Thread: .357 vs .38 split vs .38 S&W
View Single Post
 
Old 04-15-2018, 01:10 PM
Absalom's Avatar
Absalom Absalom is offline
SWCA Member
Absent Comrade
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Oregon
Posts: 12,834
Likes: 10,103
Liked 27,996 Times in 8,452 Posts
Default
In the face of everybody’s willingness to experiment, let’s keep one thing clear:

There is no INTENTIONAL compatibility between .38 S&W and .38 Special/.357 Magnum.

The .38 Special was NOT designed as a longer and more powerful .38 S&W. The company abandoned its own .38 and instead made the new Special round compatible with the .38 Colt to tap into the military and civilian market for that round, which was quite popular and the official service caliber in 1899. They even wrote it on the barrel in the early years.

As I indicated above, any .38 S&W that fits a .38 Special is the result of generous tolerances, either in chamber or ammo production. It’s not SUPPOSED to fit
Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Like Post: