Colt New Service .38-40

[brianr23]

Any recommendation on loads for the Colt New Service in .38 wcf? I am looking for more than cowboy loads and I am having a hard time finding something. Anyone with experience with this revolver?

 

[rcmodel]

Hornady #6 manual has a lot of loading data for it with 155, 180, and 200 grain XTP-HP bullets at near Magnum performance levels.
155 @ 1250
180 @ 1100
200 @ 1050

It should be noted however, that this data is tested & safe only in a modern Ruger Blackhawk & similiar strength guns.

The much older Colt New Service is not as strong, and in fact should only be used with load data that is safe in Colt SAA guns of the same period.

If I were you, I would look for load levels that do not exceed .40 S&W performance.
180 @ 1000
200 @ 950

With that said, many older 38-40's had over-size bores & cylinder throats for use with todays .400" jacketed bullets, and you may get better accuracy with some of the Cowboy lead bullet loads at more moderate velocity. (180 @ 900)

rcmodel

 

[brianr23]

I would have guessed that the New Service would have been stronger than the SAA of the day with the larger frame. It was also chambered in .45 acp which operates at a significantly higher pressure than .38 wcf and .45 colt. Of course I don't expect Ruger strength out of it. I was hoping for a lead 180gr at 1000-1100 fps in a 7.5" barrel. Thanks!

Brian

 

[rcmodel]

Well, you are probably right that they are stronger then 2nd. gen SAA's.

But, just because they are Big did not make them heat-treated for a steady near magnum level diet.

The old original 38-40 factory load was a 180 @ 975.

rcmodel

 

[rcmodel]

Well heres more:
I dug back in some old reloading manuals and found almost what you are looking for.

Keep in mind, this was back in the day when:
Men were Real men.
Guns were Real guns.
Pressure testing was for Sissy's.
SAAMI had not reduced the pressure limit for the 38-40 WCF to 14,000 PSI.

THESE LOADS ARE WELL ABOVE MAXIMUM by todays standards.
USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Lyman #45 (1970) lists Max loads as:
180 grain Winchester JSP & 9.5 grains Unique at 1,000 FPS.
172 grain Lyman #401143 lead & 10.0 grains Unique at 1,105

Tested in a 7 1/2" Colt SAA.

Don't shoot your eye out!

rcmodel

 

[brianr23]

Thanks rcmodel for the help. I found a what I hope will be a good load. It wont make the 1000 fps, but like you said she's an old gun. I like the idea of the bulky trailboss load.

180-gr. LRNFP IMR Trail Boss Fed. 150 Win. 6 grains 900 fps

 

[klw]

Colt New Service 38-40

I had one of these decades ago. What I remember about it was that the shoulder moved forward maybe a quarter inch. Apparently way back when the location of the shoulder depended on who made the gun. So I used two full length resizing dies, one for new brass and one for the brass I shot in this gun. Wanted to not reposition that shoulder as it would only lead to the brass wearing out quickly.

 

[rcmodel]

Yep!

Winchester, Colt, S&W, and the ammo makers all seemed to have a whole different version of what the 32-20, 38-40, & 44-40 WCF chambers were supposed to look like.

I have cut 1/8" off the bottom of all my WCF sizing dies so they can be adjusted to the chamber of the gun I am loading for.

rcmodel