38 ammunition

[fwilder]

Hey guys (and gals),

I recently purchased a 38 S&W Special. I dated it and everything, turns out it's an M&P model of 1905 second change round butt (model of 1902 if you go by the original catalogs, but that's a different subject). Tjat dates it to between 1906 and 1909. It's clearly been rebarreled, because they didn't make a 2" barrel back then. It is pre heat treatment though. Everywhere I look says use wadcutters because of pressure. I'm having trouble finding any at a decent price. Can anyone give me a link to some, or perhaps an alternative to wad cutters that hurt the gun, and aren't too expensive? Thanks a ton.

 

[DWalt]

Wadcutters are good, but any standard velocity lead bullet loading will be safe. Or you could take up handloading.

 

[JRhoPy]

Wad cutters can be hard to find. If you reload, that is the best way to keep a steady supply.

 

[OFT II]

Wadcutters are good, but any standard velocity lead bullet loading will be safe. Or you could take up handloading.

DWalt is right. Just stay away from the +P and +P+ stuff and you'll be okay.

 

[deyomatic]

Lead was mentioned...Is there anything wrong with 130 grn FMJ with standard pressures?

 

[fwilder]

Okay, cool. I saw some Remington PMC 158gr low velocity semiwadcutters. Those should be good then?

 

[murphydog]

Those should be fine. Remington and PMC are two different companies but standard pressure is standard pressure .

The 130 gr FMJ is probably OK too, but I have never been impressed with their accuracy out of any gun.

 

[fwilder]

* UMC. Remington UMC, not PMC

 

[murphydog]

That is Remington's "budget" line (yellow boxes), should work fine. Let's see those 1/2" 25 yard groups .

 

[deyomatic]

The 130 gr FMJ is probably OK too, but I have never been impressed with their accuracy out of any gun.

Great......I just bought 100 Winchester fmjs to do an accuracy shoot-out between my 1946 M&P and a friend's 1947 Colt Official Police...at least now I can blame MY poor skills on the ammo!

 

[murphydog]

You have to hold up the honor of Smith & Wesson, despite the conditions .

 

[chief38]

If you hand-load you can make up some puzzy-cat loads but if you don't and can't find any Wad-cutters get some 158 grain standard velocity RNL Remington or Winchester which is pretty anemic these days. I have a 1905 4th change and shoot it all the time with hand-loads consisting of 158 RNL bullet over 3.1 grains of Titegroup. It's very mild and is very accurate! I always use 158 grain RNL bullets on old guns as that's exactly what they were designed to shoot.

 

[DWalt]

S&W barrels made prior to WWII have softer steel, and allegedly will experience a more accelerated bore wear rate if jacketed bullets are used. But a limited number of jacketed bullet rounds probably won't hurt much. Back then, virtually all .38 Special ammunition had lead bullets and bore wear was a non-issue.

 

[handejector]

I wish somebody would post one of those barrels worn out by jacketed bullets.

I've seen thousands of rusted out barrels, but I've yet to see a worn out barrel.
Seems like those pre-war magnums held up OK against those hard? copper jackets.
Seems like the 38/44s held up OK against those hard? copper jackets.
Seems like the 32/20s held up OK against those hard? copper jackets.

 

[alwslate]

Well now S&W did advise against the use of jacketed bullets in their
older revolvers, even the 38/44 HD. As for worn out barrels I don't
know about that. I just prefer using lead bullets in my handloads, the
cheap ones without gas checks. Read this info from S&W on the top
half of the box for my 1956 HD.

 

[jupiter1]

I wish somebody would post one of those barrels worn out by jacketed bullets.

Personally, I would be more concerned about cracking a forcing cone on guns from that era.