Thanks... I ended up getting my 500 - 38 Long Colt, from Track of the Wolf, & I noted they did have Short Colt cases from Starline in stock at the time...
right now I'm just getting things together ( & data ) for either Bullseye or 231 behind the normal 125 grain lead bullets I use in 38 Special for CAS use...
I'm thinking about starting with 2.5 grains... & had considered Unique as well, even though it won't meter well, it would be "smokier" & look more like black when fired... I might also decide to load black in about half my cartridges, as I normally use a pair of Ruger Montados in 45 Colt, for CAS, my 38's going to MRS when she shoots, & built these to use on special occasions for CAS... black would be an even better addition to the guns for those events...
... would likely still use smokeless for home use & practice though...
guns now sport 4- 5/8" barrels ( so I can use the same holsters as my Rugers ) have .357 barrel liners added, chambers are shortened a little ( we consulted the SAMMI chamber drawings & concluded a 38 special would go into a SAMMI chamber, & since we didn't strengthen the rest of the gun, did'nt want someone after I'm gone, stuffing a Cylinder full of +P 38 Specials... the goal on these was to make them look as close to period gun smith altered, as practical... there are lots of little things done that can't readily be seen... cylinders & recoil shields were fire blued, & I like how those turned out... will probably send out the barrels & have the stampings polished out, & have them hot blued... I'm not worried about the Italian proofs on the case colored frame, just trying to get rid of the blatant stampings, not trying to fool someone it's an original or anything
I wish I could take better pictures, they look much, much better in person, than they do in these pictures