Reeder Custom Guns - I'm dead set on a nice 38-40 Revolver...

Spoke for a nice Ruger Blackhawk today in 10mm/40 S&W.

Have to decide to rechamber or add cylinder. Six shot or five shot?

Definitely want the good, tight Reeder chambers.

Several projects going on now, so time to think it out.

Suggestions welcome...

but if you had one made to match the 6-shot you have a very versatile six-gun. I'd pick one, 10 or .40 and rechamber it but you shoot lots of 10 so maybe the extra cash for a .38-40 cyl. would be money ahead.

You can really hot up the .38-40 with a case full of H110 but it's a bomb slipped into a 1873 rifle or old Colt. I load my hotter loads with distinctive projectiles and old Cowboy loads with the traditional FP 175 gr. It's hard to mix up and mistake one for a 230 gr. WFPGC.

It's probably more cost effective to just add cylinders. Heck, one in 38-40 and one in 401 GNR would make one useful, versatile gun.

works well in the 6 shot configuration. It can be loaded to modern levels and is completely safe in a 6 shot modern sixgun, specifically the Ruger Blackhawk/Bisley.

Gary's 401 would be a dandy alternate cylinder. The 10mm or 10mm Mag would make a great third cylinder too.

When you consider what has been done with the old 45 Colt, it makes you think.

I just had Gary Make a 3rd cylinder for my Buckeye Blackhawk. It came from the factory with 38-40 and 10mm auto cylinders. I had him make a 401 GNR cylinder for it. I think we will find the 401 to be more versatile because the 44 mag brass is better the the 38-40. 38-40 does have more capacity.

brass and it can be tedious to load. However, you're right in that it has more capacity. The 401 will be pleasant to load with it's thicker brass/neck area.

I know Linebaugh did a lot of work with a tight chambered .38-40 which I think was a 5 shot cylinder but I would think rechambering a six shot to a tight .38-40 would do every thing you want and then some. If I can quit buying rifles I don't need and .22 and .327 Rugers my next will be a Ruger 10mm/.40 convertible. The .40 will immediately be sent off to become a .38-40

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was a 6 shot. He started playing with the Ruger Buckeye and found they needed a proper throat, (the production being a bit small) and a proper cylinder gap. The chambers were pretty right, but has his reamers ground with tight specs when he started making his own.

The original Buckeye's if properly massaged with proper throats and cylinder gap, will handle the same loads that John's guns run. I have a couple guy's I've shot with, one had one of John's guns and one with a John massaged Buckeye. They both shot the same load. 200's at 1700+ from a 5.5" and 6.5" barrels. One of the above fellows had a 10" Contender barrel in 38WCF and a throat for the modern FN/LBT style bullets. That same load went over 2000 fps from the 10" Contender.
That was quite surprising! The 38 WCF is an unexpected horse. Makes me want one!

seen Gary and John at one of the seminars and it is obvious they are close friends but it just doesn't seem right to be promoting John's guns on Gary's site. Maybe I am too critical but it seems this Abin guy is a big fan of John and is not doing Gary any favors. If I was Gary I don't think I would like it at all.

Gary has done a very great thing with his 401, eliminating the tediousness of the 38 WCF case. Both cartridges have merit and advantages. Both gunsmiths are geniuses, and have a loyal following.
Gary is a philanthropist of the highest order, a one of the finest fellas that I've never met. I yearn for a 401/38 WCF/10mm combo, yet at my advanced age, I don't know if it'll ever happen.
So, what did I do wrong beside state the history as it was relayed to me? I meant no offense, least of all to Gary whom I highly regard.

So, to you Gary, I meant no offense. There are so many who have more talent in their fingers than I have in my whole body. Reeder, Linebaugh, Bowen, Harton, Stroh, Forkin, Horvath, Clay, and Tyler among many others are all among them who I revere. All with different takes, tastes and methods to get there. All with great appeal. All far more skilled than I would ever be. I tip my hat to them, and to you Gary who does so much to include crippled old farts like me. However little I have.

To they guys here, Perhaps, I'll just say goodbye now. I've never fit anywhere, not even as a misfit. I'll always admire Gary's work and spirit. Even if I have to from afar.

All the best to you all.

Abin Sur, US Army 12B

and Misfits. To Tommy, thanks for taking up for me, and as you mentioned it wasn't really needed. But thanks anyway. Abin, you are one of the Misfits. Don't ever let anyone tell you different. John Linebaugh is like a brother to me. We are not competitors, but friends. So no hard feelings to you or Tommy. And thanks to both of you for everything.

What types of loads were you using in these revolvers?

Gary, would something like your positive performance package get one of these blackhawks into shape as Abin describes?

talking about? I didn't get in on the thread above. All our revolvers have the features mentioned above. They are standard with every series we build. Our Positive Performance Package will help a standard off the shelf revolver a lot and in most cases will cut your groups in half while giving you a lighter, smoother hammer and trigger pull.

Ruger SBH in 38-40 and 10mm.

me and they were his guns so I have no idea what his loads were.

Lipsey's has a limited run of 38-40/10mm convertible SS with a 6.5" barrel. Been eyeing one myself.

Can a 38-40 cylinder be rechambered to 401 GNR in one of these rugers?

Than 38-40, so no rechamber. The 10mm should rechamber fine.

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.

I have never had an issue mixing up loads. The joy of a label maker knows no bounds...

Had one of the first 401 GNRs and it is my pick of the GNRs for deer size game.

The Lee Collet Crimp die eliminates crumpled cases and no cannelure needed.

I will be using JT's Ruger Only 38-40 data, not the five shot stuff.

ya'll will entice my survivors to, at the very least, pull bullets from cartridges, for components, that might be "mixed" with lesser pressure calibers. lol

ammo will be burned for the sake of humanity.

that the 401 GNR is based on. See Huey's post below.

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