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Posted: 3/10/2025 6:02:51 AM EDT
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A gunsmith buddy years ago came into a little treasure trove of barroom rescue guns. These were literally Suicide Specials that had been "de-milled", put on plaques, and hung in a smoky old barroom for decades. He got the bunch for a song, and as a time waster, spent years slowly restoring each one to shootable condition, those that could be. Some were unrepairable, of course, (that Prescott Pistol Co snub would have been nice to get shooting), and some just plain odd, including one marked British Bulldog that was nominally chambered in 38 SW, but the bore diameter is .34. He made ammo by necking down 38SW for a specially formed .34 caliber slug, worked quite well.
So, lately I've been looking at oddballs, just because I can, and 38SW seemed like something different. Well, he had a pair of suicide specials for sale and I bit, just for the heck of it. 
HR American on the left, Iver Johnson Second Model on the right, both rebuilt and shootable. Both are black powder frames, so I bit on that. I have a goodly supply of Olde Eysfford 3F left and got a few old brass, so here we go. 
That is a representative load, had three different bullets all with 10gr OE. First rounds with the Iver, 5 yards, didn't think these would be really used any farther away than across the pool table. First round is the one off to the left. 
I was surprised at how much snap these pipsqueak loads had, and so was Da Boy, who had already laid claim to the HR, said that goofy grip fit his hand perfectly. Well, OK then. 
We had fun, but the winner was the "gallery load", a 000 Buck ball loaded right below the case mouth over 5 grains of 3F. 
Double action with the Iver. 
Powder Puff load. Da Boy liked it, and I figure these little guns earned a retirement, so gallery loads it is for now. I can even use the Iver in the pocket pistol category for SASS, which could be fun. Also I get used to loading this caliber which will help when I get a Victory in 38-200...which is next on the list. |
| I’ve got several of those. I need to get them out and look at them again. All non firing in present condition. Most are .32 caliber if my memory is correct. |
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
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Originally Posted By aswrg7: I used to have a Colt Police Positive in 38SW. I loaded with Bullseye for it (never tried smokeless). I always liked it. Bullseye is smokeless powder, a great one I used for 9mm when I could still find it. Light loads of various smokeless powders can function in older black powder frames, but it is very much not recommended, and while your Colt, (nice revolver, sorry you don't have it anymore), is tough enough, these cheaper Suicide Specials...I wouldn't. |
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Originally Posted By backbencher: Neat, OP. Iver Johnson have any rifling left? She's been around the block quite a bit, but you can see rifling in there. Attached File |
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Those gallery rounds seem to work pretty decently, at least at 5 yards, which is about what I would expect this gun to be used. Attached File Double action only. Attached File Single action only. Attached File Interestingly enough, Da Boy used that same mild load to shoot at the 3/4 IDPA target at 25 yards with the longer barreled HR American, and hit it twice out of 5. Incidentally, the random looking black globs/streaks are actually SPG tropical bullet lube poured over the top of the ball in the cartridge. |
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