Shooting the S&W "lemon squeezer"

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Bart Noir

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Have pimp gun, nickled pearl-handled New Departure Safety Hammerless, s/n 1366xx. I want to shoot it, do I have to roll my own BP loads? Would like to shoot factory smokeless .38 S&W, or .38/200 (if I can find those). Would that be safe?

Bart Noir
 
NO to British 38/200. The standard 38 S&W 147 gr smokeless loads are fine. The New Departure with dual safety latches is the last and safest breaktop S&W made. If it is in good or fine condition, you might want to put it in a safe to conserve value.
 
I think that serial number makes it the 4th model safety hammerless, made between 1898 and 1907. Go easy on it.
 
If your revolver has the top latch and the side latch and both have to be manipulated to open the revolver, it is safe and fine for smokeless.
 
The Smith & Wesson top-break that had both top and side barrel latches was called the “Perfected Model†and were manufactured between 1909 to 1920. It had a conventional hammer, and differed from other top-breaks in that the trigger guard was an integral part of the frame.

The "Safety Hammerless" was an entirely different revolver. I would estimate that serial number 136,6xx was made around 1902. I have shot similar revolvers in the same serial number range using standard commercial 145 to 147 grain loads, which are on the meek side. This presumes of course that your gun is in good mechanical condition. Do not shoot any 200 grain bullet loads of any kind.

Pearl grips are fragile and often chip or crack if impacted. If you want to shoot this revolver very much it would be a good idea to replace the grips. Those made for "J" frame hand ejector revolvers are a little long, but can be easily altered to fit.
 
Old Fuff is correct. I had been looking at breaktops today. A Perfected S&W was in the front of my mind. The New Departure hammerless lemon squeezer is safe with 147 gr 38 S&W though. I apologize for MY confusion.:neener:
 
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