Can one load 40 S&W bullets in a 38-40..The .38-40 is .400 and the 40 S&W is .401..Its impossible to find JHPs in the .38-40.

Yes, the 38 WCF will handle the .400-.401-.402 diameter bullets just fine.

The only problem you will have if you stand on the 38WCF in a revolver is the 40S&W bullets don't have a cannalure. There are ways around that.

Here is a picture of the 38 WCF with a 200 gn LMNGC and a 230gn FNGC



Here are the bullets next to a Hornady 180XTP


The lower left is a Linebaugh 38 WCF

One has to cut his own cannelure on the jacketed bullets for the 38WCF.

( blue loctite works as well..... don't ask me how I know )

The barrel on my 38WCFis .400

Another option on those uncannelured bullets is the lee factory crimp die.

quote:

Originally posted by kaboom:
Another option on those uncannelured bullets is the lee factory crimp die.

The necks are very thin and I wouldn't recommend much in the way of hard crimping on them.

(You can ask me how I know)

quote:

The necks are very thin and I wouldn't recommend much in the way of hard crimping on them.

That is the whole point with the Lee factory crimp die. Mine have worked very well for me.

Also for Mr, Atkinson.

I have run the 38 WCF to 1900 fps with Hornady 180 XTP's in my 6.5" barrel.

I have been picking up 38-40 stuff over the years but never shot it much since I was a kid. Pop shot a famous outlaw with it, and its part of my Texas Ranger collection of his guns..

The other day in a moment of nostalgia I dicided to shoot it and was amazed.. It shoots great..Didn't shoot good at all when I was a 6 or 8 year old kid, go figure!!

I loaded up 100 180 gr. FNL bullets, R-P cases with 10 grs of Unique and 300 CCI primrs and got 2.5 to 3 inch groups at 100 yards everytime and all in a clover shape, so I can live with that for sure. I have a cigar box full of those bullets, a couple of boxes of Rem and R-Ps factory JHPs. Factory stuff shoots to same POI and its pretty mild stuff.

I also found a number of brass marked 44-40, 303 British, and 303 Savage that had been cut back and reformed to 38-40 and it shot well also..I think the 303 stuff just may be the better brass, its thicker in the neck and it feeds and functions fine..Maybe some old gun nut knew his business.

I found out quickly that gentle and slow was the technique for crimping that thin brass.

I'm in need of a 180 gr. JHP to load with IMR-4227 as according to the books that will get me 1900 FPS in a 20 inch barrel and probably 2000 plus in this 24 inch mod. 92..Serial no. btw is 158..1st year of production rifle in nice shape, bores a tad rough, but it shoots good.

With that load I'll shoot a deer with it next year or later this year in Texas. I figure it a good 50 to 75 yard gun, and 100 yards about its real world limit on deer size game....

I suspect a 180 gr. Hawk bullet (.025 soft copper jacket ) at 2000 plus FPS should do the trick nicely, and I can put the cannalure where I want it.


Its loads of fun to shoot.