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Colt Lightning Medium Frame
v35
Member Posts: 12,710 ✭✭✭
Was the medium frame 38-40 made in 1900, safe with high speed loads?
Does anyone have authoritative literature on loads for this rifle made in the 20th century?
Does anyone have authoritative literature on loads for this rifle made in the 20th century?
Comments
"We become what we habitually do. If we act rightly, we become upright men. If we habitually act wrongly, or weakly, we become weak and corrupt" - *ARISTOTLE*
**Like Grandad used to say--"It'll feel better when it quits hurtin"
There has been a lot of discussion about the 38WCF/38-40. It was always a .40 caliber bullet and many thought that the caliber numbers were reversed on it for some reason as it was a .40 caliber and the common bp load was 38 grains. When the .40 S&W came out it was greeted as the 38-40 born again.
I've seen exclusions for the "73 and also markings for '92 only on HS
factory loads.
I guess my question is for mid range loads not max loads used in these guns.
Colt in 1900 (date of this gun) first certified their SAA for smokeless so this Lightning shouldn't be a black powder gun.
States that ALL medium frame rifles were for BLACK POWDER CAERTRIDGE So I for one would not Shoot HIGH SPEED. I have a number of medium frame and all of the 32 Caliber I have ever owned had oversize Bore compared to most modern rifles . It is my belief that the colt used a HEELED bullet in their rifle I have tried reloading and current .314 bullets you can push down the bore that looks near mint with a cleaning rod and it does not engrave the bullet. I can single load 32 S&W LONG hollow base wad cutter bullets and it will hold one inch at 50 yards factory 32/20 will not hold 24X24 inch target. [:(]as far as I know no one makes a hollow base round nose bullet or mold block to cast one[:(]
and wadcutter will not feed unless you work the slide very very slowly[:(!][V]
The rifle was surprisingly accurate at 50 yds using 40 cal lead solid base bullets and 7 grains Unique.
Apparently black powder works well at bumping up bullets to fit oversize bores. I've experienced that in original 1860 Colts, Starr revolver and a 45 cal German dueler.
On the other hand modern HB bullets didn't shoot worth a hoot out of my 1864 Sharps so shape of the HB plug needs to be proper.
In your case, owning several 32-20 Lightnings, I'd have a nose pour mould made up and have the mould drilled for a hollow base pin similar to Lyman HP pin arrangements.
I have a Lyman 41LC hollow base mould you could copy the arrangement from and scale down the HB pin proportionately.
Maybe US or Australian moldmakers have something.