S&W No. 3 single action TARGET ammo?
Hello I was just able to buy a S&W #3 single action target I believe it is S&W 38/44 not to be confused with an N frame pistol "THE OUTDOORSMAN" 38/44. My question does anyone have case SPEC?. Cartridges of the world does not list.I would like to shoot this pistol as around 1900 these pistols held the slow fire records and I would like to compare my scores useing this vintage pistol Thanks in advance Karl.
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The 38-44 Target or 38-44 High Velocity is the 38 Special. It is sometimes called the 38 S&W Special and 38 Colt Special. They are all the same.
See page 283 of Cartridges of the World, 10th Edition.
Regards,
Heavyiron
"If I don't see you nomore on this world, I'll meet you on the next one, and don't be late!" - Jimi Hendrix0 -
P.S.
Here is a link that will specify the original load data.
http://www.handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=24
Regards,
Heavy
"If I don't see you nomore on this world, I'll meet you on the next one, and don't be late!" - Jimi Hendrix0 -
Hello heavyiron. thanks for your prompt reply but this is not the same cartridge . My pistol was made in 1888. long before the 38 special. a 38 special case will almost fall completely thru the cyl of this pistol rim and all the bore slugs to .360. A 357 hollow base wadcutter bullet that I use in other reloadings in 38 special can be pushed down the bore with a cleaning rod with almost no markings. Thanks again but 38 special it aint 0 -
Sorry Karl.
Might it be a 38-40?
These were 44-40 cartridges necked down to 401 caliber (but were called 38) and were from the approximate timeframe that you mention.
If not, I am stumped.
Heavyiron
"If I don't see you nomore on this world, I'll meet you on the next one, and don't be late!" - Jimi Hendrix0 -
Sounds like .38-40 to me, because .38-44 is .38Spl. and I don't believe any S&W No. 3 break top revolvers were ever chambered in .38Spl.
As far as .38-40 goes. I do believe some No. 3 Targets were indeed chambered in. 38-40 (.38WCF).
Black Hills loads a nice cowboy load .38-40 that should be safe in such an old gun as long as its in good, servicable condition.
http://www.black-hills.com/
Click on Cowboy Ammunition in the menu at the left of Black Hill's home page. The .38-40 is the first cartridge shown, about half way down the page.
I'm sure there's others that load it too.
The only real guns are wheel guns!0 -
See this discussion: http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-3808.html
S400 -
Thanks guys if you look in BLUE BOOK 23 edition page 1267 it list 32/ 44 and 38/44 I have one in each caliber but the 32/44 has bad bore this 38/44 is mint on the inside 38-40. case is much to big this is a straight walled case not bottle necked. Cheers Karl 0 -
Hey Hey south 40 you hit the nail on the head the last part of the site you refered to is just what I was looking for I owe You one thanks so much . For everyone else thanks also for you input. 0 -
Hey Karl,
I am a minor cartridge collector and this one puzzled me so I have kept at it.
I just found this:
Here is the link.
http://www.guns4all.nl/iFrames/Drawings/caliber.htm
You learn something every day.
Regards,
Heavy
"If I don't see you nomore on this world, I'll meet you on the next one, and don't be late!" - Jimi Hendrix0 -
A special thanks to you heavyiron. This is what I needed to see if I could make some cases. I have Lathe and lots of forming dies etc. 0 -
So does that make it a 38-44S&W cartridge?
Believe nothing you hear and only half of what you see !!
NRA Life Member0 -
Yes!
The above photo illustrates the dimensions for the 38-44 S&W cartrdige. Evidently, there are two different loadings from the diagram. A shorter gallery loading and the standard full-length loading. The bullet is actually seated below the mouth of the case in both loadings much like the 7.62 Nagant revolver and much like our current wadcutter loads, although these cartridges were not loaded with wadcutters. This configuration of bullet and case must have reduced bullet jump from the cylinder to the forcing cone in the barrel. This is why Karl was saying the load was such an accurate target load and why he wanted to authentically recreate the load.
I always thought the 38-44 S&W was just another synonym for the 38-40 or 38 WCF (both are the same cartridge) but this wasn't the case - it is a unique cartridge. The more I looked into its history the interesting the search became. Karl was absolutely correct - this cartridge is not in Cartridges of the World and a search of the International Ammunition Association forum seemed just as nebulous. The cartridge is not unknown, but it seems to have been forgotten over time.
Now I need one for my collection!
Regards,
Heavyiron
"If I don't see you nomore on this world, I'll meet you on the next one, and don't be late!" - Jimi Hendrix0
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