Teach me about the 38-44

[Bumslie]

Like the title says. From my understanding its a predate to the 357 magnum. Can I use standard 38 cases and use this bullet?

[Twystd1]

Like the title says. From my understanding its a predate to the 357 magnum. Can I use standard 38 cases and use this bullet?

Well. It matters WHICH 38 case you use.

If my feeble memory is correct...........

The 38-44 is simply a 38 special that is a hot load. Like todays +P rounds.

This hotter round was built for a revolver using a 44 mag frame and cylinder.

Hence the 38-44 nomenclature.

I'm too lazy to google it. There is more info to be found there.

Twystd1

[sghart]

I can't tell what bullet you are using from your post. I am a .357 mag fan (fanatic maybe). I have loaded and shot thousands of rounds of 357 in my revolvers and rifles.

I went through a 38-44 period. I even started looking for a revolver to add to my collection. In a nutshell the 38-44 was a product of people wanting more power and velocity from a 38 caliber revolver. Previous 38 spl revolvers and loads weren't up to the task so an "N' frame (large frame) S&W revolver was chambered for 38 spl. The extra strength along with advances in metallurgy allowed the handloaders of the day to push the performance envelope.

Typical 38-44 velocities were very fast, comparable to 357 magnum loads. I like 14 gr of 2400 under a 158 gr LSWC. The pressures were also very high. The loads were marketed commercially but there was always the danger that a consumer would buy these loads and try to shoot them in an old 38 spl gun that couldn't take it.

So the 38-44 cases were lengthened by .10 " to prevent them from being usable in older guns and the .357 mag was born. This is an abbreviated history, the best I can do this early before my second cup of coffee.

I still load and shoot 38-44 rounds mostly for the nostalgia kick. Recently my LGS had an old S&W 38-44 revolver for sale. If I could have afforded it I would have bought it just because. I shoot my 38-44 loads in my L frame and N frame guns.

[Bumslie]

So is the 38-44 incompatible to shoot out of a S&W 586?

[FLIGHT762]

So is the 38-44 incompatible to shoot out of a S&W 586?

The 38/44 is just hot loaded loads in a 38 Special case. I don't know what you're not understanding. Since your S&W 586 is chambered for .357 Magnum, yes, you can shoot hand loaded 38/44 out of your gun.

The danger in hand loading 38/44 is someone (you or anyone else) taking a 38/44 and putting it in a regular 38 special and potentially damaging the gun or themselves. Some .38 Special chambered Revolvers cannot safely shoot the 38/44.

If you want to play with fire, you can hand load your own hot loaded (38/44) in .38 Special cases.

I played with this in the early 1970's and shot hot hand loaded .38 Specials at .357 Magnum velocities out of my S&W model 28 .357 Magnum. I gave up the process because I had a couple of other .38 Special chambered revolvers and I didn't want to risk an ammo mix up. When I wanted .357 Magnum velocities, I loaded ammo in .357 Magnum cases.

The commercial ammo manufacturers in the 1970's came out with the .38 Special +P, which is similar to the old 38/44 loads.

The 38/44 was something developed many years ago before the .357 Magnum cartridge was finally developed.

If you want to understand more about this, you can read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.38_Special

If you want more information, you can go on the net and educate yourself on this.

[Spyder]

Thank you for saying "teach me" instead of "school me". It keeps you from looking like a douche.

[Bumslie]

The 38/44 is just hot loaded loads in a 38 Special case. I don't know what you're not understanding. Since your S&W 586 is chambered for .357 Magnum, yes, you can shoot hand loaded 38/44 out of your gun.

The danger in hand loading 38/44 is someone (you or anyone else) taking a 38/44 and putting it in a regular 38 special and potentially damaging the gun or themselves. Some .38 Special chambered Revolvers cannot safely shoot the 38/44.

If you want to play with fire, you can hand load your own hot loaded (38/44) in .38 Special cases.

I played with this in the early 1970's and shot hot hand loaded .38 Specials at .357 Magnum velocities out of my S&W model 28 .357 Magnum. I gave up the process because I had a couple of other .38 Special chambered revolvers and I didn't want to risk an ammo mix up. When I wanted .357 Magnum velocities, I loaded ammo in .357 Magnum cases.

The commercial ammo manufacturers in the 1970's came out with the .38 Special +P, which is similar to the old 38/44 loads.

The 38/44 was something developed many years ago before the .357 Magnum cartridge was finally developed.

If you want to understand more about this, you can read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.38_Special

If you want more information, you can go on the net and educate yourself on this.

A. I did search the net and did not find what I was looking for. Which is why I am on my forum asking the questions.

B. if you're going to tell me to "educate myself" post a source that is collegiate worthy. No one with half a brain would accept Wikipedia as a reliable source, and certainly not for reloading data.

There is no need to be a ****ing tool. Either share your knowledge in polite fashion or don't respond. It's no wonder why so many people stay away from Calguns and reloading with asshats like you and your crotchety old man attitude and answers.

[Bumslie]

I shoot my 38-44 loads in my L frame and N frame guns.

This was the answer I was looking for. I was half asleep when I read your post this morning on the way to work.

The reason I asked was because my LGS only has 38-44 projectiles and was looking for clarification if I could use this in my 586.

Thank you to everyone who politely responded. It helped Immensely.

[sghart]

Here is a link to a great article on the history of the S&W 38-44 revolver itself as well as the cartridge.

Go Broncos.

http://www.38-44heavyduty.com/Home_Page.php

[Bumslie]

Here is a link to a great article on the history of the S&W 38-44 revolver itself as well as the cartridge.

Go Broncos.

http://www.38-44heavyduty.com/Home_Page.php

Hey thanks for the link! I appreciate it!

Go Broncos!

[FLIGHT762]

A. I did search the net and did not find what I was looking for. Which is why I am on my forum asking the questions.

B. if you're going to tell me to "educate myself" post a source that is collegiate worthy. No one with half a brain would accept Wikipedia as a reliable source, and certainly not for reloading data.

There is no need to be a ****ing tool. Either share your knowledge in polite fashion or don't respond. It's no wonder why so many people stay away from Calguns and reloading with asshats like you and your crotchety old man attitude and answers.

If you think my post was sarcastic, you took it wrong. There's lots of information on the net about the 38/44 load. 38/44 is not a term used too much anymore since the .357 Magnum came out and the use of .38 Special +P ammunition. Just what is the 38/44 Projectile you're talking about at your LGS? You didn't describe the projectile. You did nothing to describe the 38/44 projectile and I wasn't the only one that didn't understand what bullet you were trying to use.

I took the time to describe what the 38/44 was and my second sentence in this post said that a 38/44 could be safely used in your 586, just as you asked. You didn't ask for loading data. If you were asking for that, I would have answered your question if you would have given just what the bullet weight and diameter the 38/44 projectile at your LGS is.

I was trying to steer you away from loading hot / .357 Magnum velocity out of a .38 special case (because that's what the 38/44 is) and rather to use .357 Magnum cases for the hot loads because of the dangers of hot loaded .38 special cases and somehow, maybe years later, taking those hot loaded .38 Special cases and you or someone else putting them into an old .38 Special and having the gun come apart.

I didn't resort to calling you names. You mistook my post as some personal attack on your intellect, it actually wasn't. When I told you to educate yourself on the net, that's exactly what I meant. I do it all of the time. I wasn't calling you stupid. It's amazing what you can find with a simple click on a search engine.

You're more than welcome to put me on your ignore list.

By the way, Wikipedia is a great source for general information. Again, you weren't asking for loading data.