Top break revolver ammo

[edknn]

I have an Iver Johbson 3rd Model top break revolver made in 1910 . Does anyone know if this ammo would work or if it's too powerful?
Winchester Handgun Ammo Kinetic High Energy 38 110 Grain JHP 20 Rounds [HE38JHP]

Caliber: 38 Smith & Wesson
Bullet Type: Jacketed Hollow Point
Bullet Weight: 110 Grain
Muzzle Energy: 220 ft lbs
Muzzle Velocity: 950 fps

 

[Gordon]

I think that is a .38 special load, I cannot find it on Winchesters site as .38 S&W. No I think it would NOT be safe in that Iver Johnson top break.

 

[edknn]

I thought the same thing. Guess the Fiocchi 38 S&W short is the only FMJ for the gun. The ranges here don't allow LRN. I checked around and the short is a Fiocchi way to distinguish freo 38 spl. Thanks...Ed

 

[RevolvingGarbage]

You may want to find a new range. Shooting much FMJ (even low velocity) through a top break is even more stressful on the latch than shooting lead loads a bit on the fast side. Barrel drag is your enemy.

 

[edknn]

Are we talking long term damage. At $30/box, I only plan to fire it once in a while. I would probably sell it if I could, until then I might have a little fun. It locks up like a new gun. I know it hasn't been fired in over 50 yrs, until I fired one of the rounds yesterday, and as it was my grandma's, probably never fired by her.

 

[Kaeto]

Is it a DA only? And how much would you want for it if you did decide to sell it?

 

[mnrivrat]

Personaly I would get some LRN 38 S&W and only shoot it on occasion at a range that allows it.
The value of this gun is not very high as even very nice examples can be had for around $150 . They are also made of untempered metal that wears rather quickly , and springs that like to break frequently.

If it were mine it would serve as a shadow box gun that reminds me of grandma , with her name on a small plack ,and be passed down to family.

 

[edknn]

Not sure of the value or if I'm going to sell it yet. It is not double action only. I'll let you know if I do. I just inherited it a few days ago.

 

[dickydalton]

Not sure of the value or if I'm going to sell it yet. It is not double action only. I'll let you know if I do. I just inherited it a few days ago.

That is a very nice little shooter and with the Grandma connection, I would have to be starving to sell it. Winchester still sells lead bullet loads that you can fire once in a while for giggles. Don't shoot the 110 hollow points at 950 FPS.
The Winchester 145 grain lead round nose race out there at 685 FPS for a ME of 151 and that's all you need for fun in Granny's Gun!

 

[Twiki357]

I don’t want to hijack this thread, but I have a couple of questions about that gun.

Is Iver Johnson stamped on it? If so where? Also, where, if anywhere, is the serial number? I would appreciate any additional pictures you could post.

The reason I ask is that I was looking at a top break revolver at a pawn shop today that looks exactly like your picture. The one in the pawn shop did not have any markings on it other than what was assumed to be a serial number on the underside of the top latch. No manufacturer. No caliber. Nothing! I’m just wondering if it may be kin to yours.

 

[Kaeto]

On the one at the pawn shop. Which way was the owl on the grips facing?

 

[joem1945]

I have a few of those older top breaks. I reload for them using lead bullets and Trail Boss powder. I keep the loads under 600 FPS are less.

 

[Kaeto]

I like them, and want to get more of them.

 

[.455_Hunter]

Being a 3rd Model, the OP's gun is perfectly fine with current smokeless LRN loads from Magtech, Win and Rem. I would hesitate to shoot the Euro stuff like Fiocchi and PPU due to higher performance above nominal spec, especially the Fiocchi FMJ (very hard to obtain unless your LGS happens to have a case of it).

 

[edknn]

It will say Iver Johnson gun and cycle company on the top of the barrel. For the serial # you have to take off the grip and on the left side of the frame is the serial # starting with a letter. Also, the 1st and 2nd models have a leaf spring, where as the 3rd model a coil spring. The 3rd model is the only one made for smokeless powder ammo. The others are black powder only although I have read of people using smokeless rounds even though they are too high in pressure. Here is a like to a site that identified my model and manufacture date and the pictures I posted of it. Hope it helps. http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/threads/iver-johnson-38-identification.159493/

 

[.455_Hunter]

Third models can be easily ID'ed by the proper cylinder stop notch that prevents freewheeling at rest.

 

[Float Pilot]

My grandpa was born in 1903 and he carried one for years and years. I inherited it back in 1996 when he died. BUT it turns out that he kept it loaded and uncleaned inside a sock in his sock drawer when it was not in his trouser pocket. The ammo had corroded in place and pitted the chamber walls. The barrel is also in rough shape.
In the bottom of the drawer was a 1950s vintage bread bag full of old 38S&W ammo.
I am going to set it into a wood frame and place the whole thing inside a shadow box with a photo of him during his rum-running days in the 1920s.
The cylinder on his turns freely unless you cock and fire it.

 

[Twiki357]

On the one at the pawn shop. Which way was the owl on the grips facing?

I really didn't pay that much attention to the grips at the time other than to check for chips or cracks.

Did not remove the grips to look for an SN, but the knowledge of the guys at this pawn shop, they would have.

This one also free wheeled. It looked like the bolt didn’t rise enough to secure the cylinder. After doing some research, there are a number of things that I should have looked for but didn’t.

Unfortunately, I know squat about top break revolvers other than they fascinate me and I want one.

 

[Kaeto]

The ones with the owl facing the way the OP's revolver does are generally safe for smokeless powder. If the owl faces the opposite direction it can only be fired using black powder. That's a quick and dirty way to see if it's safe for smokeless.

 

[Pete D.]

"Fiocchi .38 S&W short"........there is no such cartridge. Fiocchi got it wrong.
There is no "long" version of the .38 S&W so there cannot be a short one. The implication is that the only difference between it and the Special is case length.
The .38 S&W Special is longer but is a different cartridge entirely.
Pete