38-40 bullet question

[mr.trooper]

According to old Chuck Hawks rolleyes:

"The odd bullet diameter severely limits bullet availability. I know of no jacketed bullets available to the .38-40 reloader, who usually is reduced to casting his own lead bullets. RCBS can provide bullet molds."

... Since the cast bullet diameter for the 38-40 is identical to modern 10mm handgun bullets (.401"), and the bullet weights are identical to modern 10mm handgun bullets, what's to stop you from loading .400" jacketed bullets intended for the 40 S&W and 10mm Auto?

Obviously the charge data would not be the same as conventional loads using cast lead, but that doesn't mean you couldn't load them and work up a charge in small increments - that's SOP for any and all new load development.

What do you all think?

 

[ReloaderFred]

Hornady has lots of jacketed loads listed for thr .38-40. They list loads for both XTP and TMJ bullets.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[ironhead7544]

The 10 mm bullets would be correct for the 38-40. But you would need crimp grooves for rifle ammo. There is a grooving tool available. The revolver ammo can be crimped over the ogive.

 

[CraigC]

...what's to stop you from loading .400" jacketed bullets intended for the 40 S&W and 10mm Auto?

Nothing. For revolver use and relatively light loads you can just use a taper crimp, or at least try and see if it works without buckling the case. I reload them and shoot them from a Winchester 1873 replica all the time. Including a Sierra 135gr JHC, Gold Dots in 155gr and 180gr flavors and have some 200gr XTP's to try. I turn a cannelure in them with a tool from Corbin. All have proven to be exceptionally accurate.

 

[mr.trooper]

WOW... so the great C. Hawks is flat wrong again.

I'm quickly learning that reality is usually the opposite of what I find written in his articles. I should start archiving them for future reference - of what NOT to do.

I'm interested in it as a general purpose hunting cartridge, as I already reload for multiple guns that use .400" handgun bullets.

Thank you all for your replies this far.

For those of you who load this cartridge, what kind of velocities can be safely achieved from a 22-24" bbl with 180 and 200gr bullets?? I am seeing people claim loads that throw a 180gr jacketed bullet OVER 1,700fps from Marlin and Winchester lever guns with 24" bbls.

 

[CraigC]

Oh boy, I'm using what is probably the weakest new rifle on the market and I get 1550fps with an Oregon Trail 180gr RNFP and 1475fps with a 180gr Gold Dot, all over 10.0gr Unique. I suspect I could get a little more out of a slower powder but I don't want to push my luck with the toggle action. Brian Pearce suggests these guns are safe to 20,000psi but my loads thus far have been at standard pressures.

Where it really shines is in stronger guns, where it can be pushed considerably harder. Dustin Linebaugh built some heavy six shot Rugers and pushes the 180gr XTP to 1800fps and the 200gr to 1600fps, out of a 6½" barrel. The problem is that these heavy loads severely limit case life.

Here's an article by John Taffin. His heavy Ruger loads would be safe for any modern Winchester, Marlin or 1892 replica.

http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt3840.htm

 

[rcmodel]

I'm shooting 38-40 RNFP cast bullets from a Lyman #40143 mold in my .40 Glock.
Just ignore the crimp groove and taper crimp for revolver use.

If you attempt to roll crimp into an auto-pistol bullet without a cannulure, the thin 38-40 case will crumple right before your eyes.


rc

 

[mr.trooper]

wow, nice links guys.

I just bumped into a PDF on 'Accurate' powders web page - they list JHP rifle loads:
1) 1680 powder - 27.5gr charge - 150gr pill = 1,683fps @ 13,200 CUP
2) 1680 powder - 25.5gr charge - 180gr pill = 1,440fps @ 14,000 CUP

This is for a 24"bbl Lever gun :DATA

Looks like 1680 powder and 150gr JHPs would make a darn nice load - over 900 ft-lbs, and well under max pressure.