38-40 WCF Shot Cartridges…

[cshold]

I never knew they made these back in the day.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =194705423

[RIHMFIRE]

me niether..............$498

[w30wcf]

casastahle,
Yes, they were also made with wooden shot carriers (UMC) as in the pic below and also in full length cartridges with the shot totally inside the case (WRA CO.).



w30wcf

[cshold]

looks to be real close to a 410 shotshell.

[EdinCT]

I know the Marbles gamegetter was made in 44wcf smoothbore so might of come in 38 also. Although this is the first time I have heard of them. They we advertised has a gun of opportunity.

[Gobblerforge]

I'm just theorizing here but those shot shells may be some of the very first in 38 cal. The box shows patent from 1879 and I think 38 cal. came out in 1880. The box doesn't even say 38WCF. It says 38/100 Model of 1873. The cartridge we know as 44WCF was called Model of 1873 until about 1886 or 1888 or so. This was at a time that there was no set standard for cartridge naming because there weren't that many cartridges yet. Very, very cool.
Gobbler

[w30wcf]

Gobblerforge,
Yes it does appear that way. Interesting.


Here's a 38 W.C.F. / .38-40 cartridge line up


b.p./smokeless/W.R.A. CO. shot*/U.M.C. shot
*blanks used the same case

w30wcf

[cshold]

w30wcf, you have great pictures
Any idea as to shot size these came in?

[w30wcf]

U.M.C. lists the shot size as No. 10 for the .38-40.

[OldWin]

These came in .44 also I believe. My fathers first gun was an H&R single shot smooth-bore stamped "44 caliber" on top of the barrel. It was in fact a 44wcf. It was fairly common to have these re-chambered to 3" 410 as my father did.

[w30wcf]

OldWin,
Yes, indeed they did.....with a couple of additional options........

The round ball and 44XL were intended especially for the Marbles Game Getter




w30wcf

[OldWin]

HaHa! Funny, I forgot about the roundball .44 loads but have seen many of these. I always meant to play with this idea but like so many others it gets back-burnered and sometimes forgotten. A good plinking load is priceless!

[cshold]

casastahle,
Yes, they were also made with wooden shot carriers (UMC) as in the pic below and also in full length cartridges with the shot totally inside the case (WRA CO.).



w30wcf

Is there a shot capsule produced today that these vintage
shot shells could be home brewed?

"1906 UMC catalog indicates 23 grs. of Black Powder"

[w30wcf]

Not that I know of but someone with a lathe could gat some 7/16 or 1/2" dowel stock from a hardware store and make some of the wooden ones.

Another option would be to get some of the Speer .38 Shot capsules and wrap tape around that portion that would be inside of the case neck up to .40" diameter.

w30wcf

[w30wcf]

Another thought would be to use a paper shot carrier. A 3/8" dowel could be used as the mandrel.

w30wcf

[Sixgun]

Easy to make yourself. Take a .303 British case and cut it to the length of a loaded round. load 5 or 6 grains of Unique, cardboard wad, 200 grains of #11 shot and then another wad. Run the case into a smaller necked fls, such as a 30-30 to crimp the mouth. ------6

[w30wcf]

Six......,
Great info as usual!

w30wcf