38 S&W

[TACC1]

If anyone is still looking for 38S&W ammo,
Ammo To Go has three different loadings in-stock.
That's where I've been getting mine, they're good
to deal with. 146 grain. Hope this helps, TACC1.

 

[Wiredog]

Here's a pic of what are NOT specials.

 

[Texas Star]

Here's a pic of what are NOT specials.

Hmpf... And these are the rounds that were in that .38 Special box? They looked newer. These look to be so old and so badly stored that I doubt that I'd fire them.

But they are .38 S&W...

I hope everyone here knows that the Colt & S&W revolvers with swing-out cylinders and the Webley and Enfield .38 breaktops with the stirrup lever are stronger than the old S&W, Iver Johnson, etc. break-top guns.

 

[Hondo44]

Here's a pic of what are NOT specials.

Hi Wiredog,

I am certainly not trying to start an argument here, I'm just confused. And I have to agree with Texas Star, the cartridges in your 38 S&W Special box just can't be 38 S&W cartridges unless the box has a false bottom to raise them up in the box. 38 S&Ws would sit almost a 1/4" lower in a 38 S&W Special box. Like you said they are "short fatties" like those in your 2nd photo. When I enhance the photo of your box at least one looks like part of it's headstamp reads "Spl".

Could I impose upon you to double check the headstamps of the cartridges in BOTH of the boxes that you have?

Also just FYI UMC means Union Metallic Cartridge Company.

Thanks,

 

[Wiredog]

Thanks Jim, sorry for the caps lock on NOT. Didn't mean to have that perceived as me being pissy. I was too lazy to change the Metallic Cartridge Co. after I realized I was wrong. The picture is not of the rounds I have but of rounds that are the same but older and worn out. .38 S&W is an old round with about a .361" bullet diameter right? .38 Special .357".
What revolver's shot or shoot a .38 S&W round? Maybe it's a .38 super police round?

I'll have to bring the box in and take a pic but this guy sold me what he said was a detective special 3". in a model 28 box. I later found out it is a K-Frame 10-5 1968.
I'm a mellow dude so I'll get that box and post a pic and we'll figure it out.
Thanks.

 

[Texas Star]

Thanks Jim, sorry for the caps lock on NOT. Didn't mean to have that perceived as me being pissy. I was too lazy to change the Metallic Cartridge Co. after I realized I was wrong. The picture is not of the rounds I have but of rounds that are the same but older and worn out. .38 S&W is an old round with about a .361" bullet diameter right? .38 Special .357".
What revolver's shot or shoot a .38 S&W round? Maybe it's a .38 super police round?

I'll have to bring the box in and take a pic but this guy sold me what he said was a detective special 3". in a model 28 box. I later found out it is a K-Frame 10-5 1968.
I'm a mellow dude so I'll get that box and post a pic and we'll figure it out.
Thanks.

No worries. If we see a photo of the gun, it'll be easy to tell a Det. Spcl. from a Model 10, also called the Military and Police.
S&W assigned model numbers beginning in 1957.

But you can easily tell if it's a Det. Spcl. by looking at the gun. It'll say Colt Detective Special on it. And Colts didn't have the front lock for the extractor under the barrel as Smiths do, other than very early M&P's from about 1899-1902.

Many guns have been chambered for .38 S&W, beginning with that company's own, from the 1870's-on. Many were cheap break-top items from H&R, Iver Johnson and some junk guns called Suicide Specials, as they were cheap and some bought them to use just one time.

In 1927, the British military adopted the caliber, loaded with a 200 grain lead bullet. Some "genius" told them that the load would stop men as well as ther .455. The main goal was to get a lighter gun that recoiled less, as few men in wartime would be trained well enough to handle recoil well in a handgun.

They adopted the Enfield No. 2 and issue had begun by 1930 or so. But wartime needs forced the UK to obtain many guns from Colt, Webley, and S&W.

Colt used the cartridge under another name, I think Colt New Police or .38 Short Colt. I'd have to look it up. Chambering was in the Police Positive, not to be confused with the Police Positive Special, which has a longer frame and was usually chambered in .38 Special. However, later Police Positive Specials have been made for the shorter ctg., probably for sales in Commonwealth countries.

The Banker's Special was another Colt in this chambering.
THe Detective Special is just a PPS with a two or three inch bbl. After 1932, it had a rounded butt. Intro. was in 1926.

That's all I have time for. I suggest that you obtain copies of some basic gun books. The best is probably Geoffrey Boothroyd's, "The Handgun", Crown Publishers, 1970. Elmer Keith's, "Sixguns" will also be of great help. Try to get the Revised edition of 1961, as it has info on newer guns, inc. the .44 Magnum.

 

[Wiredog]

No worries. If we see a photo of the gun, it'll be easy to tell a Det. Spcl. from a Model 10, also called the Military and Police.
S&W assigned model numbers beginning in 1957.

But you can easily tell if it's a Det. Spcl. by looking at the gun. It'll say Colt Detective Special on it. And Colts didn't have the front lock for the extractor under the barrel as Smiths do, other than very early M&P's from about 1899-1902.

Many guns have been chambered for .38 S&W, beginning with that company's own, from the 1870's-on. Many were cheap break-top items from H&R, Iver Johnson and some junk guns called Suicide Specials, as they were cheap and some bought them to use just one time.

In 1927, the British military adopted the caliber, loaded with a 200 grain lead bullet. Some "genius" told them that the load would stop men as well as ther .455. The main goal was to get a lighter gun that recoiled less, as few men in wartime would be trained well enough to handle recoil well in a handgun.

They adopted the Enfield No. 2 and issue had begun by 1930 or so. But wartime needs forced the UK to obtain many guns from Colt, Webley, and S&W.

Colt used the cartridge under another name, I think Colt New Police or .38 Short Colt. I'd have to look it up. Chambering was in the Police Positive, not to be confused with the Police Positive Special, which has a longer frame and was usually chambered in .38 Special. However, later Police Positive Specials have been made for the shorter ctg., probably for sales in Commonwealth countries.

The Banker's Special was another Colt in this chambering.
THe Detective Special is just a PPS with a two or three inch bbl. After 1932, it had a rounded butt. Intro. was in 1926.

That's all I have time for. I suggest that you obtain copies of some basic gun books. The best is probably Geoffrey Boothroyd's, "The Handgun", Crown Publishers, 1970. Elmer Keith's, "Sixguns" will also be of great help. Try to get the Revised edition of 1961, as it has info on newer guns, inc. the .44 Magnum.

Thanks for the info Texas Star!! I've done a lot of reading now since I got the Smith and more to go. The guy I bought it from had many guns of all types he was a State Trooper Ret. now, dislikes guns all over the house now, imagine that after 30+ years on the force. Probably sick of them, He still has his .357 though.
He mistakenly gave me rounds that don't fit my gun, He sold me the .38 spl Model 10-5 2" or 1 7/8" snubbie round butt in a Model 28 4" S&W box also told me it was a det special.

Free rounds are nice but confused the hell out of me. I think he was trying to get rid of everything and just put together a little package for $75.00. Also got a Mark II .22 Ruger, super accurate for $100.-

I looked at the ammo box this morning, no smart phone for picture, and it was .38 S&W Kleanbore 146 grain lead ball round. So what to do now with them. Can I shoot them out of a .357? NO, because of bullet diameter being .357 compared to S&W .38 @ .360" OD. The rounds look clean and stored properly.

So, I started playing detective and learning from this site and other sources. That I've confirmed my gun to be a model 10-5 by opening up the cylinder and looking on the arm where it's stamped. Learned it was a K-Frame and a great gun etc..The S&W .38 box of rounds through me for another loop when they didn't fit the .38 spl, scratches head...***? It says .38 on the box and S&W wth?? I was confused as to the many styles of .38 rounds and their bullet diameter.

Thanks for your advice on the books also..
Dan

 

[Texas Star]

Dan-

You have two good guns if they are in nice condition. The snub Model 10 will bring a premium over longer barrels, with some buyers. It should make a good house gun or carry piece, if you are licensed. The Ruger .22 is one of my favorites, and the best buy available in a .22 handgun, I think. For $100, you got a major deal on it. And many of us prefer the MK II to the current MK III, which has a loaded chamber indicator that is a little obtrusive and has cuts for it that may allow additional dust, etc. to enter the gun.

You can read about ammo for short-barrelled .38 Specials in our Ammo forum. Just scroll down until you see it.

The .38 S&W ammo can perhaps be sold at a a gun show or given to someone who has a gun for it. Or, you may someday pick up a nice Webley or S&W Victory Model .38-200 chambered for it. It isn't very powerful, but the guns are pieces of history.

You can probably find the books on Amazon.com for a lot less than specialty gun book dealers charge. I think you'll be amazed at the wealth of inormation in them, especially the Boothroyd book. I've seen it sell for as little as $12.95, which has to be the book bargain of all time!

I'm pleased to have been of help.

 

[Wiredog]

Texas Star-

I am certified CCW. per. DD214 + hunter safety in 1985...lol.


Thank you for all of your information, it's been a great help. I'll definetly pick that book up!!

I love my subbie, VERY good condition, mininal scratchs from the cylinder going in and out other than that it's pristine, locked and wrapped in that wax paper with a silicon packet in there too to soak up moisture. Still blued.

I sold the MK II to a friend who gave me $300 to go buy something for him. I sold it to him for $160.OO (friend) and gave him the change, I know that was cheap. I'm not selfish. He said he shot a dragonfly with it. lol. It was a really nice feeling gun also but I had to bring him something, that's what was left..What a nice guy I am hey?


The former trooper used to clean his guns almost everynight according to his son.

Thanks Again!!