In a 66 the issue isn't pressure as much as the recoil effect on the toggle link action and brass frame. A few shots a year while hunting might not be a concern. A steady diet of the heavy loads may become an issue.

In the 1892 the action was redesigned allowing it to handle heavier loadings.

I talked to people at cimmaron today and they said no hot loads or +p loads. Just factory level loadings.

It’s not a huge deal that it’s not ideal as a hunting round. I have plenty of deer rifles in the safe that a perfectly capable. I just wanted a reproduction cowboy lever gun and this will suit the need just fine for the near future. I have 158 lead hard cast round nose bullets I may try on a hog if the right opportunity arises but by no means am going to try and make this a primary hunting gun.


I greatly appreciate all the advice on the round and have an idea where to start with reloads when I do start to reload for it.

I said I doubted a 158 gr load would break 1100.

Fair, I missed it and I apologize. If I wouldn't have been lazy and actually gone back to quote the post I would have realized that

Please remember 158 grains is the original loading for .38 Special and not "heavy". Also, both .357 and .38 Special have been slowly and progressively downloaded by the manufacturers. The loading books have sissied on the recipes as well. Today's .38 Special is not yesterday's, even if you "load by the book". I would load & shoot a .38 Special hot enough to be effective (and have), I would not shoot it in that rifle. I would also NEVER consider using a 100 grain bullet in .38 Special nor paying $1.75 per round for something I can load for $0.10.

Some pretty absolute and blanket statements. I retracted mine since I 100% missed the 158gr comment, but how about some explanation on never using 100gr? Also, would love to know what you’re loading for $0.10, cause it wouldn’t be what I posted

Hodgdon online data says you can get a 158 cast semi wadcutter to 1029 fps in a 38 special pistol with CFE Pistol. That holds about 880 fps to 100 yards and over 800 fps to 175 yards.

As long as you are accurate enough to put it in the vitals I think it would kill just fine. I’d probably try to keep it inside 100 yards and practice, but if it were mine you dang right I’d kill a deer with it no hesitation.

It'd make for a fun small game gun, good for armadillos, rabbits, coons etc.

Lead bullet cast from free wheel weights, powder of my choice, and a primer I bought years ago for $0.02. A lead RNFP is just as fatal if not more than a JHP. A 100 grain bullet is 63% of designed weight for cartridge.

It’s worth pointing out that even low velocity wadcutters are surprisingly effective on small game.