38-40 High Velocity factory loads tested

[yooper2]

A friend recently gave me 4 rounds of vintage Winchester 38-40 High Velocity ammo after his daughter's rabbit decided to snack on the box.

I pulled one down and it held 18.4 grs of a fine grained powder that looked an awful lot like 2400. The bullet was a 180 gr. jacketed soft point with a ton of lead exposed. After weighing everything I reloaded the cartridge and hit the range. Average velocity from my 24" 1911 Model 1892 was 1680fps and the 4 rounds went into 4.5" group at 100 yards.

For comparison, my regular load is 8.0 gr of Unique under Jack Kort's 40-180C which averages 1350fps and will hold 2" at 100 yards.

Nothing earth shattering here but it goes with pretty much everything I've ever heard about this ammo, powerful but not terribly accurate.

Eric

[TedH]

Thanks for the report. I am interested I'm putting together a load that would replicate that velocity for a short range deer load. I have yet to find any 40 cal JSP bullets though.

[yooper2]

Ted,

Hawk offers a 180gr hp that's designed for the 38-40 but I have never tried any myself. Ken Waters includes some '92 level loads in his Pet Loaads article. If you don't have it I'd be happy to send you a picture of the data table.


Eric

[TedH]

Yes please, thank you. I'll pm you my email.

[earlmck]

That's interesting Yooper. I at one time had a full box of those cartridges but being a kid at the time I just shot 'em up. And never saw another factory load.

I looked in QuickLoad and QL thinks that charge of 2400 would produce 24k psi (higher than recommended for the 1873 or old Colt revolvers but fine in a m92 Win). But thinks 1850 fps. I notice QL "thinks" I should get quite a lot more velocity out of my loads than I really do in the 38/40.

I load a 205 grain flat-point gascheck bullet with a case full of RL7 (28 grains in Starline brass, 29 in R-P) for about 1750 fps (QL thinks 1950 fps). I shoot these in the little game we do where we shoot steel buffalos out to 600 yards, and I need that velocity to get to 600 yards with my receiver sight. And then I have to cut a notch in the top of the disc to use as a high open sight to get those 500 yard and 600 yard fellows. But If I was going to go after deer with my 38/40 that is the load and bullet I'd be using. And I'd feel pretty good out to 200 yards.

I'd also be thinking a jacketed bullet made for 10mm pistol would be a pretty fair deer bullet. Again I'd use a case full of powder so I didn't need to worry about a crimp to hold the bullet from slipping back.

I'm ashamed to say it but I've never shot anything bigger than a jack rabbit with my 38/40. But that 600 yard steel buffalo is 6 feet wide and probably a couple hundred pounds and I whang him once in a while (my best round I got 7 hits out of 8 shots, my "usual" is 4 or 5).

[EdinCT]

Years ago I pulled some soft points from 1930's ammo and loaded it in new brass over 22 grs of IMR 4227. It shot into 1" at 75 yards and dropped two deer Quick! never checked velocity but assumed it was around 1650 fps.
A handful of older friends never had issue with the factory load at 1300 and after seeing Razor Dobbs shooting Elk and bigger with the 10mm I wonder why I would worry.
Dad used to say put that 180 gr bullet where they live (lungs)and it will be over.

[FLINT]

Thanks for the report. I am interested I'm putting together a load that would replicate that velocity for a short range deer load. I have yet to find any 40 cal JSP bullets though.

Ted,

Hawk offers a 180gr hp that's designed for the 38-40 but I have never tried any myself. Ken Waters includes some '92 level loads in his Pet Loaads article. If you don't have it I'd be happy to send you a picture of the data table.


Eric

I can personally vouch for and recommend hawk bullets. I used them in a 32-40 and they performed great on deer. Here is the post I made about it.

viewtopic.php?t=75541

[yooper2]

I've shot a couple deer with the 38-40, both with the lyman 401043. One was with the 8.0 gr of Unique and the other was in old balloon head brass with a case full of 3f Goex. Both were inside of 30 yards and both died after a short run but the terminal results were not terribly impressive. I think the higher velocity loads would be quite worthwhile.

Earl,
I've been meaning to try the case full of Reloader 7 ever since reading about it on here in the 44 WCF. I think it was another Jack Kort post. I'll have to give it a whirl with the 40-180C, a sort of a tribute to the fine gentleman. Have about a dozen balloon head cases left, ought to try the 3f again too. Didn't own a chronograph or 38 WCF revolver at the time. Be interesting to see what sort of numbers they put up.

Eric

[Sixgun]

Howdy Eric……Jack Kort gave me a mostly full box of the same but they were 160 grain and they came out at 1900. After testing them for speed I just started shooting them off….may have a few left.——00

[yooper2]

Six,

Very cool, I've read about the 160 gr load but never seen any in the flesh. How fast were they running? Jack Kort was a wealth of knowledge and a wonderful guy to boot. I really miss corresponding with him. I still have a few ounces of Sharpshooter he gave me for testing.

Eric

[EdinCT]

I bought some 145 gr HP's in New Hampshire that clocked over 2000 fps. They flew apart pretty quick too. I most likely still have some around because I certainly wouldn't shoot them at deer but coyotes might be in trouble.