.38 special short

target tech · Dec 8, 2013

I was at a gun show this morning, and a guy that I bought a box of 9mm carry ammo from, had a strange box of factory Magtech ammo that caught my eye. The box was the normal blue and white Magtech box, but on the end flap, was printed .38 special short. I asked if I could open the box and look at the cartridges. The cartridges were short little round nose .38 specials. The case just said .38 special.

Has anyone ever seen these, or have any idea what they are for. The guy selling them didn't have any idea what they were.

I'm guessing, but would they have fit in a .38 S&W cylinder and rattled down the barrel, or the old .38 colt guns maybe????????

CTG_COLLECTOR · Dec 8, 2013

Quite simply, Magtech's .38 Spl Short is designed for short range, reduced recoil for .38 Spl caliber revolvers.

It is not designed (as some may argue) for use in .38 S&W chambered revolvers, as Magtech has a specific loading for this caliber.

.38 Spl Short

http://www.magtechammunition.com/si...tails&templateId=14&pageId=103&search=details

38 S&W

http://www.magtechammunition.com/store/p14details508.php

target tech · Dec 8, 2013

Why would they shorten the case? Target shooters have been dumping 2.8 grains of Bullseye over 148 WC since the beginning of time. How much more short range, light recoiling do you need. Seems like it was the answer to a question that never existed.

Is there actually an official spec for .38 special short? Is this sort of like when guys were shortening .41 mags, and calling them .41 specials.

TJHuxley · Dec 8, 2013

I was considering a reply and found this informative thread from a few months back.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/ammo/320413-38-short-colt-sw-38-a.html

One thing I will say is 38 Short Colt is used with a moonclip in Smith 627 revolvers and respectable power factors with 158 gr bullets, 120 to 130, are achieved with less powder than needed for longer, 38 Special cases.

OKFC05 · Dec 8, 2013

A trend was developing in IDPA/SSR to use .38 special short, many homemade by cutting down the regular .38 Special cases, to facilitate easier speed reloads with the shorter cartridges.
This practice was banned in the new 1 October 2013 IDPA rules.

target tech · Dec 8, 2013

I guess the speed/competition reason makes more sense than anything else. There is an awful lot of wasted space in a .38 special case.
Thanks for the insight...

murphydog · Dec 8, 2013

It is also used in Cowboy Action Shooting, for faster reloads.

shawn mccarver · Dec 8, 2013

The 38 S&W and the 38 Colt New Police (also called the 38 Police Positive) are the same round.

The 38 Special (also called the 38 Colt Special) is a lengthened version of the 38 Long Colt, which in turn was a lengthened version of the 38 Short Colt.

It almost looks to me like this Mag-Tech Round called 38 Special Short is the same as the old 38 Short Colt, making it ok to use in 38 Special, but not the correct ammo for a revolver chambered in 38 S&W.

Can any of you ammo experts confirm this?

kaaskop49 · Dec 8, 2013

attn Shawn McCarver

Hey Shawn, you can call me Ray, or you can call me Jay...

As if we didn't have enough ammo difficulties right now.

.38 special short

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