Some early Colts

[english]

Early Colts from my collection....A 32 and a 38 in good condition condition.....The 32 came in a box with pistol information. I'm not sure of manufacturing time. The 38 came with ammunition I probably wouldn't shoot.
Thanks for looking,
Joe

 

[Rodan]

The 1903 Pocket Hammerless .32 is from 1925, and the 1903 Pocket Hammer .38 from 1921 per Colt's site.

A couple of very nice early Colts!

 

[Rpg]

Why not shoot the ammo?

It’s VERY unusual to find commercial ammunition that won’t work at all or that is actually dangerous to shoot. Even old, corroded commercial ammunition usually works pretty well, although it may result in sticky cases and rough functioning.

It’s not uncommon for people to worry about older ammunition, but their fears are usually baseless. Your ammunition need not be beautiful.n

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Why not shoot the ammo?

One thing is it .38 ACP or .38 Super?

Today if you go to the LGS they will likely sell you .38 Super because most clerks today just like in 1929 do not know .38 ACP and .38 Super while identical is two different calibers.

 

[H Richard]

Trying to find 38 acp today may be a difficult time. I see no reason 38 Super brass couldn't be loaded to 38 acp spec's.

 

[DWalt]

The 1903 .38 definitely should not be fed .38 Super ammunition. The slide notches at the front of the slide can crack, and cannot be repaired. I do not know if .38 ACP ammo is available today, but it is simple to load your own. No differences between .38 ACP and .38 Super cases. Same is true of the Colt Model 1905 .45 semiauto of very similar design. While today’s .45 ACP ammunition will fit and fire in the 1905, it is too powerful and slide notches will also eventually crack. Only light handloads of .45 ACP should be used in a 1905, never factory or GI.

I once owned a Colt 1903 .38. I do not remember what my handload recipe was, but I worked up charges gradually to a level which was the minimum to reliably function the slide, and I used only lead 9mm bullets.