Newbie Question - 38 S&W vs 38 Special

[Col Defender]

I should know this but don't. Are .38 S&W and .38 Special actually the same cartridge? If I were to get an older S&W revolver chambered for .38 S&W, could I fire standard velocity .38 Special through it?

Thanks

Steve

 

[Col Defender]

I should know this but don't. Are .38 S&W and .38 Special actually the same cartridge? If I were to get an older S&W revolver chambered for .38 S&W, could I fire standard velocity .38 Special through it?

Thanks

Steve

 

[AJMBLAZER]

http://smith-wessonforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/695107034/m/8311074043

 

[rayb]

They are not the same.

I wouldn't fire 38 special in 38 S&W because the case diameters are different, and the 38 special is also longer. 38 special may split when fired in the larger diameter 38S&W cylinder.

38 special cases cut down to 38 S&W length may also split.

Ammunition and brass for the 38 S&W is available. use it.

rayb

 

[Alk8944]

Col Defender,

As stated, they are different cartridges. There are WWII period S&W Victory Models which were originally .38 S&W that were re-chambered to .38 Special. The job was usually very poor with those I have seen actually looking so bad as to seem a drill was used!

Assuming a good quality gun in good/unmodified condition there usually isn't an issue with this as the .38 S&W is too large in diameter to chamber in a .38 Special, and the .38 Special will not chamber in a .38 S&W due to the 1/4" or so longer case.

There is another situation which should be mentioned though. This is older guns that have charge holes bored straight through such as Forehand & Wadsworth, Allen & Wheelock, and many other guns made anywhere from the 1880s to the 1920s or so. These will frequently accept a .38 Special because there isn't a reduced front section to the charge hole that prevents this. This also applies to the Colt 1889, 1892...1896 etc. chambered for .38 Long Colt. None of these should be fired with .38 Special for safety reasons.

 

[robertrwalsh]

The .38 S&W nominally is .361 wide and the case has a distinct taper to it. I have fired .358 diameter lead bullets with good results and even .357 diameter lead bullets in guns chambered for .38 S&W with fair results. The .38 s&w is a fun plinker but really is a submarginal defense round. I have three of them, a Colt, a S&W and a Webley.