RELOADING THE 38-40 IN A CLEMENTS N FRAME CONVERSION

[45MAN]

WENT TO MY RANGE ON THE RIO GRANDE THIS MORNING, 90 DEGREES. 53% HUMIDITY, 11 mph WINDS, MOSTLY BRIGHT AND SUNNY. THE LOADS WITH AN OAL OF 1.540", STARLINE BRASS, WLP PRIMERS AND THE MBC 200gr PC'ed WFN AND 17.1grs m/l OF 2400 AND 16.9grs m/l OF 2400 BOTH SHOWED PROMISE ON PAPER BUT VERTICAL DISPERSION (CHANGING LIGHT CONDITIONS??) LEFT INCLUSIVE RESULTS. I HAD 6 LOADS ON HAND WITH 17.1grs m/l OF 2400 BUT WITH A OAL OF 1.620". I SHOT 2 3 SHOT GROUPS, @ 25 YARDS, AND OFF A REST, BOTH GROUPS WERE 1.625" CENTER TO CENTER. GOING TO STICK WITH AN OAL OF 1.620" AND LADDER UP A BIT ON THE POWDER CHARGE.

I SAY "m/l", i.e. MORE OR LESS, BECAUSE AT THE SAME SETTING ON THE POWDER DISPENSER THERE IS USUALLY A VERY SAMLL DIFFERNCE FROM 1 POWDER THROW TO ANOTHER.

[45MAN]

LADDERED UP A BIT ON THE CHARGE OF 2400 BUT RESULTS WERE DISAPPOINTING. GOING BACK TO THE SETTING ON MY POWDER DISPENSER THAT THROWS 17.1grs OF 24OO m/l BUT AM GOING TO TRY WINCHESTER's MATCH WLP PRIMER AND FEDERAL's MATCH 155M PRIMER. GOOD NEWS SEEMS TO BE THAT THE HEAVIER 200gr BULLET, SEATED TO OAL OF 1.620", SEEMS TO HAVE SOLVED THE "SHOOTING TOO LOW WITH NOT ENUFF RS ELEVATION LEFT" PROBLEM. "I THINK" (AND HOPE) THAT I WILL GET THIS CLEMENTS' CUSTOM SHOOTING ACCURATELY BUT CAN ONLY MAKE AN UNEDUACATED GUESS AT THE MV I MAY BE GETTING.

[45MAN]

TRIED THE LOAD OF THE WFN 200gr PC'ed BULLET, STARLINE CASES AND 17.1grs, m/l, OF 2400 WITH WINCHESTER MATCH WLP PRIMERS AND FEDERAL 155M MATCH PRIMERS, LOOKED LIKE THE EDGE WENT TO THE FEDERAL PRIMERS SO I LOADED UP 30 AND WENT TO MY RANGE ON THE RIO GRANDE THIS MORNING (9/26/21) TO SHOOT AT STEEL GONGS AT 25 AND 50 YARDS. IT WENT WELL AND I HAD EXCELLENT HITABILITY ON THE STEEL GONGS, SO THE CLEMENTS 38-40 IS MAKING THE TRIP UP TO MY RANCH TOMORROW, IT WILL BE MY HOLSTER GUN AND MY DAYTIME PORCH GUN. MY RIG WILL BE AN EPS ROUGHOUT MONEY BELT WITH 44/45 BULLET LOOPS, AND A FLORAL CARVED, LINED, UNBRANDED, HOLSTER, WHICH MAY BE AN ALAMO HOLSTER. THE 38-40's ARE JUST A LITTLE LOOSE IN THE BULLET LOOPS BUT I THINK IT WILL WORK.

[45MAN]

I GAVE THE CLEMENTS N FRAME 38-40 AN OUTING UP TI THE HIGHPOINT A COUPLE OF WEEKS BACK, USED IT AS A HOLSTER GUN FOR FIELD CARRY, AND ALSO GAVE IT PORCH TIME IN THE AFTERNOONS, BUT IT DIDN'T GET ANYTHING TO SHOOT AT. NOW WITH THE DEER SEASON IMMINENT I NEED TO TRANSITION TO DIFFERENT REVOLVERS FOR FIELD CARRY. FOR ME, AT MY SOUTH TEXAS DEER LEASE, SNAKE SHOT IS A MUST, SO 1 OR 2 RUGER BISLEY 45 COLTS AND A S&W 625 MOUNTAIN GUN IN 45 COLT WILL BE GETTING MOST, IF NOT ALL, OF THE HOLSTER GUN WORK FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. SADLY, I PUT THE 38-40 AND THE AMMO AWAY FOR NOW.

[bearskinner]

When I used to ride around the 17K acre ranch of mostly barley and alfalfa, hogs were a constant issue. Rattlers we’re extremely hard to see, as the hilly, rock encrusted, and heavy brush covered areas between the fields were the perfect breeding grounds for the vipers. As my belt gun, I mostly holstered a 4 5/8” 45 Colt SS, that I had converted to a Bisley with a gold bead front and a Bowen flat black rear.
The first two shots were 16 grains if 2400 with a WLP, drop in a gas check, 100 grains of no 7 shot, capped off with a 160 grain ACP lead pill. A nice light shot load, but a lot more durable that those darn plastic shot holders. I used to break those things more than I shot them. The ACP Bullet shot true at such a close range, the GC always seemed to print at 7 o’clock, and the shot of course swirled everywhere. Not a problem for 7’ shots. After the 2 shot loads, I usually had 3, cast 300 grain GC bullets, behind a WLP and 20 grains of 2400. A little stout, but as hogs were vermin (although very tasty, due to raiding the barley) I always got a bit of a smirk and giggle when I could drop to one knee, and poke two with one shot. A Quigley always brings a smile. The shot loads weren’t always that effective, but I know I ran over more snakes with the truck or quad, than I had the opportunity to shoot at anyway. That was 2 life times ago, as now in N Idaho, there’s no snakes, or hogs to fuss with. I enjoy my porch here too Rey, just watching turkeys, quail, deer and moose. Little things like porch sitting with Arnold Palmer puts life in perspective.

[bearskinner]

Back to the OP on 38-40’s. I picked up a SS 6.5” 10mm/40S&W Ruger Blackhawk. Reamed the 40 to 38-40, converted it to free spin, Bisley, and added a fiber optic front and a peep blade for the rear. Still playing with loads. I acquired a couple thousand 195 grain PB lead bullets, so haven’t tried many changes. Played with HS6, but like the feel of 2400.
There’s just something about the original Old Colt SA cartridges. I still prefer a 45 over everything else, but the 38-40 hits that sweet spot of plinking and recoil.

[45MAN]

I HAD SET THIS CLEMENTS MODEL 28 CONVERSION TO 38-40 ASIDE ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO TO CONCENTRATE ON MY DEER SEASON REVOLVERS. YESTERDAY I WENT TO MY RANGE ON THE RIO GRANDE TO PLAY WITH A RUGER SINGLE SIX 22lr WITH A NEW RW 2 DOGS SIGHT AND FINALLY GOT BACK TO THE CLEMENTS 38-40 AND TOOK IT TO THE RANGE ALSO. HAD A MTM BOX WITH 79 LOADED ROUNDS USING STARLINE CASES, 155M PRIMERS, 200gr PC'ed BULLETS AND 2400 POWDER. MUST HAVE DECIDED BACK THEN THAT THIS WAS THE LOAD FOR THIS GUN SINCE I HAD LOADED UP 79 OF 'em.

NEITHER THE GUN NOR THE LOAD DIAPPOINTED ON STEEL AT 25 YARDS, LOAD WAS SIGHTED IN, NO EXTRACTION PROBLEMS, ACCURATE AND AUTHORATIVE. I NOW HAVE LOTS OF STARLINE BRASS AND THE MONTANA BULLET WORKS PC'ed 200gr BULLETS. WILL TRY TO CHRONO AND REPORT BACK WITH RESULTS AND THE EXACT CHARGE OF 2400.

[pacecars]

Rey,

If you ever grow tired of this gun please let me know. I love the .38-40

Ronnie

[45MAN]

BUMPING THIS THREAD AS THIS GUN WAS MENTIONED RECENTLY IN ANOTHER THREAD.