better yet.

So what's "better yet"? I eventually decided there's two different definitions of accuracy----practical accuracy and ultimate accuracy. We often see examples of practical accuracy here when folks proudly post pictures of their groups fired at ranges all the way up to 10-15 yards. The groups look like they were made with a shotgun, but they're all on the paper----practical accuracy.

The groups we don't often see are ragged one hole examples out to 50 yards---ultimate accuracy.

I wasn't able to shoot those ragged one hole groups standing on my hind legs, and holding the gun with one hand; so I cheated--and got one of those then new Ransom Machine Rests. Then I bolted a K-38 to it, and BEHOLD------ragged one hole groups!! WELL!! If the gun can do it, so can I------some times---on some days----every now and then.

Given there are different strokes for different folks, practical accuracy is all well and good, but the bottom line is there are shooters----and there are people who shoot. Pick one, and be happy---but know it takes a while to become a shooter.

That was then, and now is now. Now I can shoot with ultimate accuracy with scope sighted rifles from a bench rest----and it hasn't been all that long ago that I had David Carroll sell all my rifles---all except one---and I haven't fired that one for quite a spell.

Ralph Tremaine

...and that would be me. I am a "non-tactical" shooter. Or perhaps a better description for me is that I approach shooting revolvers in the same way that a non-hunting archer approaches archery. So ultimate accuracy and practical accuracy are the same thing in some disciplines.

 

[AlHunt]

But consider test conditions. I don't have anything from 1925 but in 1939 the standard velocity was 850 fps from a 6" barrel. Now was that a straight test barrel or a real revolver?

Nowadays, SAAMI authorizes both a 7.7" test barrel - which will get you all enthused if you load by Hodgdon - and a 4" vented barrel to simulate a revolver. Gun Digest is apparently going by the vented values.

For the common reload of a 158 gr lead bullet and 3.5 gr Bullseye, I find
Sharpe prewar 910 fps in 6" by Hercules. "factory lead"
Lyman #44 826 fps in 6" K38. #358311
Lyman #49 863 fps in 4" test. #358311
Alliant today 814 fps in 6" Speer swaged SWC.

So next up, brittneysue is going to be over in the reloading forum. Once she recovers from sticker shock at the price of 38 special ammo.

Another rabbit hole ...

 

[brittneysue]

Those may be hard to find these days. They are available online. Wadcutters are an odd looking round to most people. The bullet is a cylinder and is completely seated within the case. The design has a focus on accuracy and little else.

Oh wow, may be hard to find indeed! Never seen anything like that, but I suppose I'll keep it in mind and maybe someday I will get lucky.

 

[brittneysue]

The gun was shipped sometime in 1919 or 1920. The stocks on the gun are the Magna design, and were not available until the 1930's. The screw heads on the gun are all correct, so I would not replace the far-left screw with a flat-top one.

I assume that the serial number on the butt, flat under the barrel, and rear face of the cylinder all agree ?

Mike Priwer

Awesome, any idea on what exactly I could search online to find a better fit for stocks? All serial numbers do match!

 

[brittneysue]

So next up, brittneysue is going to be over in the reloading forum. Once she recovers from sticker shock at the price of 38 special ammo.

Another rabbit hole ...

Hah! Trust me, that is the exact spot in my brain at the moment, majorly enthralled with all this information and also super impressed that there are living breathing human beings able to share this knowledge and I am not having to completely rely on Google. Rabbit hole indeed!

 

[brittneysue]

This responder makes an interesting, and perhaps controversial point: "The design has a focus on accuracy and little else."

There are those of us, in yet another department of the "lunatic fringe" besides collectors, who focus on accuracy---and little else. I was one of those-----a loooooooooooong time ago, when I took up handloading. My objective, my ONLY objective was accuracy---out to 50 yards---because that's the greatest distance encountered in what was called Bullseye competition.

Job one was to make ammo more accurate than factory. That was accomplished in short order, and I found myself moving on from there to better yet.

So what's "better yet"? I eventually decided there's two different definitions of accuracy----practical accuracy and ultimate accuracy. We often see examples of practical accuracy here when folks proudly post pictures of their groups fired at ranges all the way up to 10-15 yards. The groups look like they were made with a shotgun, but they're all on the paper----practical accuracy.

The groups we don't often see are ragged one hole examples out to 50 yards---ultimate accuracy.

I wasn't able to shoot those ragged one hole groups standing on my hind legs, and holding the gun with one hand; so I cheated--and got one of those then new Ransom Machine Rests. Then I bolted a K-38 to it, and BEHOLD------ragged one hole groups!! WELL!! If the gun can do it, so can I------some times---on some days----every now and then.

Given there are different strokes for different folks, practical accuracy is all well and good, but the bottom line is there are shooters----and there are people who shoot. Pick one, and be happy---but know it takes a while to become a shooter.

That was then, and now is now. Now I can shoot with ultimate accuracy with scope sighted rifles from a bench rest----and it hasn't been all that long ago that I had David Carroll sell all my rifles---all except one---and I haven't fired that one for quite a spell.

Ralph Tremaine

I like that, it is so true; "there are shooters, and there are people who shoot" I probably fall more in the lines of just shooting, but I do try to work on my development of muscle memory and comfortability with all my firearms, and hope to develop a strong skill in accuracy, eventually.

 

[AlHunt]

I like that, it is so true; "there are shooters, and there are people who shoot" I probably fall more in the lines of just shooting, but I do try to work on my development of muscle memory and comfortability with all my firearms, and hope to develop a strong skill in accuracy, eventually.

I think we have another trope to add to "Collectors vs Accumulators".

"Shooters vs. People Who Shoot".

I like it.

Edit: This has been nagging at me. "juxtaposition" is probably better than "trope".

 

[pasound]

At online ammo sellers, Sellier Bellot and Magtech are about the only factory 148gr wadcutters available these days, $24.95 and $26.95/box, respectively. I picked up a case of Magtech from SGAmmo late last year to save the brass, and compare to my own handloads. A couple of LGS in my area are stocking the Magtech, but at over $30.00 a box.

Long gone are the days that I could find Winchester or Remington 148gr WC at local stores for $8-9.00 a box.

 

[Truckman]

I bought some 148 grain wadcutters from Buffalo Bore a couple of years ago when supplies were much tighter......Ben

 

[Retired W4]

For those not fortunate enough to have put in a good supply of anything one could use, I feel your pain. Living in the DFW area during the early 90's was a great buying opportunity. As for 38 wadcutters I guess I'll never be able to shoot all I have. Dragging ammo to and from the shows I do is a real pain so there it sits. There is just not enough call for it for me to bother. Sold my Colt 1911 38 mid-Range so now all I have to burn it through are K-38 Masterpieces. It's a real dilemma.