[trtxhunter]

The previous owner of my recently acquired 1st Gen SAA says he shoots Black Hills cowboy loads through it as well as bp handloads. This is my first foray into antique firearms that still function, so I must ask-- is it safe for me to shoot cowboy low pressure loads (HSM, Black Hills, Hornady...) as well as bp, or only BP? Either way, I'm all ears for tips and tricks for maintaining and looking after this old Colt.

 

[sublimert70]

Welcome to the Colt Forum from mid-Michigan... someone will be along shortly with guidance...

 

[1stgen1916saa]

Howdy from N Texas and welcome to the community.

 

[Agarbers]

Welcome to the rabbit hole. Your Colt SAA is not proofed for smokeless, CAS loads or not. Some of the smiths here have noted damage to revolvers that they attribute to using smokeless powder, which has a different pressure curve vs blackpowder. There is a sticky on this: Black Powder or Smokeless? Where to draw the line on a...

 

[smkummer]

38-40 wasn’t introduced in 1874.

 

[WVCOLT]

Hello and welcome to the Colt Forum from West Virginia. Glad you have joined us all here. Someone I'm sure will be along to answer your question. Great group of guys here 4 sure !!!!!!

 

[Cozmo]

1874 manufacture is a black powder only gun.

But interesting enough 38-40 Colts were first introduced in 1884. So at some point if the gun is a 1874 production gun the barrel and cyliner were changed. In that case it would be worth showing photos of the gun, the barrel script and the back of your cylinder to see when they were produced. Frame is no question a BP frame. But the barrel and cylinder might not be BP only, which could give you some leeway on ammo depending on the condition of the gun.

 

[Jim Martin]

38-40 wasn’t introduced in 1874.

correction:my ser.# list shows 1884 for the 32/20 & 38/40 beginning @ ser.# 114,000

 

[Bibbyman]

Could it had been a 41 Colt that was rechambered to 38WCF or cylinder swamped out?

 

[Cozmo]

Could be anything, including rebuilt/rechambered 2nd Gen parts.

The .41 Colt was introduced in 1885 as a BP cartridge and then discontinued in 1938 or 1939. Unless you can verify the replacement pars were made after 1910 I would stick to a strict diet of black powder for all the shooting done in this gun.

 

[MarkInTx]

Welcome to the Forum from South Texas!

If it were my 1874 SAA...I would stick with BP loads for all the reasons above.

 

[trtxhunter]

38-40 wasn’t introduced in 1874.

Thanks for pointing out. I took the prev. owner's word for it and hadn't checked the serial number.

 

[trtxhunter]

I don't handload. Need to start looking for a person or business that sells black powder 38-40 near Pensacola FL. Any recommendations? Appreciate it, all.

 

[hearsedriver]

Here you go....... 38-40 WCF 175 Grain RNFP Black Powder Ammo Box of 50

 

[trtxhunter]

Correction on Serial. 129133, which should place it at 1889.

 

[trtxhunter]

Believe the grips are second gen.

 

[Cozmo]

Neat black powder only gun. It looks like it needs some work on the internals. Worth looking up Alan Harton in Houston or Jim Martin here on the forum. I'd have someone good with 1st Gen guns look at it prior to shooting it. Enjoy!

 

[trtxhunter]

Neat black powder only gun. It looks like it needs some work on the internals. Worth looking up Alan Harton in Houston or Jim Martin here on the forum. I'd have someone good with 1st Gen guns look at it prior to shooting it. Enjoy!

The notches on the underside of the hammer seem to be a bit rounded down from use, the cylinder lock is practically negligible, and the bolt screw head is just missing. So for now it --can-- be shot, but I agree, I'd like to find someone who can give some TLC.

 

[Cozmo]

Not a lot of folks I would trust with bring a well worn 1st Gen. back to life. Alan is in Texas, Jim is in Arizona. But there are others. Where are you?

 

[MarkInTx]

I've never had him do any work for me but Alan Horton has a really good reputation. Jim Martin does extraordinary work on Single Actions.
LeverActionBill (also on this forum) is in Wyoming. He does really good work as well.