38 s&w info please

[kimporter]

i just got a victory md off gb,its one of the 5"bbl aussie imports and i may reload at some point,but i was wondering what dia and weight bullet was this designed for?

 

[DCWilson]

The guns provided for Commonwealth countries in WWII fired the .38/200 round. The projectile was a 200 gr lead slug. Barrel diameter, at .361, was slightly larger than the standard for .38 Special (.357).

 

[Art Doc]

I use lead bullets sized .358 in my 38 S&W revolvers and they seem to work OK. If you can buy bullets sized .361 then great. If not, those made for the 38 Special seem to work fine. May not deliver match grade accuracy but then, these are not match grade guns, are they?

 

[kimporter]

thanks for the replys

 

[w10085]

I have two of them. My 5" barrel one shoots .358 SWC's fine. I have only shotthe 6" barrel one once and it keyholed .358 RN's. Bores are good on both of them and they are about 50,000 serial number difference. Not much research here but I'll say it just depends. I'm going to order some 146 gr. .361 bullets from Missouri Bullet and try them. I don't think there is a cost difference between .358 and .361 so I'll stock up on both.

 

[needsmostuff]

First off,I have never slugged a Smith 38S&W barrel and I'm only guesstimating. Mine seems to shoot .358s fine. With what we know about wartime expepiency I question whether the lend lease guns got a special bore or the normal M&P 38 spl. dia. barrel and a 38 S&W cylinder .
Maybe a Jinks question.

 

[Ballarat]

I have seen a number of these revolvers Australian martially marked that shoot the 357/358 lead projectiles without problems and with good accuracy, mostly using 158g projectiles. I own a Colt OP in 38-200 1942 vintage and also shoots 357/358 projectiles very accurately and of the 158g weight. This particular OP shoots to the sights at 15 yards.