In fact the Hollywood movie "blanks" are 3-in-1 and based upon the .38-40 case. I know you can fire them in .38-40,.44-40, and .45 Colt. A friend who loads the .38-40 and a 200 gr. custom bullet uses re-formed .44-40 cases in an attempt to strengthen the necks. He's shooting a custom 5-shot and getting 1700 fps! Not me brother. The .38-40 necks can easily be ruined in the re-sizing by bumping and crumpling them with the die. John Taffin has a fantastic article on the net you can easily find.
The smaller .44 Magnum based .401 can manage 1600+ fps easily in a revolver and 2000 fps in a Contender with a 180/200 gr. 10mm bullet. That's plenty for me. I settled on a 230 gr. cast FPGC at around 1400 for my serious hunting load and the 200 gr. cast at a more subdued 1500 fps as well. I seldom hunt with totally maxed out loads, Murphy has kicked me too many times. I do like to find the top load then back off slightly and feel totally confident. Filling a .38-40 case with slow magnum powder like 296/H110 can be done in a hefty gun but in an antique would be disastrous! Think if you died suddenly and one of your heirs mixed them up. I think about things like that.
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I'm dead set on a nice 38-40 Revolver...
- Huey, 2018-10-12, 15:36
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38-40
- Shawn D, 2018-10-12, 21:37
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? 4 Gary. 38-40 to 401 GNR
- Shawn D, 2018-10-12, 22:18
- no, the 38-40 case is already bigger than the 44 mag case - Gary Reeder, 2018-10-14, 17:42
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Post a link to thst. Not Gary, but the 38-40 is bigger..
- Huey, 2018-10-13, 02:39
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The .44-40 and .38-40 are close to .45 Colt size
- WB, 2018-10-13, 07:10
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The same is true of the 45 Colt and 45-70 loads...
- Huey, 2018-10-13, 07:28
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If I croak prematurely promise me
- WB, 2018-10-13, 09:07
- when you croak, all your reloading gear and - Gary Reeder, 2018-10-14, 17:45
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If I croak prematurely promise me
- WB, 2018-10-13, 09:07
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The same is true of the 45 Colt and 45-70 loads...
- Huey, 2018-10-13, 07:28
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The .44-40 and .38-40 are close to .45 Colt size
- WB, 2018-10-13, 07:10
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? 4 Gary. 38-40 to 401 GNR
- Shawn D, 2018-10-12, 22:18
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If you chose 5-shot the other cyl. are of no use
- WB, 2018-10-12, 16:45
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I'm leaning towards rechambering cylinders...
- Huey, 2018-10-12, 16:53
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The 38 WCF
- Abin Sur, 2018-10-12, 17:07
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I do believe a six shot would be best, but...
- Huey, 2018-10-12, 17:17
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.400 cartridges
- Alcorn, 2018-10-12, 17:38
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The 38 WCF does have very thin
- Abin Sur, 2018-10-13, 05:55
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.38-40
- Ronnie, 2018-10-13, 06:56
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John Linebaugh's 38WCF
- Abin Sur, 2018-10-13, 16:32
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Interesting - ? for Gary.
- Shawn D., 2018-10-14, 13:43
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you asked about what loads. What revolvers are you
- Gary Reeder, 2018-10-14, 17:36
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Revolvers
- Shawn D, 2018-10-14, 21:01
- Shawn, that was John Linebaugh they were talking about, not - Gary Reeder, 2018-10-14, 21:10
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Revolvers
- Shawn D, 2018-10-14, 21:01
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you asked about what loads. What revolvers are you
- Gary Reeder, 2018-10-14, 17:36
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I may be out of line here and if so I apologize, but I have
- Tommy Pedigo, 2018-10-13, 19:33
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??
- Abin Sur, 2018-10-13, 20:18
- Abin and Tommy. I am proud to call both of you friends - Gary Reeder, 2018-10-13, 21:58
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??
- Abin Sur, 2018-10-13, 20:18
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Interesting - ? for Gary.
- Shawn D., 2018-10-14, 13:43
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Leaning in that same direction... (nm)
- Huey, 2018-10-13, 07:22
- Only choice is which barrel (nm) - Ronnie, 2018-10-13, 12:55
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John Linebaugh's 38WCF
- Abin Sur, 2018-10-13, 16:32
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.38-40
- Ronnie, 2018-10-13, 06:56
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The 38 WCF does have very thin
- Abin Sur, 2018-10-13, 05:55
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.400 cartridges
- Alcorn, 2018-10-12, 17:38
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I do believe a six shot would be best, but...
- Huey, 2018-10-12, 17:17
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The 38 WCF
- Abin Sur, 2018-10-12, 17:07
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I'm leaning towards rechambering cylinders...
- Huey, 2018-10-12, 16:53
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38-40
- Shawn D, 2018-10-12, 21:37