My oldest daughter (who doesn't shoot) gave me a present of 38 S&W target ammo (lead nose). 10 boxes. I've always shot 38 special or .357 in my SW revolvers and am not familiar with 38 S&W. It is shorter, but fits. Can I safely shoot the 38 S&W in a model 19, model 10, or even a modern 586 set up 38 special and .357?

Yes.

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.38 S&W and .38 S&W Special are not the same caliber. The .38 S&W would likely be difficult to chamber in a .38 Special. The bullets are a few thousandths larger in diameter. Be sure what you actually have.

Well, lets start with the fact that .38 S&W is an older cartridge that has somewhat different dimensions than a .38 special, different case shape, and a slightly larger bullet.
The cartridge catalog lists them as not interchangeable.
The .38 S&W is less common and usually costs more.


If it will fit into your .38Spl chamber (some do, some don't) it is not going to blow it up.
.38 S&W - Wikipedia


Personally, I'd inform her NOT to buy any more of it, and see if I could exchange what she already bought. You don't want her to buy you some every Father's Day.

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Science plus Art

It's not interchangeable and factory .38 S&W cartridges typically don't chamber in .38 Sp/.357 revolvers. .38 S&W cases are .386" diameter forward of the rim and .38 S&W Special cases are .379".

Double check the headstamps.

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Howdy

38 S&W is an older cartridge that predates 38 Special. Bullet diameter as well as case diameter is slightly larger with 38 S&W. In this photo, the shorter cartridge on the left is a 38 S&W, the longer cartridge on the right is a 38 Special. To add to the confusion, since Smith & Wesson developed the 38 Special cartridge, all S&W revolvers chambered for the cartridge will have 38 S&W Special stamped on the barrel.



Just for the fun of it, I just grabbed four different S&W 38 Special revolvers and boxes of 38 S&W ammo from three different manufacturers. The Winchester 38 S&W brass was too large to chamber in any of the guns. Ten-X 38 S&W chambered in a couple of them. And Remington 38 S&W ammo chambered in all four revolvers, although it was a bit sticky in a couple of them. So you can lay this up to manufacturing tolerances both in revolver chamber diameters and brass case diameters.

Personally, I would not shoot any 38 S&W ammo in any of my 38 Special revolvers. 38 Special only for me. I have other guns I can shoot the 38 S&W stuff in.

But that's just me.

thanks guys...I felt a little dumb asking the question, but would feel a lot less bright if I damaged on of my SW revolvers. I just was not familiar with the 38 S&W. I'm going to try and trade it and will not shoot it.

But it should be all of us!


OP: try to exchange the ammo. The clerk was either ignorant or realized that your daughter doesn't know guns and took advantage of her to sell a higher priced item or one that's slow moving.


BTW, you need to study .38 Special ammo carefully. It'll all fire in your guns, but it varies widely in power and suitability for a particular type of shooting. You don't need expensive self defense ammo to shoot at paper or cans, and the target wadcutter ammo isn't right where you may need to shoot a bear or a cougar! Better bone up on .357 ammo, too.


Oh: both of your .357's will, of course, fire any .38 Special ammo, inc. the discontinued hi-velocity .38-44 and modern Plus- P stuff. They will also fire .38 Long Colt, if you ever find any of that ancient ctg. But it's basically a collector's cartridge today, being even weaker than a strd. .38 Special load.


BTW, the British once used the .38 S&W regular as a service round, calling it the .38-200, for its heavier bullet. Do not buy a surplus UK revolver re-chambered for .38 Special. The cases may crack in the larger chambers, originally bored for the wider .38 S&W!


Check our ammo forum, where this question probably belongs. And you need a basic handgun book. It's dated, but the late Elmer Keith's, "Sixguns" is the best I've seen on American guns and the basics. Look for the 1961 revised edition. And read it carefully. Thankfully, some cartridges, inc. the .38 Special, now have much better loadings for some needs. But most of the book still applies.

Not a dumb question at all. It would have been semi-dumb to just
go ahead and try it without asking.

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In Omnia Paratus

A lot of people are confused by the .38 S&W cartridges. .38 S&W is harder to find but if it's on the shelves somebody that's looking for .38 Special will easily pick up one for the other.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Not dumb at all.

What would have been dumb, would have been to not ask!

I'd just use the opportunity to go get a new S&W chambered in 38 S&W. there are a lot of WW2 era guns out there in reasonable shape that would fit the bill for not a lot of money.

"Sixguns" by Keith is an excellent book, but it's more than 55 years out of date. Get something written and published in the 21st Century. The 4th Edition of the Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson has excellent information on various cartridges and chamberings and would be good place to start.

In direct response to the OP, I don't recommend firing .38 S&W ammunition in a .38 S&W Special revolver even if it chambers. Usually best to use the cartridges for which the firearm is designed and marked.

I too would not shoot it in any of my .38SPL or .357guns.Not that I'm afraid to blow it up but might do some weird things to them.Afterall,the .38Spl and .357Mag are .357''nominal while the .38S&W are .360.Not alarming since the bullet is lead but nonetheless,I value my guns enough for not doing it.And there might be some lead spitting;not a good way to make new friends at the range!
Qc

Like the OP i also have a couple of boxes of 38 S&W that were given to me from so well meaning person I cant remember. I am always looking for a excuse to buy another gun. What should I be on the look out for that is chambered in this caliper? I've already got the excuse ready, " but honey I had two boxes of ammo for it I couldn't pass it up" Cheers Joe

Among just S&W double action handguns with swing-out cylinders (Hand Ejectors), there are the K frame British service revolvers and Victory versions of the M&P, the later model numbered version of same (Model 11) and the I and J frame guns called Terrier (later Model 32 and 32-1) and .38 Regulation Police (later Model 33 and 33-1).

Good question, it was news to me too!
Steve W

....in .38 S&W, 4" barrel. It's a fun little shooter, for a novelty.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

The answer to your excellent question is 'no.'

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It's "caliber", not "caliper", which is another item altogether.


But aside from various older S&W models, you can find Webley and Enfield Arsenal guns for this load. Because their cylinders are too short, none of those have been re-chambered by disreputable surplus dealers. Most of the Webleys will be MK IV's marked "War Finish." If you're lucky, you'll find a postwar one with a nicer commercial blue finish.

It's a simple fix... you need to get one of these.



38 Regulation Police.

Or perhaps something like this, a 38 Safety Hammerless.



38 S&W ammo is somewhat hard to find, and usually costs more than standard 38 Special. It'd be a shame to let it go to waste.

John

Great question. .thanks for asking. I'm glad we have knowledgeable people here that can show you the difference. So thanks for the picture and explanation. Better to ask than to be sorry.