British 380 Mk II (38/200) vs US 38 Special ball ammo

[Walter Rego]

Forgive me for posting this photo of a WWII Australian issue Colt Official Police chambered in .38-200 but I don't have a photo of my Australian marked Victory Model in .38 S&W available. The ammo pictured is the FN manufactured 178 gr. FMJ. I have not fired this specimen yet, but the same ammo shoots very accurately out of the S&W. I think I would have looked for a Browning P35 or Inglis equivalent had I been issued this revolver. It does seem underpowered for the size & weight of the arm.

 

[coloradosherpa]

I wouldn't want you shooting it at me

 

[LouisianaMan]

Walter,
Beautiful pistol & beautiful piece of history!

I had a 6" O.P. in .38 Special and was also impressed that it was dramatically overbuilt for the cartridge it used. I think S&W's Victory Models were far better balanced, easier to carry, used less raw materials, and were generally more suitable as a military arm than the O.P. must have been. No offense to Colt, which made great revolvers.

On the plus side, I've noticed that my .38 S&W Victory spits out 200g bullets with so little bang, boom, and muzzle flash that my follow-up shots are unbelievably fast, comfortable, and accurate. I presume your O.P. would be practically recoilless in this caliber

 

[lebomm]

Re: posts by mbnatt & LoboGunLeather:
Lobo's post, while accurate & informative, didn't exactly address mbnatt's question regarding .38 Colt and .38 S&W. It is correct that the .38 Long Colt was our U.S. Service cartridge for several years, and that the .38 Smith & Wesson Special was based on it, but with a longer case. The .38 Colt New Police, however, IS identical to the .38 S&W, including the larger diameter case and same bullet weight, albeit with a flat point. Both the Short Colt and Long Colt can be fired without difficulty in any revolver chambered to .38 Special, but both the .38 S&W and Colt NP are parallels of the .380 MkII (and Mk I as well, I surmise), and will seldom chamber in a .38 Spl.
Hope this helps.

Larry

 

[LOBO]

Here is some Canadian, made in Sept 1943, MKIIz ammo. This is the only box I have, so I haven't shot any of it.

 

[.455_Hunter]

I have an 1939 Enfield No. 1 Mk. II* DAO in excellent arsenal refinished condition with a 5" barrel. Recent (90's-00's) production Fiocchi .380 MkII with the 178 gr FMJ bullet averaged 642 fps velocity for 163 ft-lbs energy. For what its worth, it easily penetrated four gallon water jugs, plus a significant distance into a rag-filled cardboard collection box. The bullet could be loaded and fired again without issue. I occasionally carry my Enfield for defensive use, and don't feel poorly armed...