Differance between 38 special & 38 CTG.

DBski · October 26, 2005, 09:11 PM

What is the differance between the 38 s&w ctg. and the 38 special? Are they interchangable? Can the 38 special be fired in 38 ctg revolver?

sleeping dog · October 26, 2005, 09:25 PM

.38 ctg? .38 s&w ctg?

If you're asking about the .38 S&W, it's not interchangeable with .38 Special. .38 special is too long to fit in a .38 S&W gun. .38 S&W case is too fat to fit in a .38 Special gun. The projectile is also fatter than .357.

Editing: Oh, yeah, if you could fit a .38 special round in a .38S&W gun, don't pull the trigger. The .38 Special round is too powerful for the .38 S&W gun.

Regards.

DBski · October 26, 2005, 09:27 PM

Thank You for the info.

ISP2605 · October 26, 2005, 09:48 PM

L: .38 Spl (W-W 158 gr LSWCHP+P)
R: .38 S&W (W-W 146 gr LRN)

The .38 Spl diameter is .357-.358.
The .38 S&W diameter is .360.
Not a lot of difference in the diameter but a difference. The .38 S&W case is a bit larger near the rim. Not much but a little. A .38 S&W might fit in some .38 Spl revolvers but it depends on the tolerances of the individual gun. Just trying them in what I have close at hand I found .38 S&W would easily chamber in my 2.5" Model 19 and 6" Model 28 but would not chamber in my 4" Model 66.
As Sleeping Dog wrote it's not a good idea to fire .38 S&W in .38 Spl guns even if they'll fit. Definitely don't fire .38 Spl ammo in .38 S&W guns.

October 26, 2005, 09:11 PM	#1
DBski Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2005 Location: Canton Mi Posts: 372	Differance between 38 special & 38 CTG. What is the differance between the 38 s&w ctg. and the 38 special? Are they interchangable? Can the 38 special be fired in 38 ctg revolver?

October 26, 2005, 09:25 PM	#2
sleeping dog Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2000 Location: MI Posts: 536	.38 ctg? .38 s&w ctg? If you're asking about the .38 S&W, it's not interchangeable with .38 Special. .38 special is too long to fit in a .38 S&W gun. .38 S&W case is too fat to fit in a .38 Special gun. The projectile is also fatter than .357. Editing: Oh, yeah, if you could fit a .38 special round in a .38S&W gun, don't pull the trigger. The .38 Special round is too powerful for the .38 S&W gun. Regards.

October 26, 2005, 09:27 PM	#3
DBski Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2005 Location: Canton Mi Posts: 372	Thank You for the info.

October 26, 2005, 09:48 PM	#4
ISP2605 Junior member Join Date: November 25, 2002 Posts: 954	L: .38 Spl (W-W 158 gr LSWCHP+P) R: .38 S&W (W-W 146 gr LRN) The .38 Spl diameter is .357-.358. The .38 S&W diameter is .360. Not a lot of difference in the diameter but a difference. The .38 S&W case is a bit larger near the rim. Not much but a little. A .38 S&W might fit in some .38 Spl revolvers but it depends on the tolerances of the individual gun. Just trying them in what I have close at hand I found .38 S&W would easily chamber in my 2.5" Model 19 and 6" Model 28 but would not chamber in my 4" Model 66. As Sleeping Dog wrote it's not a good idea to fire .38 S&W in .38 Spl guns even if they'll fit. Definitely don't fire .38 Spl ammo in .38 S&W guns.