.38 Ammo Question

[mrsr71]

[BigRich]

Mostly becasue it is a different cartridge than the 38 Special. 38 S&W was an old, low powered black powder cartridge that was used in break top revolvers due to it's low operating pressure. It is not related to the 38 special. It did make the transition to smokeless because it was easy to make inespensive revolvers to shoot this cartridge. Think budget handguns.

[dfletcher]

Quite a few older 38 S & W chambered guns were later "converted" to 38 S & W Special by boring out the cylinder. Seems to have worked OK in general with standard velocity 38 Special ammo, although I don't think I'd make it a practice to do so. I believe the 38 S & W was also know as the "38/200" in England and many WWII guns were reworked.

[saki302]

I used to have a converted S&W victory model (.38 S&W re-bored to .38spl). It would fore just fine, but totally ruined cases. They fire-formed in the back half to the .38S&W cut, so there would be a step halfway down the fired case.

-Dave

[Stormfeather]

Hey, just out of curiousity, if ya dont want them, let me know, I have a old top beak, and wouldnt mind getting my hands on some old ammo for cheap! Its a PITA to find ammo for it and its usually cost a arm/leg/first born to get it! Pm me if ya dont want it and lets work something out!

[smle-man]

The .38S&W cartridge is .360 diameter whereas the .38S&W special is .357 diameter. That's why it won't fit in your .38 special.