38/200 -

J. R. WEEMS

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Any one know of a maker of .360 200gn bullets?? I know of a tin, unopened case but have stayed away from them because I expect they are corrosive primed. I havent had much luck looking around yet.?? THANKS! :)
 
Correct British .38-200 cartridge bullet weight

If you are looking to duplicate the "correct" bullet weight for the British .38-200 as loaded by the brits, then that is a 160 gr RN. The military bullets were, of course, jacketed.


The British actually adopted the .38 S&W as loaded with a 200 grain bullet, the "Super Police" loading, hence the cartridge designation of .38-200. However as stated above the issued ammunition was loaded with 160 grain bullets not 200 gr.


Of course everyone "knows" it was 200 grain so I will get a bunch of posts saying I am wrong:D. Google it and find out for yourself. There was also a variant loaded with 178-180 grain bullets.
 
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If you are looking to duplicate the "correct" bullet weight for the British .38-200 as loaded by the brits, then that is a 160 gr RN. The military bullets were, of course, jacketed.


The British actually adopted the .38 S&W as loaded with a 200 grain bullet, the "Super Police" loading, hence the cartridge designation of .38-200. However as stated above the issued ammunition was loaded with 160 grain bullets not 200 gr.

I load most of my 38 S&W ammo with a 170gr WFN cast bullet from a H&G #512 mold. I do however load some 38-200 loads for shooting in my Enfield MkII revolver at times just because.
 
The WWII and post-WWII British service round was the .380 Mark 2. It used a 178 grain FMJ bullet (NOT 160 grain). The pre-WWII service round was the .380 Mark 1, with a 200 grain lead bullet.
 
The WWII and post-WWII British service round was the .380 Mark 2. It used a 178 grain FMJ bullet (NOT 160 grain). The pre-WWII service round was the .380 Mark 1, with a 200 grain lead bullet.

I agree, those numbers are correct as far as I know.
 
“Grain” is the same across all systems. One grain avoirdupois equals one grain metric equals one grain apothecary equals one grain troy.
 
“Grain” is the same across all systems. One grain avoirdupois equals one grain metric equals one grain apothecary equals one grain troy.

It was originally used as an apothecary weight measurement and mainly for drugs and medicines. It has been largely replaced by milligrams for that purpose. I believe as a unit of weight, the grain goes far back into ancient history, and was based on the average weight of a single grain of wheat or something similar. I doubt it is used much today other than for weighing of bullets and powder (1/7000 of an avoirdupois pound). I have an antique pharmacist's apothecary scale (2 pan) which is probably from the late 19th century, and its scale is graduated in grains. For a long time, into the 1970s, I used it for reloading as it was all I had. It worked.
 
I remember as a kid, Bayer Aspirin were in grains, as was the artificial sweetener saccharine in 1/4 and 1/2 grain tablets.

British bullets use the same size grains as everyone else! But they use "Funny" ounces. Specifically Troy ounces @ 480 grains per ounce. An Avoirdupois ounce is 437.xxx gr. (round up to 440). Many British bullets for 45 caliber (and .465&.470) use one Troy ounce (480 grains) where American bullets like 500 grains.

Why any bullet developer chooses one weight over another is anyone's guess. But it has been my expierance that as time goes on military bullets get lighter, to reduce the use of a vital resource, LEAD! 30 caliber bullets were 214/220 grains then 180 the 147! M-16 bullets started at 50, the 55, then 62 and 69 grains.

I think they just puts around until something works!

Ivan
 

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