Is it safe to shoot?

FerFAL

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I'm thinking about buying this gun (less than 100 USD, is hte price right?) but wanted to check with you guys first.
Is it safe to shoot with Magtech 38 S&W?
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Not 1000 rounds, but a few rounds every now and then, say a box a year or so.
Looks like a 3rd model, is my asumption correct?
Anytihng you can tell me about this gun will certianly be appreciated. Mostly I wanted to know if its safe to shoot a little or if it's strictly collectable.
Thanks guys.

FerFAL
 
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It's either a 3rd or 4th Model. Depends on the serial number as the differences are internal.
(Serial number 322,700 is the change point between the two models.)
Looks to be in really nice shape and I wouldn't be hesitant to shoot it on occasion with any standard velocity .38 S&W ammo.
By the way "less than 100 USD" is a steal. You should be ashamed of yourself.
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Thanks! So its a fair price then.
What's the worst thing that could happen when shooting this little gun? Gun braking some mechanic parts, cylinder exploding? OR would it just loosing up little by little?

FerFAL
 
As long as you stick to mild or standard loads you shouldn't have any problems. However, I'm not familiar with the Magtech loads, so you might do a little research in that area. If you have access to any of the Cowboy Action Shooting stuff, that's the way I would go.
As for your question on what's the worse could happen..... Well, the worse would be a "blow-up", but the chances of that are pretty slim. (As long as you use low power ammo). It would take a lot of shooting to loosen it up and, of course, there's is always some chance of a spring breaking or other internal damage.
 
Thanks Thuer! That's just what I was trying to warn about. How about Fiocchi? I've heard that some of their loads are a little hot also.

FerFAL, where are you located? Can you order from one of the companies that sell loads for CAS?
Or, if you can reload you will always be safe with a casefull of black powder. (It's just dirty.)
 
I definitely would not shoot anything but cast loads in it, if it were me. You might try PMC or Black Hills 38 cowboy loads or plain cast target loads.
 
Originally posted by deadin:
Thanks Thuer! That's just what I was trying to warn about. How about Fiocchi? I've heard that some of their loads are a little hot also.

FerFAL, where are you located? Can you order from one of the companies that sell loads for CAS?
Or, if you can reload you will always be safe with a casefull of black powder. (It's just dirty.)


Man, that's bad news. I'm in Argentina, and ammo isn't as widel available as in USA. Magtech is my only option, FM also makes 38 S&W, but I bet it's at least as hot as Magtech.

FErFAL
 
Take a look at the ballistics of standard 38 ammo and the ballistics for MagTech 38 ammo. If they are the same, then MagTech 38 would be completely safe. Modern, smokeless powder loads, provided they are standard loads that shoot a 158 grain bullet at 755 fps, or thereabouts. There is no need to shoot black powder in your revolver, standard smokeless loads are just fine.
 
146 grains at 686 fps is a very mild load. I would not hesitate to use it in a S&W top break. Keep in mind that the same revolver was also chambered in 44 Russian, which sent a 246 grain bullet out the barrel at 750 fps and with corresponding thinner chamber walls. I currently shoot a 256 grain bullet at 750 fps in my S&W Old, old model 44 Russian made in 1873. The 38 Special in standard loads will put much less strain on the DA model.
 
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