British Constabulary Revolver - Page 2

**4V50 Gary** · September 20, 2013, 07:30 AM

darkgael - Never knew that place existed until now. Thank you.

James K · September 20, 2013, 09:32 PM

Right, Mike about the .38 S&W not having heel bullets. Now my problem is to figure out just what those were. They were copper washed Winchester bullets, had the "step" seen on the heel-type, and a bulge at the middle that miked about .377-.380. I certainly remember loading them into a Navy Colt.

Jim

**Mike Irwin** · September 22, 2013, 09:45 PM

They might have been for the original .38 long colt, which did have a heeled bullet as originally loaded in 1877.

Andy Griffith · September 26, 2013, 12:24 AM

There are several fellers that make moulds for the heeled bullets, Old West Bullet Moulds is one that I used, and I also have one from Sweden- I can't pronounce the name or remember it, but they make the nicest moulds I've ever seen.

The problem with heeled bullets isn't finding the bullets themselves- the problem is crimping.

The best way that I know how to is with a Lee FCD (collet style) modified to fit the caliber that you need to crimp. I used one for .35 Remington on my .38 Long Colt- I just made an extension to my shellholder out of some round bar to the correct length and viola- I have crimped "outside lubricated" ammunition for my pair of Lightnings!

Lee can only make these collet crimp dies so short, so you may have to find one in the closest caliber to what you can use and go from there, like I did.

Strafer Gott · August 4, 2016, 10:27 AM

The only heeled bullets I fire in my "The British Bulldog" in .44 which is very similar to your BCP are Speer plastic target rounds. I'd be surprised if the .38 caliber ones wouldn't work in yours, Doc. I wouldn't trust these revolvers with much more than a magnum large pistol primer. I almost brought this revolver up in the "cowboys" thread, as there must have been a flood of these cheapies back in the day. I gave fifty bucks for mine. You done well.

September 20, 2013, 07:30 AM	#26
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,831	darkgael - Never knew that place existed until now. Thank you. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

September 22, 2013, 09:45 PM	#28
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	They might have been for the original .38 long colt, which did have a heeled bullet as originally loaded in 1877. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

September 26, 2013, 12:24 AM	#29
Andy Griffith Senior Member Join Date: May 14, 2009 Location: Macon Co. NC Posts: 591	There are several fellers that make moulds for the heeled bullets, Old West Bullet Moulds is one that I used, and I also have one from Sweden- I can't pronounce the name or remember it, but they make the nicest moulds I've ever seen. The problem with heeled bullets isn't finding the bullets themselves- the problem is crimping. The best way that I know how to is with a Lee FCD (collet style) modified to fit the caliber that you need to crimp. I used one for .35 Remington on my .38 Long Colt- I just made an extension to my shellholder out of some round bar to the correct length and viola- I have crimped "outside lubricated" ammunition for my pair of Lightnings! Lee can only make these collet crimp dies so short, so you may have to find one in the closest caliber to what you can use and go from there, like I did. __________________ Barney Fife: "Nip it, nip it, nip it!" Andy Griffith:"Oh now Barn'...."

September 20, 2013, 09:32 PM	#27
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Right, Mike about the .38 S&W not having heel bullets. Now my problem is to figure out just what those were. They were copper washed Winchester bullets, had the "step" seen on the heel-type, and a bulge at the middle that miked about .377-.380. I certainly remember loading them into a Navy Colt. Jim

August 4, 2016, 10:27 AM	#30
Strafer Gott Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2011 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,315	The only heeled bullets I fire in my "The British Bulldog" in .44 which is very similar to your BCP are Speer plastic target rounds. I'd be surprised if the .38 caliber ones wouldn't work in yours, Doc. I wouldn't trust these revolvers with much more than a magnum large pistol primer. I almost brought this revolver up in the "cowboys" thread, as there must have been a flood of these cheapies back in the day. I gave fifty bucks for mine. You done well.