The Original CZ Forum
GENERAL => Ammunition, questions, and handloading techniques => Topic started by: armoredman on July 05, 2025, 07:45:00 PM
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Well, why yes, indeed.
It all started with me suddenly needing to buy this for a song after my gunsmith buddy rescued it. It had welded open, been hanging on a plaque in a bar for 50+ years and the bar closed. So, this is LITERALLY a "bar rescue".
(https://i.imgur.com/plZz6UZ.jpg)
This is an Iver Johnson Second Model, chambered in 38SW, but before the switch to smokeless. As I told Da Boy, when this gun was built, Wyatt Earop was still walking this Earth. Probably about 1905, I believe. But, I digress. Since nobody sells 38SW black powder loads, we must load our own.
Gallery load, a triple aught ball over 5 gr of Olde Eynsford 3F.
(https://i.imgur.com/rJiGFZ5.jpg)
I did NOT shoot this past about 3 yards to start with. Asking a 120 year old pocket pistol to reach out might be a bit much. Shot right to point of aim.
(https://i.imgur.com/CKq8Mg4.jpg)
The cast powder coated ones, not so much.
(https://i.imgur.com/fP1CBAD.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/CvjUwjK.jpg)
3 shot groups, I had very few brass.
Point to note is both bullets were black powder lubed with SPG lube, the bullet still smeared on the bullet outside the case, and the ball type dipped in to fill the crannies. As I found out later, there is a LOT of goop going down range.
(https://i.imgur.com/OY7QVrc.jpg)
Nice group at 3...might be 5 yards, but see all the black spots? That's bullet lube splashing on the target.
(https://i.imgur.com/9FUOgFB.jpg)
Nope, that was the 3 yard, this is five yards. More goop.
(https://i.imgur.com/MiXjfYf.jpg)
So what to do about it? Well, since it's WAAAAAAY too hot to actually GO shooting right now, best time to come up with loads to test when i can, right?
Enter the spirit of necessity. I want a load that I can leave loaded for some time but has enough bullet lube that I don't need to slather it on...but also doesn't kill the powder.
How?
Let's get goofy and grab the wax paper. Sharpen up a case on the trimmer machine and stamp out some wax paper circles exactly the right size.
(https://i.imgur.com/JP0ofQo.jpg)
Lube? I have a small tin of SPG Tropical sitting right here, let's do the same!
(https://i.imgur.com/33Xc79U.jpg)
Them's a bit much for such a little case...but never mind, lets do it! Start with the 5 gr Gallery Loads.
(https://i.imgur.com/x0JBy4O.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ExIQSwJ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/RTzIHOg.jpg)
Now you can see the ball!
(https://i.imgur.com/Y4CA9fN.jpg)
And the 140gr .359 bullet. Yes, they stick out a LOT. Yes, that's normal, look up a 38-200 loaded round. And yes, I thought they were too long too, so I chamber checked them!
(https://i.imgur.com/cV9dhLD.jpg)
Powder coat really doesn't do anything positive for black powder fouling, unfortunately. Need the lube.
But this mess is really a lot of work. BTW, the only reason I did this was I had several hours I had to kill, might as well be productive.
But...could this be easier?
Well, I'm glad you asked, because wea re about to find out tonight! I ordered some over powder nitro cards and lubricated wads in 36 caliber, (since 38SW is really .360), and I will be seeing if I can FIT that whole mess in that little case, or will I be cutting them in two? Inquiring mindless wanna know...
Now if I could just get back out to the range...
(https://i.imgur.com/E5HbfA2.jpg)
Oh, the other one? That was the other bar rescue gun, a 38SW Harrington and Richardson America Double Action, and Da Boy claimed it.
(https://i.imgur.com/Te84lvF.jpg)