firespitting 38 LC

[Mataham]

Hi,
In order to revive an old US Navy 38 long colt, I'm firing black powder and 145 grains Minie bullets in 38 LC cases. The bore is about .380, and in order to get some expansion from those bullets, I'm loading it with 17 or 18 grains of FFFG black powder with Murom primers (ie fully charged cases).
I'm not very familiar with black powder nor reloading, but is normal to have so much firespitting, or is it the sign of uselessly high loads?



By the way, don't you think some of that primers are somewhat flatened?

38lc Primers

• Mataham
• Feb 7, 2021

Thanks for attention.

 

[44 Dave]

Flame looks about what would be expected.

 

[Shortgrub]

Looks normal to me too. Primers look ok.

 

[Dave T]

Third time's a charm. That's what black powder cartridges, fired in a handgun look like. Ain't it fun!

Dave

 

[Navy Six 2]

You will notice a brighter flash and more flame under certain light conditions. An overcast day seems to really bring out this effect. Hard to tell, but that looks like the conditions you filmed under.

 

[Ephraim Kibbey]

Fire and Brimstone is what BP is all about! Enjoy

 

[J-Bar]

It looks like your left index finger is getting pretty close to the face of the cylinder. Unless you enjoy pain you should probably get that finger back on the grip.

I agree with the other comments; looks like normal black powder discharge.

 

[whughett]

Yep, suppose to do that, nope, primers look ok and it’s impossible to get enough 3F black into a pistol case to create a pressure problem. You can even compress it with the bullet seating.

 

[Mataham]

It looks like your left index finger is getting pretty close to the face of the cylinder. Unless you enjoy pain you should probably get that finger back on the grip.

Right, I didnt even notice that. I don't think I'm holding my S&W 65 this way, I think I was struggling trying to hold the tiny gripfirmly and so wiggling my fingers around.
Thanks for advice concerning primers and flame bursts.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Naw, those are fine. There are surviving accounts of black powder gunfights at very close range where folks shot had their clothes burned or even were set to smoldering.

When you say you're shooting "Minnie bullets" are you talking about Hollow Base Wad Cutters like these?



If not, you should try 147 grain, HBWC bullet. They work for folks who put .38 special cartridges through a converted .36 cap-n-ball [.375] revolver using a conversion cylinder, so they should work in your case as well.

LD

 

[Mataham]

When you say you're shooting "Minnie bullets" are you talking about Hollow Base Wad Cutters like these?

No, I'm shooting something like this one :


But I've ordered some easier-to-find Partizan soft HBWC bullets.

 

[paul harm]

Forget the 4F and just fill the case with as much 3F that will fit in and still get the bullet to seat far enough to be rotated in the Cylinder. What ever your load is, you don't want free space between the powder and bullet. I once in a while sneak a BP shell in one of my buddies pouches when we're shooting one of the clay pigeon games. Yes, there's plenty of smoke and fire, and usually a few swear works I can't repeat here. A 100grs of 2F and 1oz of shot puts lots of fire and smoke out the side of a ported Browning O/U.

 

[LightninST]

No, I'm shooting something like this one :
View attachment 976556

But I've ordered some easier-to-find Partizan soft HBWC bullets.

Who made those round nose 145g 38s ?
BP is addictive , Goex 2F or 777 2F is what I use most .

 

[Mataham]

I will get soon some .375, 125 grain heeled bullets. What load do you recommand to start with such a lightweight bullet?

 

[DocRock]

I will get soon some .375, 125 grain heeled bullets. What load do you recommand to start with such a lightweight bullet?

Fill the case with 3 Fffg allowing for light compression when seating the bullet. You cannot fit enough BP in a 38 Colt case for there to be an issue. Enjoy!

 

[Mataham]

Who made those round nose 145g 38s ?
BP is addictive , Goex 2F or 777 2F is what I use most .

Some french guy who's selling it on Naturabuy, the french ebay dedicated to hunting and shooting supplies.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Filling the case with no airspace is the starting load. The more you compress the powder, within reason, the cleaner it will burn. To get good compression you would need to compress the powder in a separate step, as you can't compress it much with the bullet without deforming it. A good happy medium is to compress it as much as possible, without deforming the bullet.

 

[gtrgy888]

“Uselessly high loads” is a myth. More flash almost always means more velocity. Otherwise no one would shoot .357 magnum since the extra powder is just wasted anyway. If you’re plinking targets on the other hand and want to increase the life of your gun, it’s a valid point.

 

[792mauser]

Looks normal.