RELOADING THE 38-40 IN A CLEMENTS N FRAME CONVERSION

[Encore64]

Sounds like you're on the right track. Heavier bullets hold back the burn on those voluminous cases.

A gun of that quality sure makes the problems along the way worth it.

I experienced the same growing pains along the way. Hope you keep us posted in this interesting thread.

[45MAN]

I JUST ORDERED (BACKORDERED) 500 38-40 CASES FROM STARLINE, AND ORDERED 750 10MM PC'ed 200gr WFN BULLETS FROM MONTANA BULLET WORKS. I HAVE ALWAYS LIKE WFN STYLE BULLETS AND AM TRYING TO GO TO POWDER COATED BULLETS WHENEVER POSSIBLE. MONTANA IS NOW OFFERING SOME PC'ed BULLETS INCLUDING A 200gr PC'ed PLAIN BASE WFN BULLET IN 10MM (.401) WITH A BHN OF 22, MACHINE CAST OUT OF A NOE MOLD, WITH 750 OF THEM I HOPE THEY WORK.

I KNOW encore64 REALLY PUSHES SOME OF HIS 38-40 LOADS, ESPECIALLY FOR DEER HUNTING, BUT MY DEER HUNTING REVOLVERS ARE EITHER 45 COLT OR 454 CASULL, AND SCOPED. I PLAN TO USE THIS CLEMENTS CUSTOM AS A HOLSTER GUN, AND A PORCH GUN, WHEN AT MY RANCH. A 200gr WFN @ 1,000 - 1,100 FPS WILL DO ANYTHING I ASK IT TO DO, AND HOPEFULLY WON'T BE TOO HARD ON THE GUN OR THE SHOOTER. I DO THINK I WILL GIVE 2400 A TRY IN THE 38-40, WHO KNOWS MAYBE I WILL GET PAST 1,100fps AND STILL BE COMFORTABLE WITH THE LOAD.

[Encore64]

I sent Clements a gun today that'll get his full treatment. A revamped Ruger Buckeye 38-40 with a 5-Shot 17-4 Stainless Cylinder...

You can push those 200s to 1250 fps with very little recoil. Those huge bottlenecks will turn out some great velocities with reasonably low pressure and muzzle blast...

[45MAN]

ONE OF MANY GUN REGRETS I HAVE IS LETTING A BUCKEYE 38-40/10MM (OR WHATEVER THEY ARE) GO. IIRC, I NEVER EVEN SHOT IT.

[45MAN]

GOT THE 200gr PC'ed MONTANA BULLETS IN + SOME NEW STARLINE CASES COURTESY OF LEADHOUND. LOADED UP SOME WITH 14grs OF 2400. THE HEAVIER BULLETS HELPED A LOT WITH THE POI BUT THE GROUPS WERE LOUSY. WILL TRY A LITTLE MORE POWDER AND REPORT BACK.

[kings6]

I just snagged a three screw Blackhawk that David converted to 40 S&W years ago with a new cylinder. It is headed back to him to get remarked and rechambered to 38-40. I have one of his bisley spurred hammers left and he will be fitting it and a Bowen sight so I finally will have a 38-40. Time to hunt brass and bullets.

[45MAN]

Aug 28, 2021 14:55:51 GMT -5 kings6 said:

I just snagged a three screw Blackhawk that David converted to 40 S&W years ago with a new cylinder. It is headed back to him to get remarked and rechambered to 38-40. I have one of his bisley spurred hammers left and he will be fitting it and a Bowen sight so I finally will have a 38-40. Time to hunt brass and bullets.

I WILL MAKE YOU A GOOD DEAL ON WINCHESTER 38-40 BRASS, OR IF YOU PREFER STARLINE I THINK LEADHOUND HAS SOME TO SELL.

[Encore64]

Aug 28, 2021 14:55:51 GMT -5 kings6 said:

I just snagged a three screw Blackhawk that David converted to 40 S&W years ago with a new cylinder. It is headed back to him to get remarked and rechambered to 38-40. I have one of his bisley spurred hammers left and he will be fitting it and a Bowen sight so I finally will have a 38-40. Time to hunt brass and bullets.

That will be a good one. Dave built me a 6-Shot 38-40 and 44-40. Currently working on a 5-Shot in each caliber.

You'll have a great gun...

[45MAN]

THE MONTANA BULLETS PC'ed, CANNELURELESS, 10mm, 200gr WFN BULLETS DO NOT HAVE A SEAMLESS TRANSITION FROM SHANK TO ORGIVE, BUT INSTEAD HAVE AN EVER SO SLIGHT SHOULDER/FRONT END OF A DRIVING BAND. WITH THE SHORTER STARLINE CASES (THEY ARE SHORTER THAN WINCHESTER CASES) I HAD TO ADJUST THE LEE FACTORY CRIMP (COLLETT) DIE AND THE POWDER THRU/BELLING DIE. I DECIDED TO CRIMP SLIGHTLY OVER/ON THE SHOULDER/FRONT END OF THE DRIVING BAND, WHICH GIVES AN OAL OF 1.540". THIS MORNING I TRIED A LOAD OF 17.2grs OF 2400, WLP's AND STARLINE CASES WITH THE 200gr WFN. THIS LOAD SHOWED A LOT OF PROMISE (ONLY HAD 12 LOADED UP) BUT IT MAY BE AS HIGH AS I WANT TO GO ON THE POWDER CHARGE. I HAVE LOADED UP ANOTHER 12 WITH THE 17.2grs, AND WILL LOAD UP 12 WITH 17.0grs OF 2400, AND COMPARE - PROBABLY WONT'T GET TO SHOOT AGAIN UNTIL THE WEEKEND.

[Encore64]

I'm a little confused on the adjustment of the Lee Collet Crimp Die. The die cannot be adjusted for case length. It's operated by the shell holder pushing against the bottom of the die. The crimp placement is fixed...

I've crimped many jacketed, cast and cast coated bullets in my various 38-40s without worrying about a cannelure or driving band. The low recoiling round has never suffered from bullet pull.

Seating those bullets out reduces pressure and shortens bullet to rifling distance to increase accuracy potential...

[45MAN]

encore64: IT HAS BEEN MY IMPRESSION THAT YOU CAN SEAT THE COLLET DIE ALL THE WAY DOWN FOR MAXIMUM CRIMP OR BACK IT OFF SOME FOR LESS CRIMP. I HAD TO SEAT IT ALL THE WAY DOWN SO AS TO REACH THE SHORTER STAR LINE CASES.

I WILL ALSO TRY SEATING SOME BULLETS TO A LONGER OAL. DO YOU HAVE ANY OAL SUGGESTIONS FOR A MODEL 28 LENGTH CYLINDER?

[Encore64]

I haven't measured the cylinder length, so have no clue on the required OAL. I'd just experiment with a couple and see what works.

You can adjust crimp tension by screwing it down a little. But, crimp position is fixed.

[mhblaw]

Hey Robb, what happened to the Bowen Bisley in 38-40?

[kings6]

Rehomed Malcolm like the 41 was. The thing about this Clements I just got is it can serve as my Quest gun from David and the old model 44 mag flat top bisley conversion from him can find a new home once the 38-40 is done. As painful as it is, I am really trying to get down to just one custom from each of the guys on my list. That is why the only Bowen gun left is the #5 style gun. The only maker I have two guns from is John Gallagher and one of those is for purely sentimental reasons.

[mhblaw]

Seems fair enough.