if you were going to load one with black, & one smokeless... which ???

Magnum Wheel Man · December 22, 2014, 06:01 PM

38 Short Colt, & 38 Long Colt...

these are going in my Navy conversions... & I 'm already loading smokeless in the Long Colt, & will likely shoot mostly smokeless, but I'd like to have some black powder loads for fun days at the CAS range...

would you load...

Long Colt only, with both black & smokeless loads...
Long Colt with black, & Short Colt with smokeless...
Short Colt with black, Long Colt with smokeless...

the charges I'm currently running with Long Colt cases are 1/4 or less of available space with the powder charge... ( if that matters in your decision )

rodwhaincamo · December 22, 2014, 06:08 PM

I'd likely load the Long with BP as you generally don't need all of the case capacity for smokeless, but then it may just be that the Short does better with BP. Try 'em both and go from there I say.

Magnum Wheel Man · December 22, 2014, 06:15 PM

I'm also concerned about carbon ring build up... maybe load both in the long to avoid the carbon issue...

I'm assuming the short with black would throw a nasty carbon ring in the chamber ???

Hellgate · December 22, 2014, 07:14 PM

Load everything in the long cases. You will want to fill the case with BP anyway. What I do is mark the primers black with a Sharpie permanent pen so I don't get any surprises from loose ammo. Smokeless rounds are unmarked. You could use any color you want (red, green or black) for other powders like 777 or APP. I use the black pen for the primers on the shotshells too for all powders that make smoke. If you put BP in the shorts then you might not be able to easily chamber a long case after a few rounds.

Magnum Wheel Man · December 23, 2014, 06:24 AM

that's a great idea... I have several cartridges I've been wanting to load "some" black, but shoot mostly smokeless... black primers is a great way to keep track of them, all the way back to reload...

hartcreek · December 23, 2014, 07:36 AM

A much better way would be to load black into one brand case only.

Magnum Wheel Man · December 23, 2014, 07:40 AM

well in the case of the 38 Long Colt... that's quite a bit tougher, as Star Line is pretty much the only game in town... I could do it with my Walker conversion though... but marking the cases, would see to be a more "universal" method...

Jim Watson · December 23, 2014, 10:42 AM

Will .38 LC hold the one CC of powder required for black powder category in SASS?
I bet .38 Short won't.

December 22, 2014, 06:01 PM	#1
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	if you were going to load one with black, & one smokeless... which ??? 38 Short Colt, & 38 Long Colt... these are going in my Navy conversions... & I 'm already loading smokeless in the Long Colt, & will likely shoot mostly smokeless, but I'd like to have some black powder loads for fun days at the CAS range... would you load... Long Colt only, with both black & smokeless loads... Long Colt with black, & Short Colt with smokeless... Short Colt with black, Long Colt with smokeless... the charges I'm currently running with Long Colt cases are 1/4 or less of available space with the powder charge... ( if that matters in your decision ) __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

December 22, 2014, 06:15 PM	#3
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	I'm also concerned about carbon ring build up... maybe load both in the long to avoid the carbon issue... I'm assuming the short with black would throw a nasty carbon ring in the chamber ??? __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

December 22, 2014, 07:14 PM	#4
Hellgate Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2010 Location: Orygun Posts: 869	Load everything in the long cases. You will want to fill the case with BP anyway. What I do is mark the primers black with a Sharpie permanent pen so I don't get any surprises from loose ammo. Smokeless rounds are unmarked. You could use any color you want (red, green or black) for other powders like 777 or APP. I use the black pen for the primers on the shotshells too for all powders that make smoke. If you put BP in the shorts then you might not be able to easily chamber a long case after a few rounds. __________________ With over 15 perCUSSIN' revolvers, I've been called the Imelda Marcos of cap & ball. SASS#3302 (Life), SASS Regulator, NRA (Life), Dirty Gamey Bastards #129 Wolverton Mtn. Peacekeepers (WA), former Orygun Cowboy (Ranger, Posse from Hell)

December 23, 2014, 06:24 AM	#5
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	that's a great idea... I have several cartridges I've been wanting to load "some" black, but shoot mostly smokeless... black primers is a great way to keep track of them, all the way back to reload... __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

December 23, 2014, 07:40 AM	#7
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	well in the case of the 38 Long Colt... that's quite a bit tougher, as Star Line is pretty much the only game in town... I could do it with my Walker conversion though... but marking the cases, would see to be a more "universal" method... __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

December 22, 2014, 06:08 PM	#2
rodwhaincamo Senior Member Join Date: July 7, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 1,246	I'd likely load the Long with BP as you generally don't need all of the case capacity for smokeless, but then it may just be that the Short does better with BP. Try 'em both and go from there I say.

December 23, 2014, 07:36 AM	#6
hartcreek Junior member Join Date: April 22, 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 1,549	A much better way would be to load black into one brand case only.

December 23, 2014, 10:42 AM	#8
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	Will .38 LC hold the one CC of powder required for black powder category in SASS? I bet .38 Short won't.