.38 S&W (.38/200) Dummies

[LWCmdr45]

I’ve now added a second revolver chambered in .38 S&W (*not* .38 Special) and I’ve been looking for some dummy loads. It appears that all of the normal suppliers have nothing to offer in this semi-obsolete caliber. Does anyone know of a source? Perhaps in England or one of the Commonwealth lands where it survived longer than in this country? Failing that, I seem to remember reading about people who made up their own dummies, but I can’t recall what material they used to fill the primer pocket to absorb firing pin strikes. Any help? TIA!

Steve

[OFT II]

Steve, I've heard of folks trimming a pencil eraser and gluing it in the primer pocket to make a dummy round. You might give that a try.

[Old Corp]

Another way is to punch out the spent primer , fill the primer pocket with silicone caulk, wipe flush with case head. Allow a day or two for it to dry/cure.
Instant, cheap snap-caps.

[ArchAngelCD]

A-Zoom sells .38 S&W snap caps and they are available on the MidwayUSA site. (but on backorder right now)
A-ZOOM Action Proving Dummy Round Snap Cap 38 S&W Aluminum Package of 6

A-Zoom is a Lyman company and they are in-stock on the Lyman site although they are a little more expansive than from Midway.
A-Zoom Snap Caps, no other snap caps are more precise or rugged

I'm sure if you look around the NET there are more sites that have them in stock.

[BUFF]

I make dummy cartridges up for a lot of my guns. If I teach a class, my rule is that the only live ammo in the room is the ammo in my gun on my belt.

After resizing the case, I used hot glue from my wife's craft tools to fill the primer hole. It makes a durable pad to catch firing pins. Then I seat a bullet and crimp it. Sometimes I drill small holes through the case sidewalls, sometimes I use permanent marking felt pen to draw black bands around the circumference of the case. I also like to use the felt pne to draw a prominent X across the bottom of the case head.

I think that it's almost as important that the dummies be instantly recognized as dummies as it is important to recognized the live rounds as live.

[LWCmdr45]

My thanks to one and all for the assistance. I own A-Zoom dummies in several calibers and they were my first thought when I wanted dummies for my .38 S&W's, but Brownells didn't have a listing for them in that caliber. I foolishly never looked further than that. ("If Brownells doesn't have them, nobody will" was my-- flawed!-- reasoning.) I think I'm also going to try some of the tips presented here to brew up some home-made examples.

Again, thanks to all!

Steve