.38 short in a .38 long

[Drink2full]

Does anyone know if you can shoot .38 short in a .38 long revolver? I just picked up a spain eibar in pretty good shape but finding.38 long ammo is like finding sasquatch.

 

[DWalt]

Does anyone know if you can shoot .38 short in a .38 long revolver? I just picked up a spain eibar in pretty good shape but finding.38 long ammo is like finding sasquatch.

If the gun is Spanish, it can use either .38 Long Colt or .38 Short Colt. .38 Short Colt ammunition is still made by Remington, or was the last time I checked. Black Hills was making .38 Long Colt. Both cases are basically identical to the .38 Special case, except shorter. You can trim .38 Special cases shorter. .38 SC has a case which is 0.765" long, .38 LC has a case which is 1.03" long. That's if you reload.

 

[Tex1001]

This is a Spanish S&A revolver I inherited, chambered in 38 long. In my high school years I shot it with 38 specials. Later I found out that it will chamber 357 magnums. It has been retired for decades.
It shouldn't be fired with anything other than mild loads. It has a long, unsupported forcing cone.