FTF on 1901 hopkins & allen model forehand revolver?

[chillincody]

Hey everyone hope your night is going well . I come to you all with a ? I think I know the answer but would like to have your input.
So I was at p2k tuesday afternoon with my buddy I brought my Revolver that my Gpa left me. This was the first time ive fired this gun since I got it .I had it looked over and test fired by Rick at la mesa collectibles who said it was safe to fire So off to the range we went .

So being Ive never shot it I wanted to bust off a few rounds right away so I load 5 rounds up pull the trigger BANG BANG BANG BANG CLICK 5th round FTF So I load up 5 for my buddy he pulls the trigger CLICK CLICK BANGBANG CLICK so to be safe I said lets put it away . the whole time we are there I cant stop thinking of why it FTF ? Then it hits me these rounds are 50 + years old I got with the gun they were stored in the cardboard ammo box that whole time no ammo can or anything .

So What do you all say just old ammo ? I looked at the fired and unfired cases firing pin looks to be hitting right on all ( no light hammer strikes)

[surplus-addict]

Get some new ammo dude. More than likely some moisture got into quite a few of the primers and thus, make then duds.

Get some new ammo and re-try.

[chillincody]

Get some new ammo dude. More than likely some moisture got into quite a few of the primers and thus, make then duds.

Get some new ammo and re-try.

That is what I was thinking just wanted to make sure. Should I get cowboy loads ? or whatever they are called . Due to the age of the pistol ? I like shooting it but dont want it blowing up in my hand lol

[mcmikeblues7]

That is what I was thinking just wanted to make sure. Should I get cowboy loads ? or whatever they are called . Due to the age of the pistol ? I like shooting it but dont want it blowing up in my hand lol

it is safe to fire, so it is safe to fire. these guns ARE old but they are still completely functional. No need for cowboy loads, though i wouldn't be loading them too hot (if you are a reloader)

[chillincody]

it is safe to fire, so it is safe to fire. these guns ARE old but they are still completely functional. No need for cowboy loads, though i wouldn't be loading them too hot (if you are a reloader)

No I dont reload Which is why I asked, And I rather be safe then sorry Im most likely just being paranoid tho

[FourTenJaeger]

Needs pics, is it an old top break? Hammerless? I love anything hammerless..

[chillincody]

Needs pics, is it an old top break? Hammerless? I love anything hammerless..

yeah its a old top break its not hammerless




Nothing too special just means alot to me since it was my grandpa and its the only handgun I own

[surplus-addict]

Get some low powered loads just for fun, no reason stressing these old guns, it's just not worth it to possibly hurt the gun or yourself, and in this case a family heirloom.

Shoot it, but with low powered ammo. Especially since it's a top break (weak design).

[mosinnagantm9130]

Get some low powered loads just for fun, no reason stressing these old guns, it's just not worth it to possibly hurt the gun or yourself, and in this case a family heirloom.

Shoot it, but with low powered ammo. Especially since it's a top break (weak design).

This^^

[Mike A]

If that's a .32 S&W (looks like one to me), you can use any factory load--they are loaded down to acommodate the galaxy of old, weak .32s still out there.

If that's a .38 S&W, you need to be a little bit careful; buy and use modern ammo loaded with a 145 or 146 gr. lead bullet only. Those are also loaded to black powder pressures to be safe in old breaktops. But there are cartridges out there that use the same case and are loaded to much higher pressures.

One of them is the ".38 S&W Super Police" which was loaded with a 200 gr. lead bullet and intended for police use with swingout cylinder solid-frame revolvers like the S&W Regulation Police and Colt Police Positive.

Another is the ".380-200" military load used by the British and Commonwealth armies and police forces from the mid-1930s up until today. Many of the military cartridges will actually be loaded with FMJ 178 gr. rounds. All are too hot for ancient topbreaks; they were meant for the Webley and Enfield service revolvers and American swingouts like the S&W Military and Police and Colt Commando. Ruger sold many thousands of their "Security Six" revolvers in this caliber to India in the 1980s to help arm their national police.

Any of the two variations mentioned above--"Super Police" and .380-200--are good collectors cartridges. I wouldn't shoot them up, even if I had a Ruger for 'em......

[Marcus von W.]

Adding to what Mike A said, There is also an old variation of the .38 S&W called "Colt .38 New Police" that is a rather hot load, and should be avoided in these old, small, fragile revolvers.

[gun toting monkeyboy]

Wow. you got 2 .38 S&W people on here already. Listen to their advice. If you reload, stick to the light loads for it. Those top-breaks were not designed for anything more than the light cartridges designed in the late 1800s. These old guns are fun, but watch what you feed them. As the others have noted the .32 S&W cartridges that are on the market now are just fine though. I have used them in a couple of old guns like that. I have a F&W top break, but I don't remember which caliber it is. I normally picked these up on lots of 2-3 when I collected them. They all look very similar, so I will actually have to go dig it out of the safe to see. The F&W guns were some of the better versions of these.

-Mb

[chillincody]

Wow. you got 2 .38 S&W people on here already. Listen to their advice. If you reload, stick to the light loads for it. Those top-breaks were not designed for anything more than the light cartridges designed in the late 1800s. These old guns are fun, but watch what you feed them. As the others have noted the .32 S&W cartridges that are on the market now are just fine though. I have used them in a couple of old guns like that. I have a F&W top break, but I don't remember which caliber it is. I normally picked these up on lots of 2-3 when I collected them. They all look very similar, so I will actually have to go dig it out of the safe to see. The F&W guns were some of the better versions of these.

-Mb

What do you mean by F&W guns ?

[Marcus von W.]

F&W = Forehand and Wadsworth.

The company went though several names, during the 1870's to early 1900's period it existed, that reflect the various owners and partners - Forehand and Allen, Forehand and Wadsworth, Forehand Arms.

[chillincody]

F&W = Forehand and Wadsworth.

The company went though several names, during the 1870's to early 1900's period it existed, that reflect the various owners and partners - Forehand and Allen, Forehand and Wadsworth, Forehand Arms.

O so that explains the F&W marking on my pistol grips quite a interesting history on this company .