38-44 factory ammo

[txredmule]

How effective were the 38-44 hi-speed factory loads? It is my understanding that they were loaded with either a 158 grain LRN or metal-tipped bullet. Advertised velocity was about 1100 fps from a five inch barrel. Was the primary advantage penetration of automobiles and other barriers? I use a hand-load that is similar to the 38-44 loaded in .357 magnum cases. The only difference is a SWC bullet is employed. I have only used this load on small game and varmints. This is a very accurate combination from either an S&W M28 or a 3-screw Blackhawk. Does anyone have experience with 38-44 factory ammunition in the field?

Regards,
Txredmule

 

[stiab]

Does anyone have experience with 38-44 factory ammunition in the field?

I don't, but would like to. My attempts to locate any ammo have been fruitless so far. However, there have been some good threads on this subject on The High Road, where users with real original factory ammo in real original HD and OD revolvers stated they got 1125 to 1150 fps, depending on barrel length. I think there is a similar thread in this forum that might turn up with a search.

 

[Marshal Tom]

From what I have read, Buffalo Bore has a load that is fairly similar to the original Super Police loading. It is a 158 gr. load.

Tom

 

[David LaPell]

The problem with the original factory ammo is that it is really too rare and valuable to shoot. I have done alot of work with the .38-44 ammo but as handloads. Brian Pearce did an article a couple years ago on the .38-44 and most of the handloads are pretty much right in line with the factory stuff. The two bullets that seem to work the best are the 158 grain #358156 GC and the 170 grain #358429 SWC. I can tell you that in my Outdoorsman with the 170 grain bullet and 12.5 grains of 2400 I should be pushing 1,100 fps easy (will chronograph it soon). Recoil is almost that of a .357 Magnum. Remember that when the .357 first came out the 158 grain bullet and the factory load was moving along at 1,500 fps. Now the .357 is down to 1,200-1,300 fps in 158 grain loads, right where the .38-44 stuff is.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Back before WW2 there were quite a few .38 Special revolvers of varying strength, so standard .38 Special loads were kept rather mild.

The ".38/44" was originally a Smith & Wesson offering, an N-frame revolver chambered for .38 Special but having the strength to digest higher pressure loads. Hence, the .38/44 moniker.

.38 Special ammunintion was marketed as ".38/44" to indicate that it should only be used in the heavier-duty revolvers. Later, several companies offered similar loads as ".38 Special High Velocity".

There are quite a few similarities between those offerings and what we now refer to as ".38 Special +P" ammunition.

Better metalurgy and manufacturing processes have largely eclipsed this issue, and the advent of the .357 Magnum cartridge (c. 1935) is a closely related development for folks that wanted greater performance than standard pressure/velocity .38 Special offered.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I have chrono-ed original 38/44 ammo and it did not make the 1100 fps. It was around 1000 fps out of a 5" hd but the ammo was poorly stored. I have now accumulated about 400 rounds of original ammo that I will chrono some day.

I believe it will do the 1100 fps out of a heavy duty. I don't believe the metal capped bullets were good stoppers though. That roundnose metal cap would be good at punching through something though.

 

[Texas Star]

It was billed as being better for shooting at people in cars and in bullet-proof vests.

The .38-44 monniker was intended to show that it was for S&W's built on their .44 frame, not ordinary medium-frame guns.

Nonetheless, Colt "listed" it as being suitable for any of their .38's, including the Detective Special! I think they meant it could be safely fired in them. Extensive use would shake the smaller guns loose fairly soon.

Writers like Skeeter Skelton cautioned that their handloads in this range were meant ONLY for .44- framed guns, including the Colt SAA and the New Service.

I asked S&W's sales manager in the 1960's about this, and he told me that Hi-Speed (.38-44) ammo could be safely fired in the M&P, but that it would shorten the useful life of the gun. He told me that if I expected to shoot much of it, to get a .38-44 or a .357. I think it was good advice.

The USAF shot loose their M-15 revolvers with their hot loads. (Not the US M-41 load, which is mild.) That was a key reason why they wanted a 9mm, and it led to the adoption of the Beretta M-9 in 1985.

If you have not read Elmer Keith's, Sixguns, buy a copy NOW. It will save you asking many questions. Get the later 1961 edition or a reprint. Also strongly recommended is the late Geoffrey Boothroyd's, The Handgun. I think Amazon.com and other Online sellers often have these books.

T-Star

 

[Shamus2004]

I don't have any factory ammo but, I got lucky and found 600 original vintage Reminton MP (metal point-lead bearing) bullets. I load these w/11.5 of 2400 and CCI standard primers and get 1150 from my 5" 1954 HD. I use the same load with the Keith 160 gr HP. Both are superbly accurate with only moderate recoil.

 

[robbt]

howdy all , Western had a 150 hs load also

 

[max]

Got my new American Handgunner today and I believe there is an article on the 38-44.