All 38-40/10mm Ruger Buckeye Owners

[10MMGary]

Well the sight in,ammo test and ammo decision are finished. 155gr Barnes X. 1935FPS. It is about 1 inch high at 50 yards and in a 2 inch circle at 100 yards open sights of bags. So I figure the gun is better than me and that is good enough and the custom load started at 1735 up 2050 and settled on 1935 for safety and accuracy. This gun is a bell ringer at 100yds and I would say not bad a 200yds which I will try next trip to the farm.Very pleased I bought this gun just wish I had discovered it about 10 years ago.But now it will last me into my last hunting years and it is plenty for deer,hogs,mountain lion and all the coyotes you want. Never though this gun would have that in it but I had not done my research. Only looked at the blackpowder numbers not the smokeless numbers plus modern components. It is a rifle bullet in a SA.

I can't believe your getting that kind of velocity out of your ruger handgun, that's definitely Smok'in.

I have a hard time believing it as well, but I have a harder time calling a man a liar(and I am in no way saying that is what you are doing d762nato, so please don't think so)and even more so when he has another man backing his claim. I am saying I want to see it(from behind some safety glass first) and would love to see what it does to a big white tail or a big ole 300 lb + or so feral hog using that Barnes X bullet. Seems I need to start doing some reading research and some T/E with different powders and projectiles. Have you taken any larger game with those loads RRMan03, if so I would love to hear your experiences. Take care all and please keep educating this old fart in training . 

[RRMan03]

My ammo was worked up for me by a gentleman on this site. I do not reload. I just told him what I wanted to use. We went from 1750 to 2050 and backed down deciding on 1950 for safety.I would feel OK trying to take elk up close to 75 yards with this bullet but have never tried.Remember bears,hogs,lions are usually stationary and at bay when taken. Coyotes are the hardest as they never stop.Whitetail deer are easy where i live no matter what you use.We have so many they are considered accidents waiting to get your car or truck. We have a 3 per day doe limit.I never dreamed that you could get that much out of the 3840 but it is a rifle cartridge and even though made for blackpowder times have changed and with the modern equipment and components things change. Now if you buy factory ammo it is loaded at 850-900fps because of all the older guns designed foe blackpowder 100 plus years age. This Ruger being built like a tank allows an experienced reloaded to really experiment. My reloaded also already had this gun and had worked up loads for this bullet prior to my having even bought the gun. I actuallly bought it because it has an extra 10mm cylinder. You can use anything Underwood makes and not even have any reason to be worried as I am sure it could be taken up but the bullet is so big the cartridge space is not enought to gain much from Underwoods full power loads.I love this Revolver.

[DM1906]

This is my recipe, and I loaded the cartridges.  If not for the extensive discussion about limiting this load to ONLY the Ruger Blackhawk, T/E, or 1892 Winchester, it would have ended before it began.  This load WILL scatter a colt pistol (or replica), or an 1894W rifle (originals, I don't know about later productions or replicas).  They aren't designed for full magnum (handgun) pressure.  I don't know how the Contenders and Marlins would do without some testing.

Anyway, the load development was very meticulous.  I started with using resized .44 Mag brass, which is much thicker than the available .38-40 brass.  The resized .44M brass must have the necks turned down to fit the chamber.  I worked up the load with full safeties in practice, and never exceeded any limitations of pressure indicators.  This being a shouldered cartridge, excessive pressure is easy to identify, and it only showed slightly at much higher power than what was settled (that ridiculous limit is a secret....I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you....).  It just kept going and going, never breaking a sweat.  A perfect storm, methinks.  It happens on occasion, and I've run across it in a few calibers.

ONLY Starline brass should be used for this load.  All the others are designed for LOW pressure (14K), unless you make your own from .44M brass.  This is a 34-38K PSI load.  The original design brass has 0.125" less thickness in the case web than the modern Starline.

The attained velocities are insane, and accuracy followed all the way up to almost near max velocity.  Once I established the range, I started over with .38-40 brass, and the rest is as RRMan03 has said.  History.  The end result is a very reliable cartridge capable of delivering 1350+ FPE, with a trajectory so flat you can set your coffee cup on it.  This will deliver more bullet energy at 100+ yds than the 10mm Auto will at the muzzle, with the same bullet.

[RRMan03]

DM:I never gave you away as I was not sure you wanted it out or in.I just refered to you as a gentleman on this website and that you are. Now that they know I will be the 2nd one called a liar instead of the first. LOL !!!

[DM1906]

I have nothing to hide, but I try to be responsible.  This is why I don't post specific "over book" or unpublished loads on the open forums.  I don't think anyone called anyone a liar.  If I hadn't done it, or hadn't seen it for myself, I'd be skeptical, too.  I went so far as multiple chronograph benchmark calibrations, multiple chronographs, times of day, and days of week (to vary the climate conditions).  It's real, and you've seen the results.  What leaves me scratching my head, still, is how easy it was to develop (which actually made it less easy in the end).  Sometimes I get it right the first time (component selection), but that's rarely the case.  Sometimes, it's more surprising when something works out, and I had low expectations for that bullet.  I hate them, but they are necessary for hunting where I live, so I have a vested interest.  You are welcome to share the pic's and video link I sent you.

[RRMan03]

Since the question remains is it really true I prefer just to let them seek out someone the way I did. Not being smart or knowing it all but asking if this was possible. And you said probably. and the results were outstanding. Even I never even thought about the 3840 when I bought the gun as I bought it for the 10mm cylinder and now that is just my practice cylinder as the 3840 is the rifle cylinder in a handgun. and I told you I had all the faith in the world in the Barnes 155 having used Barnes from 125 all the way to 325gr in the X. I knew if you got the load that the end result would be devasting. Just think if you had a case of those about 125 years ago. They would have made you a sniper with a SA revolver.I am still looking for some 155gr bullets in Barnes. If I find them I will ship them. I will put in fired brass with bullets if I ever find any.

[RRMan03]

And DM1906 now that its out THANK YOU for your help. I could not have found a better guy for this job than you and I appreciate everything you have done and all the questions you have answered. You can be sure of one thing. This gun is at the top of the line for ready. I may just start carrying it for my job. Bet that would go over big. LOL And thats not public !!!

[WIL TERRY]

S/A revolvers are more of an acquired taste, rather than a following, in any caliber.  Essentially, they are obsolete in today's SD circles.  They are what they are.

5,000 each were made for Davidson's.  I've "heard" it was 2500 each (for a total of 5,000), but the serial numbers would suggest otherwise.  They started at xxx-000001 (saw a pic of this one), and I've seen and heard of SN's in the 4xxx range, including mine.  Surely they didn't have 2500 culls.

THE WERE MADE for Buckeye Shooters Supply in Canton Ohio.

[Smee78]

That is an awsome setup, I saw one of thoes once and passed on it due to the price but now kinda wish I had gotten it.

[DM1906]

S/A revolvers are more of an acquired taste, rather than a following, in any caliber.  Essentially, they are obsolete in today's SD circles.  They are what they are.

5,000 each were made for Davidson's.  I've "heard" it was 2500 each (for a total of 5,000), but the serial numbers would suggest otherwise.  They started at xxx-000001 (saw a pic of this one), and I've seen and heard of SN's in the 4xxx range, including mine.  Surely they didn't have 2500 culls.

THE WERE MADE for Buckeye Shooters Supply in Canton Ohio.

Of course. Perhaps I should have said made for distribution through Davidson's. I'm not aware of Buckeye SS stocking or retailing any of them not through Davidson's.

[MacEntyre]

Howdy, folks...

Two years ago, I bought a matched pair of Buckeye Blackhawks, thinking that I could sell the 38-40 and keep the 32-20. Then, my daughter and I shot the 10mm, and said, "We gotta keep this!"

It's a great pistol. I found so many bargains for 10mm components, it's one of the least expensive rounds I can reload. I love it!

Then last month I traded my 327 SP-101 for a Delta Elite. Now I'm all set!

Hoping to find some good info on reloads on this board. Glad to be here!

[MCQUADE]

Glad to see you here, you have found the place!

[MacEntyre]

Glad to see you here, you have found the place!

Thank you!

After you suggested I give the 38-40 a try, I looked around and found two boxes of 38-40 behind my 10mm. I'll shoot them and save the brass... when I come across used dies, I'll load some up since I have all the other components. Can you suggest a load?

[MCQUADE]

Sorry but I ain't the reloading expert but there are some decent loads online, check out some of John Taffin's work. There is at least one member here that has honed the 38-40 into a true beast. Perhaps he will offer some help.

[SagSlim59]

Been following this buckeye blackhawk thread....and I started to think this is a gun to hunt down.

May sound like fiction....but... I walked into our local gun shop east of town and asked if they take in any
Ruger 10mm blackhawk's?   They had a quick no, but
the guy at the counter says " I think so and so has that revolver....well I give the guys my number for him to call me and
sure enough he bought that 38-40 for cowboy shoots he used to compete in...
anyway...He got back with me today and for the 38-40 die set and gun with both cylinders and the orig. box..... $400.00

If it's not abused, and in at least very good shape?....it's found a new home....When/if it comes together, I will post pics.
ss59......