Colt .38 Mid-range Magazine

[chugwater]

Hi guys,

Don't know if this "Wad Cutter" qualifys for this forum or not but...........

I just bought a Colt .38 Mid-range (in the mail) and I’m looking for some extra magazines. Will a Colt .38 Super mag work? If not will someone direct me to a place where I my get a couple?

Thanks much Chug

[Hawkmoon]

What's a Colt "mid-range"?

[chugwater]

A .38 Gold Cup National March Wad cutter. Used by three gun bulls eye shooters inthe 1960s - 1970s.

Chug

[chugwater]

Hawk,

My terminology is probably no correct but (that’s what I call it).

Gold Cup MKIII National Match

Chambered in .38 Special rimless, this pistol was like the Gold Cup National Match. Serial numbers have "NMR" or "MR" suffixes. These pistols were manufactured between 1961 and 1974.

Chug

[Joni Lynn]

The original Colt 38 Special mags will work. The ones made by triple k will not work.......been there.
The rimless round was called the 38 AMU (Army Marksmanship Unit)
The guns we see are most often always the rimmed 38 Special 148 grain full wadcutter ammo. (bullet seated flush with case mouth)

[chugwater]

Hey,

Thanks JL. I just have one each of the old Super .38. So I really would like to get a couple of new ones. So you are saying the 70ish .38 Super won't work?

I don't know but I'll bet mine is the latter (rimmed full wadcutter). At least I hope so, that AMU ammo must be EXPENSIVE.

Any idea where I should look? I realize I don't know exactly which one to get just yet but I would like to locate them and get an idea.

Great help and thanks, Chug

[Joni Lynn]

38 Super mag will not work. The only mags that will work are Colt Mid Range 38 wadcutter mags. It might be possible if you want to play around at tuning the mag to get a triple k mag and perhaps make it work. I ran out of patience and junked the 2 I bought. Clark used to alter a mag and make it work but the cost of that is about the same as a Colt mag would be. (if you can find one)
The mags are unique looking and will say Colt on the bottom.

[chugwater]

Thanks JL,

I wonder if Colt would have any? I know that's an arm and a leg for parts there but........... I've been to about a dozen sites to no avail. Found plenty of ammo but no magazines.

Thanks again, Chug

[Joni Lynn]

I don't think they would have any..........the only place I see them is at the larger guns shows. The mag venders usually want about $80 or more for one. Of course if you buy it there and it doesn't work I guess you have an expensive paperweight.

[chugwater]

Roger that! I wouldn't hesitate to give $50 for on that works.

Chug

[Joni Lynn]

Same here.........if I shot my wadguns more often I'd probably start looking for more mags.

[tailgunner]

I know your pain. When I bought my NM Mk. III .38 Spl MR wadcutter that came with one factory mag, I scoured the online auctions and gunshows and was able to secure two spare factory Colt mags. I paid through the nose for them but it was worth it.

"keep hope alive" and good luck!

[Doran]

http://cgi.ebay.com/1911-Colt-38-special-magazine-clip-RARE-nice-NR_W0QQitemZ250085043328QQihZ015QQcategoryZ36257QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-COLT-1911-Magazine-in-38-Special-mag-rare_W0QQitemZ170081579284QQihZ007QQcategoryZ36257QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[chugwater]

Thank you very much Doran,

I am bidding on both. I found another at Midway for $115. Think I had rather through rocks at a target than pay $115 for a magazine. Maybe I should consider firing one round at a time. Kidding.

Chug

[Joni Lynn]

Good luck on the auction.

[Doran]

You're welcome; I scan the auctions fairly closely for possible new additions to my magazine collection. I wish I could say that I haven't given more than $115 for a magazine.

[Joni Lynn]

Don't feel too badly, finding the older Sako rifle magazines is perhaps more difficult than this Colt mag.......there are reproductions available for some of them now, but the two I got didn't work as well as original Sako mags. There seems to be a common event there.

[chugwater]

Hey JL,

I found four of the lil jewels. I was thinking $50 and said I wouldn't pay more. WRONG WRONG wrong the cheapest with shipping was $92. The most expensive was $126. I bought both the cheapest and the most expensive and I may buy another for $100.

Sooooooooooo much for my creditability. Anyone need an extra magazine? grin.

Later, Chug

[Joni Lynn]

Congrats............I hope they work well for you.

[Joni Lynn]

Your gun will be somewhat more accurate the longer the slide stays closed. Use a recoil spring that matches your ammo or the other way around. My guns like the 16 pound Wolff spring with factory loaded ammo.