[1KPerDay]

USFA offers the extra option of an additional cylinder for some of their revolvers (.45 colt/.45 ACP, etc.). One of the options is 38 WCF - 41 Colt.

I assume that's not a typo?
http://www.usfirearms.com/cat/single-action-revolver.asp

[rcmodel]

The .41 Colt originally used a heel-base, outside lubricated bullet (like a .22 LR) with a hollow-base.

The front of the bullet outside the case was larger then the bore of the 38-40 WCF, but the rear of the bullet inside the case was .386", and supposed to work like a Minie ball and expand to fill the rifling.

Colt used the same .402" - .406"? bore measurement on both calibers.

The .41 Colt's only real claim to fame was it's poor accuracy, and Billy the Kid liked to kill people with them!

I think today, people are using .401 solid base lead bullets in both as there are no heel-base bullets being made for it.

And the gun manufactures are using a true .400" barrel for the 38-40 WCF now instead of what Colt used to use.

rc

[Jim Watson]

As I understand it:

Early .41 Long Colt ammunition had a heel bullet that measured about .410" on the bearing surface in front of the case mouth. After S&W showed the advantages of inside lubricated bullets, the ammo companies went to a .387" hollowbase bullet intended to expand into the cylinder throat and barrel while keeping its lubricant protected inside the case. Per CotW.

Some .41 Long Colt revolvers had barrels about .401". The soft .410" heel bullets would swage down, the .386" hollowbase bullets would expand. A .38-40 cylinder could be installed and shoot that cartridge's .400" - .402" bullets equally well and probably better. Everybody was happy.

However, some .41 Long Colt revolvers had barrels with groove diameters up to .408". Fine for the original heel bullets, but the .387" hollow base had more expanding to do, and a .38-40 would not do at all well with hard cast bullets. Maybe the old soft bullets and black powder did well enough in the day for the factory to use the same barrel blanks for both. As Hank Williams Jr. says, if you find a .38-40 with a tiny little ".41" stamp on the barrel, it will be oversize for modern ammo and best traded to a collector.


I don't know what USFA is doing, probably a .400" groove diameter barrel. I don't think you can load .41 LC with a straight .400" bullet, it would take a heel or hollowbase.

Colt prototyped a .41 Special at one time. I don't know what the actual caliber was. Did they make it a true .40 or a true .386? Surely they did not stay with the old black powder era mismatch. But not likely a true .41 like the much later .41 Magnum or the modern wildcat .41 Special which is just a .41 Magnum case shortened.

They also prototyped a .41 ACP. Same question. They later prototyped a 9.8mm ACP, which translates to .3858". Hmm.

[1KPerDay]

Interesting stuff; thanks fellers.

[rcmodel]

Jims version of history is much more correct then mine was! :o

You truly can't seat .401" bullets in .41 Colt brass!

I do notice that Huntingtons & Buffelo Arms both have .41 Colt .386" hollow-base bullets for sale.
http://www.huntingtons.com/bullets_leadcast.html

http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,4216.html

And Starline is making brass.
http://www.starlinebrass.com/index.php?cPath=1&osCsid=fc5c0f67bc9e9968b40b32c04199061a

rc

[ArmedBear]

And the gun manufactures are using a true .400" barrel for the 38-40 WCF now instead of what Colt used to use.


Who makes a .38-40 currently?

It's a neat caliber.

[rcmodel]

Just about everyone who makes single-action & lever-action Cowboy guns makes them in 38-40 anymore.

Even Colt!
http://www.coltsmfg.com/cmci/saarmy.38-40.asp

rc