Blue Bunny Ammo has received a special order for some .38S&W. We never thought we'd be getting into the obscure/obsolete caliber business but there you have it. We will be loading a 158gr plated bullet to about 650fps.
We would appreciate suggestions and comments. And of course orders

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"Vus ken men tin?" -Irving

I like the idea but why not duplicate either the 38 Super Police or the 38 MkII?

I like the idea but why not duplicate either the 38 Super Police or the 38 MkII?

+1

That's a weak cartridge. I'll bet the best bet is to offer a hardcast wadcutter. Forget hollowpoints and RNL is ****. You guys strike me as being sort of "Facklerite" anyway, so a wadcutter should be right up your alley. I'm more "Marshallite", but I think this cartridge is one where we would likely agree as to the best route.

Sharp-edged, 148gr. wadcutter, loaded as fast as pressure standards will allow.

We're not really out to reinvent the wheel. It isn't supposed to be the "killer ap" for .38S&W that Golden Shot is for the .spc. Really just something to feed the Victories and top-breaks out there. If we hadn't had a special order for them, I doubt we would have bothered.

But since we're going to the considerable trouble of loading them, we might as well produce something that's worthwhile.
The 200gr bullets won't fit in the case. We would have to cast our own. And that aint gonna happen.

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"Vus ken men tin?" -Irving

Do the wadcutter, bro! Other makers OWN other calibers. This one is ripe for the picking! If not you, who? Give the people the best choice possible! Help the good guys win!

You make the ammo. The rest of us will spread the word online when the subject comes up.

Absolutely. Wadcutter. It's an open market for an improved .38 S&W at standard pressures.

Unless your customer has specified RN bullets, I would used a 158 grain SWC, swaged if you can get them. Better accuracy at 50 yards+ than wadcutters, usually, but I guess in this round long range performance doesn't matter.

I use the Speer swaged SWC. They 'bump up' to fit the bigger bore better than my harder cast bullets.

I agree with the others. If yor not going to duplicate a historical ctg for these guns a wadcutter would be great. Just don't think you have to seat it flush like a 38 Special. That will not work.

Go for it, .38 S&W can be (at least around me) a hard round to find, and when found is often very expensive, some of the local shops are charging $32 - $37 for a box of R-P.

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William H. Smith

Hello

After I got my Webley & Scott Mk.IV and my WWII S&W British Service Revolver, both of them are .38 S&W, and then seeing the cost of the .38 S&W, when I could find a place to sell them... Needless to say that was what prompted me to venture into world of reloading...LOL.

It is great to see people take an interest in this cartridge. I know it might not be the greatest "man stopper" there is, but I have fun firing it.

I also know that the WWII era British .380" Mk.II cartridge (.38 S&W with a 178 grain ball bullet) is not the greatest for self-defence, but I'd still like to see someone make this round for those of us who shoot WWII British (and British Commonwealth) Revolvers.
Thanks
Mark

We have an order for stuff, so we will be making it. The question is what configuration. The buyer doesn't care: as long as it says .38S&W and goes bang is all he cares about.
I ran the wadcutter idea past "research" and he tells me the bullet cannot be seated in the cartridge and still chamber.

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"Vus ken men tin?" -Irving

How about the semi-wadcutter? I would be interested in some when they are produced.

Charlie

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SWCA # 2294

I was wondering how to order from Blue Bunny? Is it just available through the gun shop link on the site, or can I order directly from the company?

I also like the semi-wadcutter idea.

At least you will be loading a 158gr bullet instead of the 146gr bullet which I think is useless for the post part. When I load for the 38 S&W I load a 160gr LRNFP bullet. I like your choice but I might have to agree a SWC might be better for your first offering.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

I have been reloading the 0.38 S&W for years with a 180 grain FP lead running at around 650 fps. Mimics the 200/380 round well and shoots to point of aim at 10 yds in Webley Mk IVs, SW Model 11, Victories and Enfields. Go for the 180 grain and you will sell a lot of them. Dave_n

Sorry to read that. I have seen several articles online and read old reloading manuals that seem to suggest that it isn't a problem. There are some cool pics and a gelatin test of 190grn LRN and 146 WC .38 S&W reloads here : New Page 4

That said, a 158 LSW load would still a lovely thing to have.

I too am surprised research said the wadcutter did not work. Do you happen to know what revolver he was using? I'd like to avoid them in the future.

Interesting project. I went to the range Tuesday to shoot a Canadian pre-Victory in 38 SW. I had loaded up some ammo using a Speer 158 gr. LSWC and 2.2 of Bullseye. I was pleased with the accuracy and mild recoil. The bullets are a little undersized for 38 SW and I have found some .360 sized 158 SWC and I may order some to see if it makes a difference. I have several Victory's and Regulation Police in 38 SW so I hope to do a little experimenting. I find it a pleasant round to shoot.

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John. SWCA #1586

I usually load a 160gr .360" LRNFP bullet over 2.5gr W231 for my 38 S&W ammo. That combination works well for me. I also occasionally load a 200gr bullet to replicate the British 38/200 ammo to shoot in my Enfield No.2. Herco, Universal and Unique work well for the 38/200.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

Rabbi, Thanks for reloading this old cartridge. I used to have a Webley Mk IV in .38 S&W when I was station in Germany in the late 80s. I would reload for it using 125 gr JSP and 158 LSWC using French BA powders. I would have kept it but ATF would not allow importation at the time (traded for a Chinesse Makarov that was importable). I have seen large numbers of the same Mk IV and Enfield Mk IIs in Iraq this decade.


Enfield No2 Mk1 in .380/200 British (.38 S&W) made in 1932
Nickled Webley MkIV in .380/200 British
Webley MkVI in .455 Webley made in 1923

CD

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De Oppresso Liber

rabbi;
When you've got some rounds made up, if they'll work in the old
top-breaks,(same pressure, etc), please run a post here. I may not buy
a lot, but, if it'll work, I'll buy some.
I'm no expert, but if you're making 38 S&W, I want to help keep the
round alive. Just because you brought it up on this forum.
TACC1

.38S&W now available. See ad under accessories with pic.

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"Vus ken men tin?" -Irving