Looking for “.38 s&w special” ammo. Not 38 special.
- Thread starter Dgwiniger
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SnidelyWhiplash
Member
Are you talking .38 S&W Special or .38 S&W? They are different calibers.
The appropriate.38 Special for the time period would be 158 grain lead round nose. For .38 S&W it would be 148 grain lead round nose.
The appropriate.38 Special for the time period would be 158 grain lead round nose. For .38 S&W it would be 148 grain lead round nose.
Classic29
Member
What kind of ammo did you buy? Stick with standard velocity loads and don’t buy the +P stuff. SGAmmo has lots in stock. For your revolver I’d stick with standard 158gr round nose lead bullet rounds or 148gr midrange wadcutter ammo. All the manufacturers make these.
Good luck!
Good luck!
You title might be a little misleading.
There are six "38" types of ammo and one needs to not gather the names together,
which might cofused people.
There is the :
short colt
S&W
AMU
Super
Long Colt and
Special
all .38 caliber but all with a different size case.
There are six "38" types of ammo and one needs to not gather the names together,
which might cofused people.
There is the :
short colt
S&W
AMU
Super
Long Colt and
Special
all .38 caliber but all with a different size case.
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A photo of the ammo box you bought would really help here.
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38 Special ammunition has gotten a little harder to buy than a few decades ago, but outfits like Target Sports, Lucky Gunner, etc. still have a halfway decent supply and many of the current configurations. Gun stores have really culled down their inventories on 38 special as the round has rapidly fallen from their once king of the hill position. The 9mm cartridge is now the king.
My suggestion would be to but what you need for the long run! Get yourself some self defense ammo and some target shooting loads as well. Might as well buy it while you can, I doubt the prices will drop but he availability might.
My suggestion would be to but what you need for the long run! Get yourself some self defense ammo and some target shooting loads as well. Might as well buy it while you can, I doubt the prices will drop but he availability might.
10 box = $200
New Republic Training and Range 38 Special Ammo 158 Gr FMJ FP - Ammo Deals
1 box = $45
Speer Gold Dot LE Duty 38 Special Ammo 125 Gr +P JHP - Ammo Deals
Another $30 for tax, ins, shipping.
Not the best prices but great service. Enjoy that classic shooter. Joe
New Republic Training and Range 38 Special Ammo 158 Gr FMJ FP - Ammo Deals
1 box = $45
Speer Gold Dot LE Duty 38 Special Ammo 125 Gr +P JHP - Ammo Deals
Another $30 for tax, ins, shipping.
Not the best prices but great service. Enjoy that classic shooter. Joe
Might wan to add the nominal calibre as 38S&W is 0.361 versus 38 Special at 0.357 Dave_n
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SGT ROCK 11B
Member
I was careful to post it correctly and took it right off the barrel.
Here is a pic.
.38 S&W Special ctg (cartridge)
The struggle I have is that the appreciated responses thus far would likely have me buying the wrong ammo all over again. Just being honest. Sorry.
I thought I bought exactly that but it turned out to be 38 special ammo which of course doesn’t fit.
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Dave, this is what you need.
No sir. Won’t fit.
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.38 Special is .38 S & W Special, the factory developed the cartridge so they put their name on it.
Unless the gun has been altered or parts swapped, any .38 Special ammo should fit in your .38 Military & Police revolver. How do the ones you bought "not fit" - won't seat fully, won't insert at all, rattle in the chambers? Are the cylinder charge holes clean?
Again, please post a photo of the ammo you bought, the box and a round with a ruler near it?
Unless the gun has been altered or parts swapped, any .38 Special ammo should fit in your .38 Military & Police revolver. How do the ones you bought "not fit" - won't seat fully, won't insert at all, rattle in the chambers? Are the cylinder charge holes clean?
Again, please post a photo of the ammo you bought, the box and a round with a ruler near it?
Pisgah
Member
If .38 Special won't fit your revolver, then either the barrel or the cylinder has been changed. Or, just possibly, the chambers of the cylinder are really crudded-up or corroded.
Are you SURE what you bought is labelled .38 Special? Or just .38 S&W? And how does it not fit? Won't go in the chamber at all? Or, goes in but not all the way?
Are you SURE what you bought is labelled .38 Special? Or just .38 S&W? And how does it not fit? Won't go in the chamber at all? Or, goes in but not all the way?
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AJ
US Veteran
Take it to a gun shop and have them figure out what you need.
shawn mccarver
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I am trying to help, so please do not assume I am talking down to you as it is not my intention to do so, but 38 Special is the same as 38 S&W Special. Those two are absolutely interchangeable.
38 S&W, on the other hand, is not the same as 38 S&W Special and 38 Special.
The picture you posted appears to be a “standard barrel” as opposed to a heavy barrel used on the Pre-Model 10 or Model 10, also known as the Military and Police.
As others have said, the caliber marking on your barrel signifies your revolver can shoot 38 Special or 38 S&W Special, as those are interchangeable. If 38 Special will not fit in the charge holes of your clean cylinder, then it is possible an incorrect barrel was installed on your revolver chambered in 38 S&W, which is not the same as 38 Special.
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Miracle Man
US Veteran
I'm curious as well about what exactly you mean by "won't fit" ? Will they not go in the cylinder at all ? Too long ?
What exactly is wrong ?
A photo of the back of the cylinder might help. Also, let us know if the serial number on the back of the cylinder, bottom of the grip frame and bottom of the barrel match. there is a remote possibility the cylinder was sleeved to 32 S&W long, Highly unlikely but stranger things have happened.
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
Much confusion over the years about cartridge designations. Prior to the 1950s most major firearms companies (Colt, S&W, Savage, others) manufactured guns primarily for their own proprietary cartridges. Those who offered guns chambered for a popular cartridge developed by another company were reluctant to allow the competitor's name to be displayed on their firearms.
.38 S&W Special is one example. Developed by Smith & Wesson as a military and police cartridge having greater power and powder capacity than earlier .38 caliber cartridges (.38 S&W, .38 Long Colt, etc). For some reason (probably potential military contracts) the development consisted of a lengthened .38 Colt Long case, which was then the standard US military handgun cartridge.
Colt and other makers quickly jumped on board with revolvers chambered for the new cartridge, but adopted the simplified moniker of .38 Special so as not to offer a nod to Smith & Wesson.
If the OP's revolver won't accept SAAMI-spec .38 Special ammunition the most likely reason is chambers in serious need of cleaning and removal of accumulated carbon and leading deposits. Another possibility would be damaged chambers, such as rust or pitting from poor maintenance.
More remote possibilities might include a revolver with a non-standard cylinder installed (.38 S&W cylinder from another M&P or Victory Model in that chambering), or defective ammunition (such as reloads with improperly sized cases, seriously oversized bullets, deformed case mouths from improper crimping), or perhaps a damaged extractor star installed.
I would start with a thorough cleaning and inspection of the chambers. I have found several older revolvers that had never been properly cleaned, but responded nicely to simple bronze bore brush, good penetrating solvent, and normal maintenance procedures.
Beyond that, an experienced gunsmith is likely to identify any mechanical problems with a few minutes of inspection.
.38 S&W Special is one example. Developed by Smith & Wesson as a military and police cartridge having greater power and powder capacity than earlier .38 caliber cartridges (.38 S&W, .38 Long Colt, etc). For some reason (probably potential military contracts) the development consisted of a lengthened .38 Colt Long case, which was then the standard US military handgun cartridge.
Colt and other makers quickly jumped on board with revolvers chambered for the new cartridge, but adopted the simplified moniker of .38 Special so as not to offer a nod to Smith & Wesson.
If the OP's revolver won't accept SAAMI-spec .38 Special ammunition the most likely reason is chambers in serious need of cleaning and removal of accumulated carbon and leading deposits. Another possibility would be damaged chambers, such as rust or pitting from poor maintenance.
More remote possibilities might include a revolver with a non-standard cylinder installed (.38 S&W cylinder from another M&P or Victory Model in that chambering), or defective ammunition (such as reloads with improperly sized cases, seriously oversized bullets, deformed case mouths from improper crimping), or perhaps a damaged extractor star installed.
I would start with a thorough cleaning and inspection of the chambers. I have found several older revolvers that had never been properly cleaned, but responded nicely to simple bronze bore brush, good penetrating solvent, and normal maintenance procedures.
Beyond that, an experienced gunsmith is likely to identify any mechanical problems with a few minutes of inspection.
