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Source of .38/200 Ammunition Experience?

Have not tried that brand but it appears to be a typical factory loading. In the USA the 38-200 is known as the 38 Smith and Wesson or 38 Smith and Wesson Short. Both Magtech and Fiocchi as well as Remington still load this caliber. I would shop around for the best price if you don't do reloading yourself.

Example:
.38 S&W Ammo - .38 S&W Bullets | Cheaper Than Dirt
 
The .38/200 is simply an obsolete moniker for a caliber that started in the blackpowder era and has been called all kinds of things.

These are all dimensionally identical and will chamber in anything from a rattly little 1880s topbreak to a Victory BSR overbuilt for any load in this caliber.

So be sure of the pressures and if in doubt don't. The big guns, Webley Mk IV, Enfield No. 2, M&P, and Colt OP can handle every load, but caution is necessary with smaller guns. Some surplus European military .38/200 loads have been reported at up to 50% higher pressures than standard .38 S&W.


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I just ordered a box to try in my BSR. I also ordered 4 boxes of the trapdoor Springfield loads. Thanks the tip on their website.
 
I shoot the "Remington Performance Wheel Gun" Brand 38SW through my Enfield MKII 38/200 Revolver. Very pleasant to shoot. About as cheap as Remington 38 Special as well.
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Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk
 
Friend of mine just inherited a H&R 38S&W. Not a big gun guy but was going to buy a box of ammo at Cabelas. Whatever they had they wanted $42/ box 50. I’m out of touch with prices, is it because of another ammo panic?
 
Drm50 said:
Friend of mine just inherited a H&R 38S&W. Not a big gun guy but was going to buy a box of ammo at Cabelas. Whatever they had they wanted $42/ box 50. I’m out of touch with prices, is it because of another ammo panic?
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I'd think lack of market is the big factor. No economy of scale.
 
Igiveup said:
Absalom, which bullet type did the British use during WWII? I assume it had to be at least copper plated?
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Last I saw in various articles, the Brits moved to a 147 gr jacketed round to please the Nazis.

Geoff
Who is curious about the stopping power tests the British destroyed because shooting animals is politically incorrect now days.
 
The WWII .380 Mk II load used a 178 grain FMJ bullet. I have read that the Tommies occasionally used captured German 9mm ammunition in their revolvers when .380 ammo was unavailable. But they had to use a punch and hammer to form a rudimentary rim on the 9mm case to keep it from falling into the chamber. Not recommended to attempt using 9mm in any .38 S&W revolver, but apparently it worked in a pinch.
 
Skeptic 9c said:
Folks,

Anyone tried this .38/200 ammunition?

Vintage Military Pistol - Steinel Ammunition Co.

Geoff
Who is curious, but I passed on the English Victory Pistol.
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I recently posted a link to this maker in response to someone who wanted the 200 gr .38 Special load, which this is not.

You will have less trouble and expense finding the standard 146 gr lead loads, at about $20/50, but feel feee to post a range report if you buy the pricey stuff. :)
 
Skeptic 9c said:
Last I saw in various articles, the Brits moved to a 147 gr jacketed round to please the Nazis.
.
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As DWalt said, the Mk IIz that was adopted in the 1930s had a 178gr jacketed bullet.

The argument with the Germans actually predates the Nazis and goes back to the days of the “dum-dum” bullets, which the British were generally considerate enough to use only against natives without lawyers, but the fussy Germans argued about them anyways when the Hague Conventions were adopted. It’s actually not clear whether lead bullets as such were outlawed, only bullets designed to deform, but some overly worry-inclined military bureaucrats in Britain decided “better safe than sorry” when Germany looked like the opponent in the next likely war. One did not want to risk exposing POW’s to war crimes accusations by the enemy.
 
Absalom said:
As DWalt said, the Mk IIz that was adopted in the 1930s had a 178gr jacketed bullet.

The argument with the Germans actually predates the Nazis and goes back to the days of the “dum-dum” bullets, which the British were generally considerate enough to use only against natives without lawyers, but the fussy Germans argued about them anyways when the Hague Conventions were adopted. It’s actually not clear whether lead bullets as such were outlawed, only bullets designed to deform, but some overly worry-inclined military bureaucrats in Britain decided “better safe than sorry” when Germany looked like the opponent in the next likely war. One did not want to risk exposing POW’s to war crimes accusations by the enemy.
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My understanding is that Germany had adopted a spizer nosed bullet that did not deform, but tumbled on entry. The British were still using a blunt nosed heavier deforming bullet. So Germany had a good reason to get deforming bullets banded!

Peter
 
This is the language of the 1899 Hague Convention declaration on expanding bullets:
http://www.weaponslaw.org/assets/downloads/1899_HD_concerning_expanding_bullets.pdf
The U. S. was not a signatory, so technically it does not apply to the U. S. military. However, the U. S. has chosen to observe the treaty (although at present there are several calibers of expanding bullets in the U. S. ammunition inventory).
 
PJGP said:
My understanding is that Germany had adopted a spizer nosed bullet that did not deform, but tumbled on entry. The British were still using a blunt nosed heavier deforming bullet. So Germany had a good reason to get deforming bullets banded!

Peter
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The British later (1910) changed to the .303 Mark VII bullet as standard issue which, although a Spitzer FMJ design, used an aluminum (or sometimes other low-density material) plug in the nose which shifted the bullet's center of gravity to the rear. That added instability, resulting in a yawing action as the bullet traversed human tissue, causing more extensive wounding. The Mk VII bullet was not prohibited by the 1899 Hague Convention declaration as it did not expand.
 
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