38 rimfire black or smokeless powder?

Depends on when it was made.
Post 1900 I'd say a good chance it was loaded with smokeless. I highly suspect some people fired that smokeless 38 rimfire ammo in their old 1870s, 1880s guns and that's why we have originals that are all loose and in bad shape.

If it was smokeless, then you should probably be able to hear powder moving when you shake it next to your ear. Black powder needs to be compressed, so you can't hear black powder cartridges when they shake.

If I only still had enough hearing to do that.... lol

Pull the bullet and look. Use a hammer type inertia puller you can reseat the bullet.

whughett said:

Pull the bullet and look. Use a hammer type inertia puller you can reseat the bullet.

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Not best idea to use a hammer style puller with rimfire ammo. The collet holds the round by the rim.

illinoisburt said:

Not best idea to use a hammer style puller with rimfire ammo. The collet holds the round by the rim.

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Could be your right. I’ve pulled many with mine no rim fire however.

Speedo66 said:

If I only still had enough hearing to do that.... lol

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There was a time I could do that but those days are gone.