I am looking into purchasing a smith & wesson safety hammerless (New Departure) in 38S&W.

Is there a limit to bullet weight/powder load for this revolver?

I hand load for my Webley Mark 4 with the correct, 38/200 British military round with Hi-Skor 700x, could this gun accept that cartridge?

I would load for the Smith with the proper .38 S&W 146 grain bullet.

One of the old writers, Henry Stebbins or Elmer Keith, maybe, recounted blowing the latch right off a topbreak with .38 S&W Super Police with that 200 grain bullet.

Just looked-up the differing powder loads for the 38s&w from my Lyman book.

Hi-Skor 700x produces the following:

150gr bullet = 2.1gr-2.4 grs of powder, 677-734 fps, 9,100-12,500 C.U.P.

195gr bullet = 1.4gr-1.6gr Powder, 482-544 fps, 7,900-12,200 fps.

Besides the recoil, shouldn't the heavier bullet be less straining on the gun due to the lower pressure? (This is for a 4th model, btw)

Outside of the style of top latch in the 1st Model, I can find little difference in overall design or materials between the Antique and "Modern" 32 or 38 Safety revolvers. The theory that on January 1, 1899 all revolvers were changed to accept the new smokless powders is false. Nothing changed and both will work fine with standard loadings of 38 S&W.

For all of the 38 S&W history, the standard bullet was 146g LRN. I pick reloading recipes that keeps the velocities at around 550 - 650 fps. As a benchmark, I have chronographed original black powder 38 S&W and they average 740 fps. Standard factory loads from Winchester, Remington, etc. run between 600 - 700 fps. Unfortunately, there are some heavy 38 S&W loads on the market from Buffalo Bore and I would not shoot them in any top-break, so be careful in your purchases.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

So it is the recoil from the 200 gr bullet which will potentially damage the latch?
(Since the velocity and pressure are both lower than the lighter bullets)

Does anyone have direct links or sources to anyone who has tested this?

I load the 38 S&W with a 160 gr bullet with Trail Boss in my top break S&W.

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears