Got some .38-44 Brass!

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

Check out this picture...

 

Now, you may be wondering why I've got this brass sitting next to my New Model 3 revolver.

 

You may be wondering what good it is being the same length as the revolver's cylinder.

Well...



It's actually the correct brass for this gun!   The .38-44 of the late 1800's was developed for use in this specific revolver.  (It should not be confused with the .38-44 of the mid 20th century that was the forerunner of the .357 Magnum.)   This original .38-44 was an elongated .38 S&W.  With the brass being the same length as the cylinder, the bullet was loaded down in the case.  The theory was that their would be much less of a "jump" to the barrel, thus resulting in greater accuracy.   Since this gun/caliber combo set a lot of accuracy records, some of which I have read still stand, I'd guess that S&W was onto something.

Anyway, normally I just shoot .38 S&W ammo in this gun, and it works just fine.   I'd always wished I had some "real" ammo for it though.  Sadly, finding vintage .38-44 brass is not an easy task, nor an inexpensive one.  And forget about finding vintage factory ammo.  I've seen people asking $500 for a box of 50.  I don't want it THAT badly.

Anyway, I found someone selling 54 loose cases on Gunbroker.   Was asking $75 or best offer, so I offered $60, and it was accepted.  I think that's a pretty good bargain for this rather rare brass, and much less expensive than other cases I have seen there.

And, I recently found someone who actually makes dies for this caliber.  I am looking forward to loading it up with some black powder and shooting it.  

I just wish I'd could find another pistol in the caliber.   Oh yes, you can still find New Model 3's in it for a reasonable price, but I am hoping for something else.  Fortunately, there is a Colt Bisley on Gunbroker right now in the caliber.  Unfortunately, the minimum bid is $19,000 dollars.  I will not be buying this gun!   There's also a flattop SAA in .38 S&W, but it's asking price is $13,000 and change.  I'll be passing on that as well.  I have read that when Colt was making these guns, that they usually stamped the .38-44s as .38 S&W for some reason.    Yeah, I'd settle for a Colt in .38 S&W, a few were made, and if it turns out to be a .38-44 lucky me.  If not, I can still pair it with this gun, just using the shorter cartridge.

Anyway, I am most pleased to have finally found some brass in this odd caliber.   I'll look for more, but I doubt that I'll get this lucky again.   I'll also experiment to see if I can use my regular .38 S&W dies to load the cartridge.  If not, I'll get the dies for it.

Oh, yeah, some folks have said that you can make usable brass out of .357 Maximum brass trimmed to length, (Magnum is too short.) but I don't wanna go down that road.  It just doesn't sit right with me.  For one thing, the .357 brass would be undersized, and I just don't wanna go there.

[Timothy]

Great find both gun and brass! You might see if a 357 case will fireform for the heck of it. Hope you get many reloads and years of shooting pleasure.

[Cowtown Scout, SASS #53540 L]

On 6/9/2025 at 5:30 PM, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

Check out this picture...

 

Now, you may be wondering why I've got this brass sitting next to my New Model 3 revolver.

 

You may be wondering what good it is being the same length as the revolver's cylinder.

Well...



It's actually the correct brass for this gun!   The .38-44 of the late 1800's was developed for use in this specific revolver.  (It should not be confused with the .38-44 of the mid 20th century that was the forerunner of the .357 Magnum.)   This original .38-44 was an elongated .38 S&W.  With the brass being the same length as the cylinder, the bullet was loaded down in the case.  The theory was that their would be much less of a "jump" to the barrel, thus resulting in greater accuracy.   Since this gun/caliber combo set a lot of accuracy records, some of which I have read still stand, I'd guess that S&W was onto something.

Anyway, normally I just shoot .38 S&W ammo in this gun, and it works just fine.   I'd always wished I had some "real" ammo for it though.  Sadly, finding vintage .38-44 brass is not an easy task, nor an inexpensive one.  And forget about finding vintage factory ammo.  I've seen people asking $500 for a box of 50.  I don't want it THAT badly.

Anyway, I found someone selling 54 loose cases on Gunbroker.   Was asking $75 or best offer, so I offered $60, and it was accepted.  I think that's a pretty good bargain for this rather rare brass, and much less expensive than other cases I have seen there.

And, I recently found someone who actually makes dies for this caliber.  I am looking forward to loading it up with some black powder and shooting it.  

I just wish I'd could find another pistol in the caliber.   Oh yes, you can still find New Model 3's in it for a reasonable price, but I am hoping for something else.  Fortunately, there is a Colt Bisley on Gunbroker right now in the caliber.  Unfortunately, the minimum bid is $19,000 dollars.  I will not be buying this gun!   There's also a flattop SAA in .38 S&W, but it's asking price is $13,000 and change.  I'll be passing on that as well.  I have read that when Colt was making these guns, that they usually stamped the .38-44s as .38 S&W for some reason.    Yeah, I'd settle for a Colt in .38 S&W, a few were made, and if it turns out to be a .38-44 lucky me.  If not, I can still pair it with this gun, just using the shorter cartridge.

Anyway, I am most pleased to have finally found some brass in this odd caliber.   I'll look for more, but I doubt that I'll get this lucky again.   I'll also experiment to see if I can use my regular .38 S&W dies to load the cartridge.  If not, I'll get the dies for it.

Oh, yeah, some folks have said that you can make usable brass out of .357 Maximum brass trimmed to length, (Magnum is too short.) but I don't wanna go down that road.  It just doesn't sit right with me.  For one thing, the .357 brass would be undersized, and I just don't wanna go there.

Looks to be quite a bevle on the bottom of

the rim.