38 s&w
- Thread starter pssman308
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The 38 S&W rounds will not fire out of a pistol chambered for 38 Special. They will not fit in the cylinder.
Not all chambers were bored to the same tolerances. Some S&W revolvers that are chambered in 38 Special will chamber and fire 38 S&W. I had one 38 Special Victory in which half of the chambers would hold 38 S&W and half would not. My M37 will chamber and fire 38 S&W just fine and there is a chance your revolver will as well. While that may have made some sense when 38 S&W was cheaper than 38 Special it makes little sense today.
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
If it were my M36 I wouldn't shoot .38 S&W ammo in it. As a general rule you should never fire ammo that's not intended for your handgun in that handgun. It's just good sense!
Like said above, .38 S&W ammo costs more than .38 Special so either save it for when you buy a revolver chambered in .38 S&W or give it to someone who already has one.
Congrats on buying a M36, it's a great revolver. Do you know when it was made? Mine was made in 1975. Pictures???
Like said above, .38 S&W ammo costs more than .38 Special so either save it for when you buy a revolver chambered in .38 S&W or give it to someone who already has one.
Congrats on buying a M36, it's a great revolver. Do you know when it was made? Mine was made in 1975. Pictures???
cgt4570
Member
.38 S&W bullet diameter is .360. .38 Special is .357-.358. Yes, the .38 S&W is a fairly low powered round, and yes, the bullets are generally soft let, but pressure will increase quite a bit in a 'squeeze bore'.
fdnyretired
Member
What about my revolvers that say ".38 S&W Special Ctg" on the barrel? Is either one acceptable?
It was made in 76 and carried alot but I don't think it has had over a box of shells through it. it locks up like a vault.
