Use 40 S&W bullets in 38-40?

[JellyJar]

Please excuse me if this question has asked before. I did a search and could not find an answer to my question.

At present I do not handload although I plan on starting soon. Also, I am interested in getting a handgun in one of the old bottle necked cartridges, either 40-40 or 38-40. I found that the S&W round uses .400 bullets and that the 38-40 uses .401 bullets.

If I were to handload 38-40 and fire them in a handgun with a .401 throat and barrel using the S&W bullets would the loads be as accurate as using .401 bullets? All cast lead bullets of course.

Thanks

JJ

 

[GCBurner]

You can use pistol bullets made for 10mm or .40 S&W for reloading the .38-40 Winchester. I like the 180 gr. Hornady jacketed hollow points in my .38-40 rifle, because they don't lead the barrel like cast lead bullets.

 

[rcmodel]

Conversely, you can use 38-40 WCF revolver bullets in .40 S&W.

Thats what I do.

The Lyman #401043 175 grain cast bullet works perfectly in my Glock 23 .40 S&W.

rc