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I have a Model 1892 lever-action and looking for the right ammo. 38 WCF stamped on barrel and research indicates 38-40. Is that all that will work, and where can I get it?
38-40 flat nose 180 gr. Where to get it is going to be a problem. Most outlets don’t have stock in it.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Trish, it’s out of production, so you’ll have to pay a RIP-OFF price to buy it, such as this: https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1016536402
Keep looking on Gunbroker, & you might find something cheaper, but not by much.
If you are going to shoot the 38-40 much you will need to set yourself up to reload it. I have been reloading that round for over 40 years. Cast bullets are available from numerous suppliers. The load of choice has been 174-180 grain cast bullet at .401 diameter. The common powder load for decades has been 8 grains of Unique. I have found Starline to be the best brass for reloading the 38-40.
Online
$3 a round is ridiculous! I’m too cheap to pay $1 a round. So one must reload.
I did note recently that my black powder rounds loaded after firing from a Colt Single Action Army revolver had greater volume due to fire forming making the shoulder a bit higher and the neck shorter. Be aware of this as black powder is loaded by volume.
I think it was about two years ago, at my local gun store, I found 6 boxes of Winchester’s most recent run of .38-40. 180 grain soft points. Boxes of 50. They had them priced at $92 a box. I got them down to take $15 off per box for taking all six (the .38-40 wasn’t a strong seller for them). As I walked out the door, I had some regret at $73 a box. That regret has evaporated. But for me, I’m shooting my own .38-40’s at the range with my own handloads. I have more than a couple .38-40’s (including one Whitney-Kennedy repeater) so having a box of factory ammo with each rifle doesn’t seem excessive.
mrcvs said
$3 a round is ridiculous! I’m too cheap to pay $1 a round. So one must reload.I did note recently that my black powder rounds loaded after firing from a Colt Single Action Army revolver had greater volume due to fire forming making the shoulder a bit higher and the neck shorter. Be aware of this as black powder is loaded by volume.
Or you can pay $4 per round for Black Hills ammunition. Oh… wait… that doesn’t include shipping and sales tax.
November 7, 2015
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PMC still loads (I think!) for the odd CAS shooter who does not reload. They are very wimpy but they go “bang” and hit stuff. For decades I have told non-reloaders that reloading will not save money. It seems that is no longer true! Those 38WCF rounds in my signature pic probably cost less than 20 cents each to load and they shoot quite well. It only takes a few hundred bullets to pay for a semi-custom mould. I can even load up a batch with Holy Black now and then, try finding that ammo sitting on a shelf! Only problem is I get a little careless now and then and ruin a case. Truly a sad occasion with the brass situation we are enduring.
Ike
Try Gun broker and Guns International daily–Everything we need is available–Bill
Things are not going to get better soon or maybe never? I’d bite the bullet and buy any new or once fired brass I could get. Then reload for the rest of your life. If you anneal the brass it may last that long unless you shoot it dozens of times and don’t take care of it.
Word is on Cast Bullet site that Starline is taking back orders for 38 WCF/ 38-40 brass.
I’m at the Tulsa show and bought a couple boxes of 44-40 Remington in the green and yellow box for $75 and they had 32-20 for $80 and saw Black Hills 38-40 for $72.50.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
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