.38 S&W Ammo

[Guest RISC777]

How prevalent was this caliber, and does anyone still shoot it?

[Magiccarpetrides]

its out there....just dont ever confuse it for 38spl....try www.bigdogammo.com

[leroy]

How prevalent was this caliber, and does anyone still shoot it?

RIS:___________

I THINK that the old 38 S & W is a blackpowder cartridge that was introduced by Smith and Wesson in the 1800s with their first small frame double action pistols --- both the old "top break" and swing cylinder (...modern, solid frame...) models. It seems to me that the bullet diameter is greater than the .357 diameter that the "special" uses -- i want to say it is in the .360 range. I THINK they originally used a "heel" type bullet; which is the same diameter as the OD of the cartridge; with a smaller "tail" inserted in the case mouth. I have seen some great old pre-war small frame snubbies (..."I" frames, i think --- the fathers of the modern "J" frames...). I'm an older guy and used to see some old 38 S & W snubbies when i was a boy, some 50 or so years ago ---many in excellent condition. An excellent source for finding out about the 38 S & W is the Roy Jenks book on the "History of Smith & Wesson". I've got it somewhere, but cant find it at the moment. all that being said, i havent seen a 38 S & W in years. You may want to check out this link too: Reloading .38 S&W Page

I'm sure some other old time Smith and Wesson guys will furnish more information.

Hope this helps.

Kind regards,

Leroy

[Guest RISC777]

Interesting. I came across some re-loaded 38 S&W ammo (50 rounds, 158 grain, hollow-point, 2.8 unique) and know nothing about it [and have no use for it LOL]. Even a second box of 50 with wax bullets, primed, but no powder.

[SpacemanSpiff]

I pick up .38 S&W brass every so often at the CHMR so at least one person out there shoots it.

[Guest RISC777]

Would be nice to locate someone who could use it.

[Guest buttonhook]

It's not BLack powder.......I just bought a few boxes this past week and if anyone needs any w&d sporting goods in knoxville has some $35 a box of 50. it also called (I think) 38/200 in england. it not a real powerful round but if you wan to shoot a clasic S&W rev. well you need it.

Edited July 2, 2010 by buttonhook

[leroy]

...It's not BLack powder.......I just bought a few boxes this past week and if anyone needs any w&d sporting goods in knoxville has some $35 a box of 50. it also called (I think) 38/200 in england. it not a real powerful round but if you wan to shoot a clasic S&W rev. well you need it. ...

Button and all:________________

The cartridge WAS ORIGINALLY a black powder cartridge (...as was the 38 special, and others like the 44 special, 45 colt, etc...). You can (...as you have...) buy modern loads loaded with smokeless powder. The original loads up to about 1920 or so were black powder loads (...you can probably find them too...). The major cartridge companys loaded both smokeless and black powder loads right up to the 1930's. Most of them dropped the black powder loadings by WW2. Smokeless powder didn't come around until about 1916 or so. Any cartridge designed and produced before that date is automatically a "black powder" cartridge.

Sorry for the confusion.

Kind regards,

Leroy

[1gewehr]

This was a VERY common caliber until after WWII. Many pocket-sized revolvers used it, a well ass many larger ones. It was the standard British pistol cartridge in WWII with a 200gr RN bullet. If you see references to a .380 revolver cartridge, that's the British name for this cartridge.

I used to shoot it a LOT when I was young and very poor. A Lee handloader, some wheel-weights, primers, and powder were all you needed to shoot all day long for a penny or so a shot. Using plinking loads, the cases were good for 15-20 reloadings, and once-fired cases were sometimes picked up free at the range. That was in the '70's, and the old H&R and Iver Johnsons were still pretty commonly used as shopkeepers guns.

[gregintenn]

It's easier to come by than 38 Colt.

[Guest RISC777]

Well, 1 box primed cases. second box re-loaded as 158 gr HP (2.8 Unique); Winchester Western cases and boxes "GQ7156C"

Would love to find a home for them for a reasonable price.

Wiki says developed in 1877; not interchangeable with the 38 Special due to different case shape and slightly larger bullet diameter. Also called the .380 Rim. Also named .38 Colt New Police which was flat nosed.

Bullet diameter .361 in

Neck diameter .3855 in

Base diameter .3865 in

Rim diameter .440 in

Rim thickness .055 in

Case length .775 in

Overall length 1.240 in

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51960931@N06/4781200410/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51960931@N06/4781200410/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51960931@N06/4780561271/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51960931@N06/4780564403/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51960931@N06/4780562711/

Edited July 10, 2010 by RISC777