38 S&W loads and cases

[Journey]

I just got a Mod 33-1 and hadn't thought of reloading for it, but I had some response on the 1961-1980 forum to my find listing. Figured I had best go here to discuss my thoughts. Some people get sort of irate if you don't post under the right heading. I found that the ammo is available at a fair price if you shop, but I got to thinking. I put a 38 spl round into the cylinder and it fit good except for length. I looked up the cartridge specs for the 38 spl and then the 38 S&W data. Couldn't find the 38 S&W data till I looked in a SPEER #9, 1967 manual. The 38spl case length is1.155" and the 38 S&W is .775". Since I have been wildcatting brass for years, I thought that my bin of 38 spl brass might be usable. I have all the other components and 38 S&W brass is not cheap. I still have my rig for converting .223 to 300 whisper. Seems like it should be just a chop and length size and use my 38 spl dies to load, Any comments out there. Might be a money saver for limited supply brass.

 

[Outpost75]

Starline has .38 S&W brass. PPU, Magtech and Fiocchi factory ammo is common, affordable and the brass reloads well.

A set of Lee dies is affordable.

It is not worth the effort to cut down free range pickup .38 Special brass to make .38 S&W. Get the correct brass and dies and you will be happier. Buy the wadcutter bullets to load.

 

[sjmjax]

I like shooting and reloading what are somewhat oddball cartridges.

I've experimented with .38 S&W using mostly ordinary 158g LSWC bullets and either Bullseye or Unique.

Notes indicate that my best results accuracy wise was with Unique at around 3.0g.

Some of the worst accuracy results oddly enough were with some 200 grain .360 diameter bullets.

In one test I found that my Colt PP really liked 147g lead flat point 9mm bullets over 2.7 Bullseye.

 

[gwpercle]

Many 38 S&W revolvers were reamed longer to accept 38 special cases / ammo ... the only fly in the ointment is the dia. of the 38 S&W case is larger than the dia. of the 38 special ... and the 38 special will bulge and sometimes split the case open on firing .
My advice is to reload 38 S&W cases with 38 S&W load data and try to ignore the 38 Special ream job ..
38 S&W cases from Starline , Speer Loading data and stay away from 38 Spcl +P loads and ammo .
A proper set of 38 S&W reloading dies will make life easier ... but you can try the cheap way ... I never had much lucl loading 38 S&W with 38 special reloading dies !
Gary

 

[DWalt]

Indeed you can shorten .38 Special cases to .38 S&W length and they will work OK. If you want to expend that much effort. You can make a little jig and use a Dremel tool with an abrasive cutoff disc. Pretty easy to do. I don't believe it is that difficult to find .38 S&W brass to reload, and that would be better. Personally, I reload .38 S&W using a .38 Super sizing die and 9mm neck expanding and seating dies Works fine. You can use .38 Special bullets, those work OK also. You do not need 0.361" bullets, but I recommend using only lead bullets.

 

[Outpost75]

You can improvise with 9mm MAK or 9mm Luger dies, but they are less than ideal. My preferred and best found solution to date is the RCBS Cowboy dies for .38 S&W. I have several revolvers and an "American Rook Rifle" aka "Bunny Gun" in this caliber, so the extra expense was quite worth it to me.

 

[Treeman]

I have loaded 38 s&w in shortened 38 special cases....it will make usable ammo. However, such cases are undersized and, depending on the gun, MAY split upon firing. It is much better to obtain the proper cases. 9mm Makorov dies work well for loading 38 S&W.

 

[rwsmith]

The .38 S&W bullets are .361" in diameter as opposed to .358 for .38 Special. I'm surprised that the .38s fit into the S&W chamber. My experience is they don't. I agree with the above comments. Get some cases and a set of Lee dies for about $45 and reload away.

Note, Afterr I thought about it I realized that S&W cartridges won't fit in .38 Spec because they are bigger diameter, but Specials will go into an S&W chamber, but they are too small. To me that reinforces getting proper cases, bullets and dies for the .38 S&W.

 

[gwpercle]

In a pinch ... you can use 38 cal. Hollow Based Lead Wadcutter bullets (HBWC) designed for target shooting loads , to load in 38 S&W cases at moderate 38 S&W velocities ... The HBWC skirt will expand to fill the revolver's throats and barrel nicely ...
Don't drive them too fast ( 750 fps or so ) and don't seat the bullet flush ... seat it out to give normal powder capacity in the short case ... Light roll crimp to hold bullet .
This works very well and is usually the bullet I use when loading the 38 S&W !
Gary

 

[robertrwalsh]

I have had good luck with the lead HBWC in revolvers designed for the .38 S&W. I have also had reasonable luck with cup base SWC lead bullets designed for .38 special. As others have noted the bullet diameter is just enough different that .38 special bullets may not be ideal for the .38 S&W but will be usable.

 

[DWalt]

In a pinch ... you can use 38 cal. Hollow Based Lead Wadcutter bullets (HBWC) designed for target shooting loads , to load in 38 S&W cases at moderate 38 S&W velocities ... The HBWC skirt will expand to fill the revolver's throats and barrel nicely ...
Don't drive them too fast ( 750 fps or so ) and don't seat the bullet flush ... seat it out to give normal powder capacity in the short case ... Light roll crimp to hold bullet .
This works very well and is usually the bullet I use when loading the 38 S&W !
Gary

Any .358 lead bullets work just fine in .38 S&W. I have been using them for many years. SAAMI minimum diameter spec for .38 S&W is 0.355". Even 9mm lead bullets will be OK.