.38 Barrel on a .357

[SourwoodTom]

Hey guys,

I recently got a deal I couldn't pass up....a really nice M28 - 6.5" barrel, so I bought it.

Here's the deal, it has a barrel marked .38 S&W Special. I have no idea who/when it was replaced. I have another identical M28 and the barrels appear to be identical as well.....except for the marking. It appears to be a newer generation with a ramped front sight, unlike the more "blocky" looking sight on a M20 or M23.

Does anyone know whether there is a difference in an N-frame .38 and a .357 barrel?

thanks,
tom

 

[jrm53]

I dont think there would be any difference in the thread dia. or TPI on the barrel on any N frame. Jeff

 

[Big Cholla]

The only difference is the selection of roll markings. ......... Big Cholla

 

[Bullseye Smith]

Have you try any 357's in it yet? Because it could be a true 38, some LE's order them in 38 only - like LAPD.

 

[murphydog]

I don't think the model 28 had a 6.5" barrel from the factory - could it have a replacement model 23 barrel? Those came with the Patridge front, so that would have had to have been replaced too. Curious.

 

[tennexplorer]

Pictures would help, specifically closeups of the markings on the right side of the barrel, the front sight and base and the top of the barrel.

 

[SourwoodTom]

Thanks for the help, guys.

To answer some questions:

It chambers .357mag. Haven't had the opportunity to shoot it.


Yes, I know the threads are the same on .38 and .357. Forcing cone to cylinder distance seems correct.....I didn't put my feeler gauge in it, but it looks to be correct, same as all my other Smiths. I'm tempted to believe the reply that the two calibers' barrels are identical except for the roll marks.

I've taken a couple photos below.

 

[one eye joe]

I agree with Big Cholla----the only difference is the rollmark. You should have no problem shooting anything that will properly chamber....

 

[lebomm]

I'm with murphydog. Betcha it's a .38-44 Outdoorsman barrel. I think the long-bbl option for the HP was a 6".

 

[cp1969]

What .38 had a shrouded ejector rod?

 

[Bullseye Smith]

I agree with the rest, shoot till you can't any more .

 

[Camster]

Any factory date stamps on the grip frame?Gun appears to be refinished.

 

[SourwoodTom]

No date stamps. As far as I can tell, no refinishing. No marks from the barrel change either.....the kind you get when a novice tries a barrel change with his vice and a mallet. It looks like its always been there.


I'll shoot it tomorrow, time permitting, and let you guys know how it shoots. Since I only paid $200 for it, all it has to do is shoot straight.

 

[n4zov]

What .38 had a shrouded ejector rod?

Good question. It could be a factory mis-marked barrel (certainly not the first) or it could be a special order from a LE agency that only wanted officers to fire .38's even though the gun will chamber .357's. But then there is the fact that the barrel is 6.5 inches rather than 6 inches. Interesting gun.

 

[Timber251]

I've pick up several of those 6.5" N frame barrels that were old overruns for the md 23, rerifled one to a wildcat caliber. I believe the heat treating is different for .357 barrels and cylinders, (stronger), but I've never had any trouble on the one used and I've put some hot loads through it.
Timber

 

[2152hq]

There were alot of those M23 barrels around both finished and in the white. Some still needing polishing but roll marked.
M20 bbls also incl 6 1/2" length.
Numrich sold them for many years. I think they still have the M23 6 1/2" bbls in the white.
I bought a 6 1/2" 44Special Model 21(?) bbl from them a few years back,,also still in the white.
Must have been alot of that stuff around.

The front sight blade on the M23 bbl can be switched over to the ramp from the patridge style w/o any problem.

 

[DCWilson]

Is there a serial number stamped inside the ejector rod shroud? If so, does it match the serial number stamped on the butt and (maybe) on the back face of the cylinder?

I can't tell from the photos how early a Model 28 this might be (can't see whether the barrel is pinned, for example), but in any event I think it was given an upgraded refinish at some point. What I can see of the frame looks pretty shiny for a stock HP finish, so I bet it was given a post-production face lift.

A .357/44 Outdoorsman. Not too shabby.

 

[WR Moore]

I hate to throw a wet blanket on the party, but the OP should check with the factory on this. While the N frames are stout, the pressures of the .38 Special are <20,000 psi while the .357 cranks up 46,000 odd. Yeah, they used barrels like that developing the various magnums or their precursors, but they blew a whole lot of guns into scrap metal doing it.

 

[SourwoodTom]

I hate to throw a wet blanket on the party, but the OP should check with the factory on this. While the N frames are stout, the pressures of the .38 Special are <20,000 psi while the .357 cranks up 46,000 odd. Yeah, they used barrels like that developing the various magnums or their precursors, but they blew a whole lot of guns into scrap metal doing it.

The frame is marked M28, so I don't worry much about the frame/cylinder - they are as they should be. The .38 and .357mag projectiles are identical at .357" (I've been reloading both for over 20 years)

The outside dimensions of the barrel are identical to a .357mag, and of course, the inside is identical....therefore the wall thickness must be identical. From all my research, as well as several informed posts here on this forum, I'm convinced only the roll markings separate the two (and an extra 1/2 in or so in length).

By the way, it shoots great. I've got a little work to do smoothing up the trigger pull, but other than that I'm pleased with my new toy.