new to black powder questions.

[glitch]

As stated, I'm new to black powder. I'm looking at a used rifle, 45" barrel and full stock, but evidently a .38 cal. I can't find much information on .38cal muzzle loaders; lots on .36, .45 and lots on .50. How uncommon were/are .38 cal long rifles?

 

[4v50 Gary]

Lyman Black Powder Handbook. Most squirrel guns were .40, .36 and .32 caliber. Individual gunsmiths could make a .38 caliber, but they also made the mold to go with the gun.

 

[Pancho]

As 4v50 stated 38 cal. is a strange cal. for reproduction guns. The old-time gun makers produced their guns in all size calibers but they also provided a mold to cast rounds for the gun as well.
Do you know who made the gun?

 

[arcticap]

I have a .38 boot pistol that was made with the remnant of a .38 rifle barrel. The gun builder said that the remnant came from one of the popular premium barrel makers whose name escapes me at the moment. But that illustrates that there are still barrel makers currently making .38 caliber rifle barrels. At the time of purchase it occurred to me that a .375 revolver ball along with a thin patch could be loaded in it.
Also, Pedersoli makes at least 2 very expensive target pistols in .38 caliber in several variations.
I think that it's a target caliber in between the .36 and .44/.45 alternatives, and also very close to the .40 which is well known for fine round ball accuracy from target rifles. Perhaps .38 caliber offers some advantage over those other close calibers. And it would make sense that if someone owned a .38 target pistol then why not have a rifle in the same caliber to share a common ammo with.
It's not very far off from the .36 caliber Navy C&B revolvers that load with .375/.380 balls. But the same .38 balls can be pushed to a much faster velocity when fired from a rifle.

Kuchenreuter Standard
.38 or .44 Caliber Percussion

Kuchenreuter Deluxe with Case
.38 or .44 Caliber Percussion

Bartholomaus Joseph Kuchenreuter lived between 1782-1864 in Steinweg, near Regensburg, in Germany. He was the son of Joseph II very well known as a highly acknowledged and skilled gunmaker and, in addition, as a very good successful black powder shooter. This explains the excellent shooting characteristics of this pistol, such as the size and shape of the grip. This splendid reproduction target pistol, whose original model was produced around 1854/1855, is certainly the “Masterpiece” of our production. Provided with single set trigger and vertically adjustable rear sight, it is the ideal pistol for the marksman. The barrel is rust brown finish color with the writing: BARTH. IOS KUCHENREUTER and the silver inlay Kuchenreuter mark . The grained walnut stock is oil finished and all metal parts are color case hardened. Weight 2.65 lbs. (.38), 2.54 lbs. (.44)

S300-38 .38 caliber percussion $1,625.00 (Special Order Only)
S300-44 .44 caliber percussion



Mang In Graz Match
.38 or .44 Caliber Percussion

This pistol reproduces to the tiniest details the original model produced by Martin Mang in Graz. In this pistol, Mang has demonstrated the ultimate European technique in use during the last years of the percussion era. The stock, from select walnut, is oil finished and enriched with a typical, imperial style, fluted grip. The octagonal, rifled barrel is rust brown finish color and provided with adjustable single set trigger. The metal parts have a coin color finishing for the standard version and case hardened color for the Match model.
Weight: 2.65 (.38), 2.54 lbs. (.44)
S340-38 .38 caliber percussion $1,525.00 (Special Order Only)

Mang In Graz Standard
.38 or .44 Caliber Percussion

Mang In Graz Deluxe with Case
.38 or .44 Caliber Percussion

http://www.cherrys.com/ped_pist.htm

 

[BigG]

The older guns were made by gauge size or "so many balls per pound." Our modern nomenclature relies on the hundredths of an inch or caliber. 38 actual caliber (not .357 as we have standardized it today) would be around 72 gauge or thereabouts.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

You might want to double check the barrel an inch or so down the bore..., you may have a .36 with a coned muzzle, made to facilitate loading without forcing the ball or using a short-starter.

LD

 

[Dellbert]

I was in the gun shop one day and was getting a couple boxes of .375s for one of my .36 Colts and setting right next to them were a few boxs of Speer .350 rd ball. I took one of them up to the man that runs the place and ask him what they were for and he told me they were for a .36 cal rifle which is in the ball park of the .38 cal for rifles. So glitch you may want to look up the .350 size rd ball made by Speer. These may be what your looking for. You'll haft to do a little homework. Hope this may help out.