[Mad Reloader]

Going out for the shoot promises to be interesting.

I mentioned in the .38 Colt thread how the ORIGINAL loads were heeled bullet jobbers, later hollowbases--until the .38 Long Colt cartridge was revised in the 1880's to the standard inside-lubed jobber.

I've run off a couple of boxes worth of .38 Long Colt going back to the original projo concept, just using 148-grain HBWC's in lieu of 150 grain heeled RNL's or HB/RNL.

Reason is as follows:

Since 1887 Colts in .38-calibre have been of 0.357" bore diameter. From 1870 until '87, they were 0.375! As in, just like the Navy calibre cap-&-ball models.

My ASM 1861/70 Richards-Mason was built with a modern bore, back in the 1990's
--the just-converted Pietta 1851 Navy (which is now a 1851/70 Navy I guess!) is exactly what one would have had in those early cartridge days and is 0.375" bore.

Expecting a .357" projo to fly with accuracy down a bore 0.018" wider, is a bit much. Much like loading up 8mm Mauser (0.323") with 0.308" projos and wondering why you have flyers and lousy obturation...

So, the load is as follows:

148 grain HBWC, 2.8 grains Bullseye (stepped down from 3.0 grs which is near-max for .38 Long), Winchester case, CCI small pistol primer.

The skirt of the HBWC will blow out enough to engage the rifling, giving better obturation, and most importantly--accuracy.

Range session will be next weekend, I'll let you know how it went!