Smith & Wesson .38 Ammo Question

Felmanmac · October 7, 2010, 07:25 PM

I recently inherited what I had always thought was a Smith & Wesson .38 Special. It seemed to be in great shape and I thought I'd take it to the range an run a few rounds through it. However, when I went to load my 38 special rounds, they only went in half way. I have read about the 38 Smith and Wesson v the 38 Special rounds, but this handgun is not that old.
Please advise.
many thanks,

F-

DiscoRacing · October 7, 2010, 07:33 PM

Factory loads or reloads?? My smiths seem to have tight chambers...if the crimp is too deep...they will not chamber completely.

357 Python · October 7, 2010, 07:35 PM

If you could give a model number or a picture it would help. Remember that S&W did make revolvers for the British military during WWII and this could have been one of those. The British 38 S&W round is known as the 38/200.

Average Joe · October 7, 2010, 07:42 PM

There are different kinds of .38 S&W ammo, check on the barrel, it should be marked what caliber it is.

There is .38 special , .38 S&W, .38 short colt, and .38 long colt...

Tamara · October 7, 2010, 07:42 PM

Smith made .38 S&W caliber revolvers into the '60s and '70s.

The model number, assuming it's newer than 1957, will be stamped on the frame behind the part that swings out and holds the cylinder.

Felmanmac · October 7, 2010, 08:03 PM

Factory shells, not reloads. They all go in about half way and stop.

Felmanmac · October 7, 2010, 08:05 PM

Also, no stamping on the barrel.

MonsterB · October 7, 2010, 08:18 PM

Not to ask a silly question, but how dirty is it? Is there any lead buildup inb the cylendar? My gun gets a little sticky sometimes after a 150 rounds or so, sometimes, depending on amo....that lead is very hard to get off, and can make the rounds hard to chamber...Did you get any to work?

Jim Watson · October 7, 2010, 08:23 PM

It is a .38 S&W,which is an entirely different cartridge from .38 Special.
Show pictures and somebody will tell you what you have.

Dave85 · October 8, 2010, 01:00 AM

Smith & Wesson has also made revolvers in 9mm. There may be more, but the two I am aware of are the Models 940, a 5-shot J-frame, and the 547, a 6-shot K frame. The latter was basically a 9mm Model 10, with a different extractor.

Although the the 9mm bullet is slightly smaller than the .38 Special bullet, the 9mm cartridge is a tapered cartridge, and is wider at its base than the .38 special is at the mouth. This should allow partial insertion of a .38 Special cartridge similar to what the OP describes.

I'm sure it is most likely a .38 S&W, as more Smith & Wesson revolvers were made in that caliber than in 9mm, but it is a possibility nonetheless.

**Tom Servo** · October 8, 2010, 01:14 AM

If you can post the serial number, or at least the first four digits, that should help. It will be on the bottom of the grip frame.

BillCA · October 8, 2010, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Felmanmac

Also, no stamping on the barrel.

This is highly unusual for a Smith & Wesson revolver unless the barrel has been cut back to a short length. Typical barrel markings will say:

.38 S&W CTG
.38 S&W SPL CTG
.38 S&W SPECIAL CTG

Check the right side of the frame, below the cylinder and above/forward of the trigger. Does it say:
MADE IN U.S.A. ?

or the more verbose:

MADE IN U.S.A.
MARCAS REGISTRADAS
SMITH & WESSON
SPRINGFIELD, MASS.

Look on either side of the frame for the S&W Logo. Look carefully at the letters as some companies are clever in "impersonating" the style here.

FlyFish · October 8, 2010, 08:04 AM

Sounds like it's a .38 S&W. I have a Model 32 from 1972 in that caliber, so I took it out and tried chambering a .38 Special round, something I'd never done before. It drops in easily and stops with a hard "click" with exactly 3/8" of the case remaining out of the chamber.

October 7, 2010, 07:25 PM	#1
Felmanmac Junior Member Join Date: October 7, 2010 Posts: 3	Smith & Wesson .38 Ammo Question I recently inherited what I had always thought was a Smith & Wesson .38 Special. It seemed to be in great shape and I thought I'd take it to the range an run a few rounds through it. However, when I went to load my 38 special rounds, they only went in half way. I have read about the 38 Smith and Wesson v the 38 Special rounds, but this handgun is not that old. Please advise. many thanks, F-

October 7, 2010, 07:33 PM	#2
DiscoRacing Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2008 Location: milton, wv Posts: 3,638	Factory loads or reloads?? My smiths seem to have tight chambers...if the crimp is too deep...they will not chamber completely. __________________ Desert Eagle Alliance Group Launcher Extraordinaire ______ ----Get Busy Live'n.....Or....Get Busy Die'n......Red -------They call me Dr. Bob,,,, I have a PhD in S&W

October 7, 2010, 07:42 PM	#4
Average Joe Senior Member Join Date: August 29, 2005 Location: Easton, PA Posts: 906	There are different kinds of .38 S&W ammo, check on the barrel, it should be marked what caliber it is. There is .38 special , .38 S&W, .38 short colt, and .38 long colt... Last edited by Average Joe; October 7, 2010 at 07:47 PM.

October 7, 2010, 07:42 PM	#5
Tamara Moderator Emeritus Join Date: March 11, 2000 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 15,858	Smith made .38 S&W caliber revolvers into the '60s and '70s. The model number, assuming it's newer than 1957, will be stamped on the frame behind the part that swings out and holds the cylinder. __________________ MOLON LABE! 2% Unobtainium, 98% Hypetanium. The Arms Room: An Online Museum.

October 8, 2010, 01:00 AM	#10
Dave85 Senior Member Join Date: June 3, 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,421	Smith & Wesson has also made revolvers in 9mm. There may be more, but the two I am aware of are the Models 940, a 5-shot J-frame, and the 547, a 6-shot K frame. The latter was basically a 9mm Model 10, with a different extractor. Although the the 9mm bullet is slightly smaller than the .38 Special bullet, the 9mm cartridge is a tapered cartridge, and is wider at its base than the .38 special is at the mouth. This should allow partial insertion of a .38 Special cartridge similar to what the OP describes. I'm sure it is most likely a .38 S&W, as more Smith & Wesson revolvers were made in that caliber than in 9mm, but it is a possibility nonetheless. __________________ "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!" --commonly misattributed to, and most likely not, Benjamin Franklin

October 7, 2010, 07:35 PM	#3
357 Python Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 2007 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 575	If you could give a model number or a picture it would help. Remember that S&W did make revolvers for the British military during WWII and this could have been one of those. The British 38 S&W round is known as the 38/200.

October 7, 2010, 08:03 PM	#6
Felmanmac Junior Member Join Date: October 7, 2010 Posts: 3	Factory shells, not reloads. They all go in about half way and stop.

October 7, 2010, 08:05 PM	#7
Felmanmac Junior Member Join Date: October 7, 2010 Posts: 3	Also, no stamping on the barrel.

October 7, 2010, 08:18 PM	#8
MonsterB Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2010 Posts: 347	Not to ask a silly question, but how dirty is it? Is there any lead buildup inb the cylendar? My gun gets a little sticky sometimes after a 150 rounds or so, sometimes, depending on amo....that lead is very hard to get off, and can make the rounds hard to chamber...Did you get any to work?

October 7, 2010, 08:23 PM	#9
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 9,666	It is a .38 S&W,which is an entirely different cartridge from .38 Special. Show pictures and somebody will tell you what you have.

October 8, 2010, 01:14 AM	#11
Tom Servo Staff Join Date: September 27, 2008 Location: Foothills of the Appalach Posts: 7,102	If you can post the serial number, or at least the first four digits, that should help. It will be on the bottom of the grip frame. __________________ In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer. --Albert Camus

October 8, 2010, 08:04 AM	#13
FlyFish Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: Overlooking the Baker River Valley Posts: 1,401	Sounds like it's a .38 S&W. I have a Model 32 from 1972 in that caliber, so I took it out and tried chambering a .38 Special round, something I'd never done before. It drops in easily and stops with a hard "click" with exactly 3/8" of the case remaining out of the chamber.