.38 Long Colt bullet mold info please...

[BillTell]

I'm not sure if this is the right forum or not, but here goes... I just made an auction purchase. Lots of stuff in there I'm going to be asking the folks on here about, that are just unfamiliar to me. One of them being this bullet mold I got for a .38 Long Colt hollow base bullet of 150gr. I only know that from the numbers on the side...35870. Other than that, I couldn't find any info on the web on where anything comparable might be. I'm guessing they aren't hot sellers. Can anyone enlighten me as to Make? Rarity? Value? I'm also guessing this would be a very small market of people shooting this bullet. Thanks for any info!

 

[hawg]

From the number it appears to be an Ideal mold but it should be marked as such.

 

[BillTell]

Which it's not, which is why I'm baffled. The only other markings than the caliber/mold code (35870) is below that- 6382. Other than that, nothing...

 

[BillTell]

Apologies! Closer inspection with higher powered glasses on the other side indeed showed IDEAL! Now who would use this, and what might it be worth? Who's shooting .38 Long Colt with a hollow base bullet?

 

[hawg]

It's a niche mold for sure. Some black powder shooters use them and some people that convert reproduction 1851 navies to .38 special use them.

 

[Blackpowderwarrior]

Look at my past posts I just did a write up about this mold.
I have the same ideal mold in the form of a ideal tool

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Didn't the .38LC use a heeled bullet?

 

[Jim Watson]

Originally heel type.
Later with inside lubricated hollowbase.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Originally heel type.
Later with inside lubricated hollowbase.

As I suspected! Thank you.

 

[BillTell]

Blackpowderwarrior, that's some cool threads! My black powder history is mostly with several inlines. I am now, however, diving head first into this Rabbit Hole... Although one of the few actual regrets I have in life, is passing up a gorgeous Ruger Old Army in .44, (for $400 about 15 years ago) I just purchased two auction items...
One of them was a whole steel rack full of Black Powder items (including this .38LC mold), (which I think you'd be the most qualified person I know right now to give me an estimate on it's value...It looks like brand new almost) , and the other item I won the bid on, ($800 bid) was on a Pedersoli Gibbs, missing the tang sight. I am learning that most of the BP accoutrement I have is not going to help me with this rifle, and I am now going to have to buy a bunch of stuff, like Swiss powder instead of 777 pellets! lol I'm not even sure what "Swiss Pdr" is! I thought that was something that came in a packet for a hot winter drink!

It's a niche mold for sure. Some black powder shooters use them and some people that convert reproduction 1851 navies to .38 special use them.

So I may be putting that mold up for auction, as I don't think I'll ever really be buying a .38LC, and I really wouldn't try to shoot them in something else. What's your best guess on value?

 

[Blackpowderwarrior]

Blackpowderwarrior, that's some cool threads! My black powder history is mostly with several inlines. I am now, however, diving head first into this Rabbit Hole... Although one of the few actual regrets I have in life, is passing up a gorgeous Ruger Old Army in .44, (for $400 about 15 years ago) I just purchased two auction items...
One of them was a whole steel rack full of Black Powder items (including this .38LC mold), (which I think you'd be the most qualified person I know right now to give me an estimate on it's value...It looks like brand new almost) , and the other item I won the bid on, ($800 bid) was on a Pedersoli Gibbs, missing the tang sight. I am learning that most of the BP accoutrement I have is not going to help me with this rifle, and I am now going to have to buy a bunch of stuff, like Swiss powder instead of 777 pellets! lol I'm not even sure what "Swiss Pdr" is! I thought that was something that came in a packet for a hot winter drink!

So I may be putting that mold up for auction, as I don't think I'll ever really be buying a .38LC, and I really wouldn't try to shoot them in something else. What's your best guess on value?

I will personally message you on here brother . check your inbox

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Swiss powder instead of 777 pellets!

Amen.

Although one of the few actual regrets I have in life, is passing up a gorgeous Ruger Old Army in .44, (for $400 about 15 years ago)

You may be redeemed if you get you a nice 1860 Colt, or 1863 Remington .44, and send it to Jack or Mike to be tuned. Being a modern gun, I've never been able to "get down" with the ROA. I like them, but I'd take a Colt or Remington first. Just a better "vibe".

 

[hawg]

like Swiss powder instead of 777 pellets! lol I'm not even sure what "Swiss Pdr" is! I thought that was something that came in a packet for a hot winter drink!

Swiss is the best black powder you can get.

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Amen.



You may be redeemed if you get you a nice 1860 Colt, or 1863 Remington .44, and send it to Jack or Mike to be tuned. Being a modern gun, I've never been able to "get down" with the ROA. I like them, but I'd take a Colt or Remington first. Just a better "vibe".

Nothing like a ROA, I have 2 as well as a handful of Civil war revolvers and 2 Walkers. If I had to choose one for survival it would come down to either a .36 Navy or one of the ROAs. Thanks for the mention Ugly! My bench is currently clear for tuning and revolver repairs.

 

[Blackpowderwarrior]

Nothing like a ROA, I have 2 as well as a handful of Civil war revolvers and 2 Walkers. If I had to choose one for survival it would come down to either a .36 Navy or one of the ROAs. Thanks for the mention Ugly! My bench is currently clear for tuning and revolver repairs.

I have a few revolvers but if I had to take one BP revolver for survival it would be my artificially distressed and antiqued 1860 pietta. Its definitely the ugliest gun I own but that thing is accurate as all get out and locks up like a tank. I think its a 2017 model.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Oh yeah, I've got nothing against the ROA. Bitchen gun. When I bought my SBH back in the day, I almost got one instead.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Nothing like a ROA, I have 2 as well as a handful of Civil war revolvers and 2 Walkers. If I had to choose one for survival it would come down to either a .36 Navy or one of the ROAs. Thanks for the mention Ugly! My bench is currently clear for tuning and revolver repairs.

I have chosen three for survival. !!! Both the Colts blessed by Jack, an 1862 and 1860, and not suitable for survival before the blessing, and my Remington Model 1863 New Model Army in Navy caliber, which was Uberti's daughter's sample gun, so you might say it came out of the shop "a little bit" superior in fit, finish and function. Yep, it's a "ringer" After being attacked by Jack, I would now trust either Colt in a wilderness survival situation, the '62 to feed me, or the '60 to keep the wolves at bay. (although the '62 pops off good enough to get Mr. Wolf's attention.)

 

[BillTell]

Ugly Sauce, (et. al), The reason I like the ROA so much, is that I'm mostly a handgun hunter. I've never had a BP handgun. But the gun I've taken the most deer with in my life, is the one in my avatar... It is my Custom Super Blackhawk. I love the way it shoots. I think a ROA would make me feel "Right at Home" shooting that at a deer... Here's a closer look...I've since swapped the EOTech for a Vortex...

 

[Jackrabbit1957]

Wow!, I don't know whether to like it or hate it.

 

[BillTell]

When I got it used, it was blued, and had a nickel cylinder. I was promoted in Jan. of '02, and had worked at ground zero. This was just my gift to me. I had it stripped, finished with a matte stainless, with chrome flames. My initials, an action and trigger job, muzzle brake added, drilled and tapped, with a scooped out bottom and pin for a lanyard. I shoot handloads that all stay in a paper plate at 100 yds. One of the best shooters I own, and I've taken over 20 deer with it.