Looking for “.38 s&w special” ammo. Not 38 special.
- Thread starter Dgwiniger
- Start date
You Betcha.
Some "Gamers" shoot the 38 Short Colt case that is only .765" in length
vs the 38 special case at 1.155", since they load and eject faster,
being just a shortened down 38 specil case.
Since the SC was designed for only 13,000 PSI for the original revolvers,
one needs to not put any high pressure loads, where they might find a old revolver or top break.
The 38 S&W case is only .775" in length but it is rated for
14,500 PSI, with it's .361 Dia. lead bullet, which was not designed to be used in a 38 special, revolver.
vs the 38 special case at 1.155", since they load and eject faster,
being just a shortened down 38 specil case.
Since the SC was designed for only 13,000 PSI for the original revolvers,
one needs to not put any high pressure loads, where they might find a old revolver or top break.
The 38 S&W case is only .775" in length but it is rated for
14,500 PSI, with it's .361 Dia. lead bullet, which was not designed to be used in a 38 special, revolver.
LVSteve
Member
AJ
US Veteran
Oh, let's go for Siamese 8mm Mauser rifle ammo to really muddy the waters.
I can remember when they use to make those into .45-70's.
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Looks like in trying to make sure that consumers got the correct ammo, Fiocchi made it more confusing, OR that's what they call it in other countries. Notice on the attached that the Specs list it simply as .38 S&W.
Attachments
THE PILGRIM
Member
Back when, a lady from a large Country Family moved to a big city and a married an Urban Dude.
They come to the country for Christmas and the Slicker is invited to join them on a Quail Hunt.
His Wife tells him it would be appropriate for him to buy some shells.
So at a local Country Store he asks for Shotgun Shells.
They have 12, 16, and 20s. Which one do you need?
Not being sure which ones they use, he bought a box of all three!
They come to the country for Christmas and the Slicker is invited to join them on a Quail Hunt.
His Wife tells him it would be appropriate for him to buy some shells.
So at a local Country Store he asks for Shotgun Shells.
They have 12, 16, and 20s. Which one do you need?
Not being sure which ones they use, he bought a box of all three!
scattershot
Member
Bottomline, forget the S&W, just buy a box of .38 Special ammo, and go shooting.
SGT ROCK 11B
Member
The 45 Cowboy Special is for the gamers in SASS. Its a 45 ACP case with a 45 Colt case head. Great light plinking lot.
DWalt
Member
How about the 8mm Kropatschek? I sold one of those rifles plus several hundred rounds of ammo a couple of months ago.Oh, let's go for Siamese 8mm Mauser rifle ammo to really muddy the waters.
DWalt
Member
The .38 Short Colt is basically a shortened .38 Special. And it is popular among ICORE shooters because of its easier and faster ejection from .38 Special revolvers, owing to its short case. It can be fired safely in .38 S&W revolvers, even though it is a sloppy fit in their chambers. One of my favorite calibers.
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Sistema1927
US Veteran
Hopefully the OP has purchased some ".38 Special" or ".38 S&W Special" ammo and now realizes that the ".38 S&W Short" (what Fiocci is calling their ".38 S&W" ammo) is not correct for his revolver.
What is interesting is that you have to really search hard to find some ".38 S&W" while ".38 Special/.38 S&W Special" should be found in quantity on the shelves of just about every gun store or ammo retailer in the nation.
What is interesting is that you have to really search hard to find some ".38 S&W" while ".38 Special/.38 S&W Special" should be found in quantity on the shelves of just about every gun store or ammo retailer in the nation.
StrawHat
Member
That cartridge gave sufficient room to load black powder to produce enough smoke to satisfy the shooters.
But, it is still a 45 ACP case and can be loaded as such. I have used them in my ACP revolvers ( headspace on the mouth) and in the 45 long Colt revolvers when I used them.
I may still have some.
Kevin
scooter123
Member
There is a bit of reasoning in this confusion. The 38 S&W uses a larger diameter and shorter case than the 38 Special (or 38 S&W Special). Fiochi ammunition is made in Italy where descriptions can be a bit different than what we see in the USA. In this case Fiochi decided to be a bit more descriptive with their ammunition and added the word SHORT to the correct terminology of 38 S&W. The end result is an identification of 38S&W SHORT, which is actually rather logical because the 38 S&W is shorter and fatter than the 38 Special.
Which is incorrect for a 38 Special Revolver. Note, the 38 S&W Special naming convention is now obsolete. Back when Smith & Wesson actually made ammunition it was probably used by S&W but no manufacturer today will use that naming. All you will find is 38 Special and that is a direct and exact duplicate of the 38 S&W Special. BTW CTG is an abbreviation for Cartridge.
It was called S&W Special because S&W developed the cartridge and they got to name it.
No different that the .45 ACP. Colt came out with it, they got to put their name on the cartridge. And the .45 Colt (sometimes called Long Colt). They developed it, they get to name it.
And the .45 GAP. Glock came up with the round, they stuck their name on it.
And the .40 which is named .40 S&W because S&W developed the round.
