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.38 Short Colt / .38 Long Colt

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13 January 2004, 11:01
michaelnjbb1
.38 Short Colt / .38 Long Colt
Need maximum case lengths and loading data for the .38 Short Colt and .38 Long Colt cartridges. Anyone out there got some info or perhaps some old Lyman reloading handbooks?

Thanks to anyone for your assistance.
14 January 2004, 01:46
irv

From "cartridges of The World" 38 long Colt case length 1.03" 150 gr bullet, 3gr Bullseye= 810 fps

From "Cartridge Case Measurements" 38 Short Colt AKA 38 Short, 38 Short Colt Long case (?),
38 Webley, 9x19 Short Colt & DWM98 Case Length 0.75 ( 19mm = .748 ")
Good Luck!
15 January 2004, 08:56
Ross
It is not often noted today that the .38 Colt was originally outside lubed. The later inside lubed cases were lengthened. The later inside lubed cup base bullets never shot worth a hoot. It takes a heeled bullet to work in either the short or long.
I use hollow based wadcutters in .38 Spl cases in my Colt Lightning for only fair accuracy.
Alas, I do not have the old length at hand, though I've consulted several old tomes, and find a curious variety of lengths in recent works.
I have never seen the short Colt loaded with an inside lubed bullet.
Someone here surely has the requested information.
Cheers from Darkest California,
Ross
16 January 2004, 04:49
irv

Sometimes a soft lead bullet will slug up with blackpowder and fill the grooves better. The outside lubed
bullets could have been used in 38 C&B conversions with their 0.375 bores.
Good luck!