38 long colt BP loads?

[Will52100]

I been wanting to convert a pair of 36 cal. cap n' balls to 38 long colt, but with a hollow base bullit how do you load with black powder?  Do you even use a wad or?

Thanks,

Will

[John Traveler]

Loading for the .38 Long Colt is easy:

Use any small pistol primer.  no wads are needed.  fill the case with FFFg granulation so that bullet will firmly compress the powder when fully seated and crimped.

I loaded .38 LC years ago using .358" HBWC and the results were only so-so accuracy and power.  They barely made 700 fps (target wadcutter velocities) and burned dirty.  This was in various modern Colt and S&W double action revolvers designed for .38 Special ammo.

The problem you will encounter is that even with HB bullets, that repro M1851 .375" or .380" barrel groove diameter will give crummy accuracy.

The old .38 LC rounds were "heeled" bullets (like modern .22 LR rimfires) where the bullet was case diameter AND had a deep hollow base.  They had to go that route to get acceptable accuracy in original M1851 cartridge conversions.

HTH
John

[Will52100]

Thanks John, I'll try that, if the accuracy isn't there I'll re-line the barrel with a 38 special liner.

Will

[Harry O]

I been wanting to convert a pair of 36 cal. cap n' balls to 38 long colt, but with a hollow base bullit how do you load with black powder?  Do you even use a wad or?

Thanks,

Will

You may be interested in this article.  It is about shooting heel-base bullets in the 41 Long Colt, but it also has info on hollow-base bullets.

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/heelbullets.htm