Think I need a .38 Special. - Page 2

amd6547 · December 14, 2014, 01:05 PM

Keep fighting the good battle, SaxonPig.
38 Special is being loaded down to irrelevancy, due to fears about the many cheap 38's imported over the years, not due to the fine Smith &Wesson golden age revolvers.
I have no worries shooting any factory load in my 1957 "Pre-model 10", a gun which has no model number stamped on it, but probably should.
As I've said, even the latest version of the Remington SWCHP +P load is down 100fps.

SaxonPig · December 14, 2014, 01:25 PM

Got this at show in 1999 for $185 OTD.

Most recent 38 acquisition is this 1924 Army Special stamped St. Louis PD on butt. Sucker for a 5" barrel and police marked revolvers. Left it on the table at $375 but next show it was $275 and I took it home. Still a little high given the finish but it works fine.

Long as we're talking Colts...

ThomasT · December 14, 2014, 01:41 PM

Quote:

It happens to be the "current deciding factor" as Smith & Wesson is still the current source for this information. Not a well-intentioned gentleman with a burr under his saddle, one who might be reminded that YES, not only has he taken his firm soapbox stance "10,000 times" but typically, every 12th time or so he assures us (falsely) that he "gives up" and won't continue to beat his chest over it... and yet...

I agree with SaxonPig 100%. The original 38 special loads were just as good if not better than the current +P loads. My Speer #14 manuel has 38 Special loads getting over 950fps with a 158gr lead bullet from a 6" barrel and those are not rated +P. The only current factory load that comes close to that I know of is the Sellier & Bellot 158gr round nose load rated for 950fps and it is NOT a P load.

And 38 Special is my favorite handgun cartridge. Not the biggest or the smallest but just right for the average person with lots of load choices and works just fine with lead bullets for reloading.

Colt46 · December 14, 2014, 01:46 PM

There is no better combat revolver than the Model 15.
Makes for a great range gun too.

My buddy has one that I'm trying to pry outta his hands. Not been working out so good.
So far.......

SIGSHR · December 14, 2014, 06:00 PM

One the guns I will get "someday" is a pre-war 5 screw M&P, I am a fan of the old Saturday Afternoon serials, that seems to be the most common handgun used. A pre-war Colt Official Police would be nice. And a Colt Officer's Model Match.
38 Special downloaded to irrelevancy ? Hits with Minor Calibers hurt a lot worse than Misses with Majors.

KyJim · December 14, 2014, 06:29 PM

SaxonPig says:

Quote:

There is absolutely no difference in metal or design between the last S&W made without a model and the first one made with a model number so why is that the deciding factor? The +P ammo wasn't offered until 1973 so how did they know in 1957 to change the guns? Factory +P is not loaded to dangerous pressures so if it says 38 Special on the barrel it's OK with +P* (for the 10,000th time).

And Smith and Wesson disagrees. Maybe it's lawyer talk and maybe it's not. I have seen nothing conclusive either way. I prefer to be conservative and so advise those interested. Of course, I'm NOT saying the gun would blow up or be unsafe, just that it may be stressed more.

From page 11 of their owner's manual at http://www.smith-wesson.com/wcsstore..._10-01-14.pdf:

Quote:

This ammunition [+P] should not be used in Smith & Wesson medium (K frame) revolvers manufactured prior to 1958. Such pre-1958 medium (K-frame) revolvers can be identified by the absence of a model number stamped inside the yoke cut of the frame (i.e., the area of the frame exposed when the cylinder is in the open position).

I think I said 1957, but it was 1958. I stand corrected.

tallball · December 15, 2014, 12:05 AM

EVERYONE should have a 38 special! It is probably my favourite caliber. I too decided that I would finally get a S&W K frame. But I only had about $200 to spare. So I haunted Gunbroker for a couple of.months and eventually got a "pre model 10" for $140-something. According to the serial number it is from 1937. It is a great shooter and I couldn't be happier with it.

A pause for the COZ · December 23, 2014, 07:45 PM

Yes you do... I have a Smith Model 19 that I shoot mostly 38's from. But at the Moment I and sniffing around a Smith Model 14-3 Target Master piece.
shhhhhhh dont tell the wife...

jetinteriorguy · December 23, 2014, 09:38 PM

Get that S&W model 14-3, I just got mine a couple months ago and it will never leave my possession. You'll never regret it.

Andy Blozinski · December 24, 2014, 12:10 AM

Get crazy and try a Rhino:
[IMG]

[/IMG]

December 14, 2014, 01:05 PM	#26
amd6547 Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2006 Posts: 2,313	Keep fighting the good battle, SaxonPig. 38 Special is being loaded down to irrelevancy, due to fears about the many cheap 38's imported over the years, not due to the fine Smith &Wesson golden age revolvers. I have no worries shooting any factory load in my 1957 "Pre-model 10", a gun which has no model number stamped on it, but probably should. As I've said, even the latest version of the Remington SWCHP +P load is down 100fps. __________________ The past is gone...the future may never happen. Be Here Now.

December 14, 2014, 01:46 PM	#29
Colt46 Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2002 Location: Campbell Ca Posts: 1,090	Go for perfection There is no better combat revolver than the Model 15. Makes for a great range gun too. My buddy has one that I'm trying to pry outta his hands. Not been working out so good. So far.......

December 24, 2014, 12:10 AM	#35
Andy Blozinski Senior Member Join Date: August 31, 2013 Posts: 525	Get crazy and try a Rhino: [IMG][/IMG] Last edited by Andy Blozinski; December 24, 2014 at 12:26 AM.

December 14, 2014, 01:25 PM	#27
SaxonPig Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2006 Posts: 1,900	Got this at show in 1999 for $185 OTD. Most recent 38 acquisition is this 1924 Army Special stamped St. Louis PD on butt. Sucker for a 5" barrel and police marked revolvers. Left it on the table at $375 but next show it was $275 and I took it home. Still a little high given the finish but it works fine. Long as we're talking Colts...

December 14, 2014, 06:00 PM	#30
SIGSHR Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2005 Posts: 4,700	One the guns I will get "someday" is a pre-war 5 screw M&P, I am a fan of the old Saturday Afternoon serials, that seems to be the most common handgun used. A pre-war Colt Official Police would be nice. And a Colt Officer's Model Match. 38 Special downloaded to irrelevancy ? Hits with Minor Calibers hurt a lot worse than Misses with Majors.

December 15, 2014, 12:05 AM	#32
tallball Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2014 Posts: 2,444	EVERYONE should have a 38 special! It is probably my favourite caliber. I too decided that I would finally get a S&W K frame. But I only had about $200 to spare. So I haunted Gunbroker for a couple of.months and eventually got a "pre model 10" for $140-something. According to the serial number it is from 1937. It is a great shooter and I couldn't be happier with it.

December 23, 2014, 07:45 PM	#33
A pause for the COZ Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 2012 Location: Braham, Minnesota Posts: 1,314	Yes you do... I have a Smith Model 19 that I shoot mostly 38's from. But at the Moment I and sniffing around a Smith Model 14-3 Target Master piece. shhhhhhh dont tell the wife...

December 23, 2014, 09:38 PM	#34
jetinteriorguy Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2013 Posts: 3,176	Get that S&W model 14-3, I just got mine a couple months ago and it will never leave my possession. You'll never regret it.