What kind of bullets for this gun?

[Waterford]

I was given a Harrington and Richardson double action revolver. After doing some research I was able to find out that the gun was made between 1898 and 1904. A friend told me to only use black powder bullets with it because modern bullets would explode inside the gun. Anyone know if that is accurate?

[firefightn15]

Not a whole lot of background on it, but my guess would be maybe a .32 or .38 caliber.  I would take it to a smith for a variety of reasons; caliber ID, inspection, and personal instruction as to whether or not it is in condition to be fired.    Smokeless powder was around prior to the beginning of 1900 and my guess is this gun is meant for smokeless.  See a gunsmith.

[Waterford]

It is a 32 caliber and the gun looks like it just came off of the assembly line. I had the gun cleaned but my buddy just isn't sure about the bullets for it. I will take it to a gunsmith and ask.

[skunked_again]

I was given a Harrington and Richardson double action revolver. After doing some research I was able to find out that the gun was made between 1898 and 1904. A friend told me to only use black powder bullets with it because modern bullets would explode inside the gun. Anyone know if that is accurate?

id take the pistol to a gunsmith before you did a thing, then find someone who knows what theyre doing when its decided its safe to shoot.

[Micro]

I was given a Harrington and Richardson double action revolver. After doing some research I was able to find out that the gun was made between 1898 and 1904. A friend told me to only use black powder bullets with it because modern bullets would explode inside the gun. Anyone know if that is accurate?

If it's a H&R made in that time frame, and a .32, it is probably chambered for .32 Smith and Wesson. There is a long and a short round and I'd assume that its chambered for the short round.

The .32 S&W, according to my books, was available in black powder and a smokeless loads. Both were pretty anemic. The smokeless round was loaded to approximate the pressures of the black power round. So, IF the gun is in good condition, and IF the gun is chambered in .32 S&W, then you should be able to fire either factory loaded .32 S&W smokeless or black powder rounds. (Frankly, unless you handload, you will be limited to smokeless loads 'cuz AFAIK no one produces a black powder load.)

There is no substitute for having a gunsmith check it out.

[burleytog]

There are special blackpowder bullets?   :

[jamarkwe]

Modern bullets that can explode? :-?

[Micro]

Don't listen to these two jokers.  I don't know who Jamarkwe is, and Burley's still cranky from his recent circumcision.  The rest of us knew what you meant. 

Here's a site that can help with some terminology...

http://www.hallowellco.com/abbrevia.htm

[burleytog]

Don't listen to these two jokers. I don't know who Jamarkwe is, and Burley's still cranky from his recent circumcision. The rest of us knew what you meant.

Here's a site that can help with some terminology...

http://www.hallowellco.com/abbrevia.htm

Referring to cartridges as 'bullets' and magazines as 'clips' are two of my most enraging pet peeves.

If you aren't 12 years old, you should know the difference between 'bullets' and cartridges.

[done]

<sarcasm>Just load your clips up with whatever bullets you want and have at it </sarcasm>

Really, there is no substitute for knowing the facts. Find a reputable gunsmith near you and have him look at it. You can find out what caliber it is, get the condition checked out, and KNOW whats what.

burleytog, I hear ya. I have been trying to break myself of the "clip" habit for a while. Tough to fight 20+years of movies in your head though. Luckily the local range helps out. While they let us take loaded magazines in, we are not allowed any "clips" at the range unless they are filled with money, they still like those kinds.

[skunked_again]

id also be reading black powder forums. tricky stuff.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Don't listen to these two jokers. I don't know who Jamarkwe is, and Burley's still cranky from his recent circumcision. The rest of us knew what you meant.

Here's a site that can help with some terminology...

http://www.hallowellco.com/abbrevia.htm

Referring to cartridges as 'bullets' and magazines as 'clips' are two of my most enraging pet peeves.

If you aren't 12 years old, you should know the difference between 'bullets' and cartridges.

Snobby and cranky today.

MOM overload?   ;D

[bassman018]

Bullets???? I think there are blockpowder cartridges that are loaded with blackpowder and lead bullets. Find a handloader or load them yourself only use blckpowder though becase there are lower preasure

[Tin]

Don't listen to these two jokers. I don't know who Jamarkwe is, and Burley's still cranky from his recent circumcision. The rest of us knew what you meant.

Here's a site that can help with some terminology...

http://www.hallowellco.com/abbrevia.htm

Referring to cartridges as 'bullets' and magazines as 'clips' are two of my most enraging pet peeves.

If you aren't 12 years old, you should know the difference between 'bullets' and cartridges.

And if you don't know you should not be messing around with a firearm.

[whoopbazz]

I had a friend in college that had some old lever action rifle. He called it acivil war gun...but I don't think it was that old. But any how...it took black powder loads, not gun powder. He had somebody load them for him. But this guy (the loader) was very knowledgable on old guns, and knew how many grains to load.

And this guy also said by no means shoot a gun powder load out of it.

Be very careful shooting this thing, for that reason.

[burleytog]

I had a friend in college that had some old lever action rifle. He called it acivil war gun...but I don't think it was that old. But any how...it took black powder loads, not gun powder. He had somebody load them for him. But this guy (the loader) was very knowledgable on old guns, and knew how many grains to load.

And this guy also said by no means shoot a gun powder load out of it.

Be very careful shooting this thing, for that reason.

It's all gun powder.   :

Black powder (and substitutes) is a very fast burning powder that develops relatively low pressures.  Hench the reason it can be used in older guns with inferior steel.

Smokeless is a slow burner that develops high pressure and is only safe in guns designed for those pressures.