.38/200
- Thread starter gwalchmai
- Start date
Yes, 38 S&W dies can be used to load 38/200. You can use regular 38 Special bullets, but they are slightly undersized for the 38 S&W. 38 Special bullets are .358 while the 38 S&W bullets are .361. The undersized bullets work OK in some guns, but may be inaccurate in others.
.361 bullets are available from some custom casting companies, but they may be difficult to find locally.
Hope this helps.
Steve
.361 bullets are available from some custom casting companies, but they may be difficult to find locally.
Hope this helps.
Steve
The .38/200 is the .38 S&W with a 200 grain bullet, so .38 S&W brass and dies will be fine. Western Bullet Co. makes the Lyman 458430 bullet, a blunt round nose 200 grain design, in both .358 and .360 diameters. I've used these in both .38 S&W and .38 Special rounds with good results.
Another option is to use 148 grain hollow base wadcutters seated about half way into the .38 S&W case (COL about 1.11 inches). Do not seat these to the case mouth, as would be done for the .38 Special; there would be insufficient room for the powder and pressures would be unsafe. The deep hollow base expands to engage the rifling even in oversize bores. Although these rounds don't look as "authentic" as those with the 200 grain bullets, they shoot better in my Victory and Terrier models.
Another option is to use 148 grain hollow base wadcutters seated about half way into the .38 S&W case (COL about 1.11 inches). Do not seat these to the case mouth, as would be done for the .38 Special; there would be insufficient room for the powder and pressures would be unsafe. The deep hollow base expands to engage the rifling even in oversize bores. Although these rounds don't look as "authentic" as those with the 200 grain bullets, they shoot better in my Victory and Terrier models.
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Exactly, the 38/200 is just that. I use the bullets from the Western Bullet Co. and they work quite well. I don't load a lot of 200gr .38 S&W rounds but it is fun to shoot them every once and a while in my British Enfield revolver. (BTW, the Lyman number is 358430) That said I like the 170gr H&G #512 bullet even better! That bullet shoots POA=POI from my revolver using W231. Both are great in the .38 S&W.
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