38-40

[rayb]

Now I've got 2 revolvers in this caliber.
To the gun store I went where I discovered that the price of loaded ammunition is rather astounding.
So reload it is.
My next purchase is going to be a set of plug gages.
Have read the various loading recipes, have several appropriate powders already.
Just got some Starline brass in.

I've looked at the various die sets, Lee thru redding (price order), prices vary considerably.

Interested in any input experience any of you may have using any of the currently available die sets as well as any helpful hints for this particular round.

Thanks

rayb

[WIL TERRY]

HAVE used RCBS, RCBS COWBOY, and REDDING. They all worked fine. It is not big deal atall to load any of the hyphen cartridges. The RCBS COWBOY dies produced the best handloads. The LEE 38-40 FCD is an absolute must for all three of the hyphen cartridges IMNHO.

[Colt75]

+1 one the Lee Factory Crimp Die. Does a great job. Not sure if Lee makes it in the .38/40 but if they do get one.

[bmcgilvray]

I use RCBS dies for loading my .38-40 ammunition. They seem a might more sensitive to adjustment variances for the simultaneous seating and crimping operation but can be properly adjusted with care.

For a real honey of a load you might try the 170 grain Lyman No. 40188 cast lead bullet over 7.1 grains of Unique. This bullet seems to cast up weighing 171-172 grains and is a semi-wadcutter in shape. The powder charge is mild and the load will chronograph 829 fps from a 4 3/4-inch Colt.

A full case of FFg and the same bullet will yield a potent 899 fps from the 4 3/4-inch barrel.

A maximum charge of Unique as listed in several classic Lyman manuals with the same bullet will clock 1211 fps from the 4 3/4-inch barrel but really shouldn't be used in collectible Colt revolvers.

I think I must be the only person in the world who feels that Lee dies are worthless.

[swamprat]

I like Lee dies, especially the price! Before buying new dies, check Gunbroker & ebay!

[Tusker10MM]

Believe I have an extra set of Lee dies in this flavor. Let me know if you need them.

Can also provide this LNIB 38-40

[DFrame]

One word of caution. The "Hyphen" cartridges all date to the black powder era when pressures were lower and thin brass was needed for proper sealing of the chamber. As such cases can easily be crushed if you're a bit over zealous in sizing. Bullets must also be seated straight of they can damage the case. Lubrication is needed during sizing since carbide dies are unavailable for bottlenecked cases. Just a couple of small details to watch and not really a big deal.

[Mike Armstrong]

Many old .38-40s have oversized chambers that blow the case out to a straight taper. They work OK but your dies may resize them back to the original shape each time, which works the brass excessively and adds to this caliber's reputation for weak brass. So if this is happening to you, you need to decide if you want to resize each time, and see if your weapon will function with unsized cartridges. My Colt NS will, but my Remington 14 1/2 won't. My other .38-40 is a Winchester Single Shot with a tight chamber that doesn't blow out the brass, but I have had a Winchester that did, a '92 rifle.

[bmcgilvray]

The chambers on my 1905 Colt SAA are of proper dimensions. I did have a Winchester Model 1873 .38-40 that had a really oversized chamber.

[peacemaker]

Even if you choose to leave unsized, as in loading black powder, I have heard that many of those older chambers would barely leave 1/4" neck for the bullet once fire formed.