Which 38 ammo for this old S&W?

a_gunslinger · March 28, 2011, 02:37 PM

I have this old SW .38 and I cant find any rounds for it locally. I THINK its just standard .38 auto, not the specials. The old box of ammo, which I went thru, said just 38 centerfire 145 grain.

On this site, are these correct:

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/index....-ammo-380-auto

Here is the gun:

http://www.emermed.net/staging/forums/guns/sw1.jpg

Gary L. Griffiths · March 28, 2011, 02:44 PM

You have an old S&W revolver that is undoubtedly chambered for the .38 S&W cartridge. This is NOT the .380 ACP and it is NOT the .38 Special.

Here is the ammo you need:

http://www.ammoengine.com/find/store...2F66257-5.html

ComradeChris · March 28, 2011, 02:48 PM

The proper cartridge to use in that revolver is probably .38 s&w
Here is a link to some ammunition.
It may not be safe to shoot smokeless powder loads in your gun. Someone more knowledgeable than me might be along to tell you.
The ammunition you linked to, however is almost certainly not correct. It is used mostly in autoloading pistols.

dakotashooter2 · March 28, 2011, 02:54 PM

I'm no S&W expert but I suspect that is chambered for the .38 S&W (38 colt)which IS not the same as the 38 special or any of the 38 auto cartridges. Does it indicate it is a 38? Some of these were also made in .32 caliber.

RWK · March 28, 2011, 02:57 PM

May I respectfully recommend that a well qualified gunsmith carefully check this revolver before you fire it; it may be fine, but it is obviously old and not in pristine condition, therefore I suggest you ensure your safety first.

Kreyzhorse · March 28, 2011, 03:04 PM

I don't know what it is, perhaps a .38 S&W (not to be confused with a .38 S&W Special), but it is certainly not a .380acp.

If you can't figure it out, don't guess. I'd have a gunsmith look it over if I were really interested in firing it.

dakotashooter2 · March 28, 2011, 03:06 PM

Take it to Rick Dale at the pawn shop in las Vegas. He'll have Chumley shoot it to see if it is safe..................LOL

Usertag · March 28, 2011, 03:15 PM

Just get plain old .38 Special Smith & Wesson.

dakotashooter2 · March 28, 2011, 03:26 PM

Quote:

The .38 S&W is a revolver cartridge developed by Smith & Wesson in 1877. Though similar in name, it is not interchangeable with the later .38 Smith and Wesson Special due to a different case shape and slightly larger bullet diameter

.

38 specials are .38 inches longer than 38 S&W but..007 inches smaller in diameter.

Plain old .38 Special Smith & Wessons will be too long for the chamber and a sloppy fit if you get them in and 4000-5000 CUP in pressure higher. Likely enough to do bad things to the gun..

Old Grump · March 28, 2011, 03:32 PM

Smith & Wesson .38 Safety 3rd Model DA Revolver - Cal. .38 S&W CF "Lemon Squeezer"...... ANTIQUE!

I am a heathen and I will and do shoot old guns from before the turn of the century but I would not shoot that gun with any ammo you can buy at your local toy store. Get it evaluated by an expert, insure it and stick it in a locked glass case.

Cheapshooter · March 28, 2011, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Just get plain old .38 Special Smith & Wesson.

Absolutely NOT 38 Special!!! They wouldn't fit anyway!
Take the advise of RWK. Have it checked out first. I might also add, from the OP stating "I think it is standard 38 auto" then posting a link to 380 ACP ammo I would consider learning a little more about firearms first. Just my observation, not meant to insult.

Kreyzhorse · March 28, 2011, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Just get plain old .38 Special Smith & Wesson.

It is not a .38 Special S&W.

crazy charlie · March 28, 2011, 03:47 PM

You can also go over to the S&W forum. Some of these old timers were for black powder only and some you can use smokeless. If I were to venture a guess it is probably a .38 S&W. As others have mentioned take it to a reliable gunsmith and have it checked out. Even if you can get ammo for it I wouldn't use it as a regular shooter. Some of these are collectables, especially S&W's. I have a couple of these and won't shoot them unless I have to.

Jim Watson · March 28, 2011, 04:06 PM

Your revolver is a Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless.
It is in caliber .38 S&W.
Not .38 Special or .38 Auto or .380 or .38 Colt as in some of the guesses above.

If the front sight is integral with the barrel, it is a fifth model made after 1907/1909 and probably ok for fresh smokeless ammunition like this:
http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/prod...ducts_id=74737
That is the only place I Googled that actually had it in stock.

If the front sight is pinned to the rib, it is a fourth model older than 1907 and is doubtful with smokeless ammunition. A few won't blow it up in your face but much shooting would wear the gun out in short order... according to David Chicoine who is a leading old gun gunsmith.

James K · March 28, 2011, 04:16 PM

Please do not fire .38 Auto or .38 Super Auto in that gun! The rounds may fit and fire, but the pressures will be way too high. .38 S&W (the cartridge name, no matter what the make of the gun) runs around 14,000 psi pressure, and many old guns should not be fired with any modern smokeless ammo.

But .38 Aut0 (.38 ACP) runs 26,500 psi, almost twice what the gun was designed to handle, and .38 Super +P runs 36,500! Stick to what the gun was made for. If it says ".38 S&W" use that cartridge, not something else.

Jim

oi789 · January 8, 2012, 02:49 PM

Thanks for the info from above!
Lets see if I got this straight. If I have a S&W 38 top break 5 shot
serial #2282XX which should be a 5th edition, the front sight is not pinned
to the barrel. Is it OK to shoot factory Remington 38 146gr RLRN ammo in
this revolver?

Jim Watson · January 8, 2012, 03:06 PM

If in decent mechanical condition, yes.

g.willikers · January 8, 2012, 03:07 PM

Er, maybe folks should have to pass a test in order to participate on some forums.

johnbt · January 10, 2012, 06:38 PM

The forum is the test.

We like having live, living members.

With all of their fingers and eyes.

shoptroll · January 10, 2012, 07:48 PM

Remington still supplies factory ammo in .38 S&W. The bullet is a 146 gr. lead roundnose and Bass Pro stocks it. I also bought Lee reloading dies for this caliber at Cabela's.

elmrich · January 10, 2012, 08:39 PM

Here's what you need. http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/index....8vb1cirgi960c0

March 28, 2011, 02:37 PM	#1
a_gunslinger Member Join Date: January 3, 2010 Posts: 16	Which 38 ammo for this old S&W? I have this old SW .38 and I cant find any rounds for it locally. I THINK its just standard .38 auto, not the specials. The old box of ammo, which I went thru, said just 38 centerfire 145 grain. On this site, are these correct: http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/index....-ammo-380-auto Here is the gun: http://www.emermed.net/staging/forums/guns/sw1.jpg

March 28, 2011, 02:57 PM	#5
RWK Senior Member Join Date: August 20, 1999 Location: Occupied Virginia Posts: 2,777	May I respectfully recommend that a well qualified gunsmith carefully check this revolver before you fire it; it may be fine, but it is obviously old and not in pristine condition, therefore I suggest you ensure your safety first. __________________ __________________ Μολών λαβέ!

March 28, 2011, 03:04 PM	#6
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 12,463	I don't know what it is, perhaps a .38 S&W (not to be confused with a .38 S&W Special), but it is certainly not a .380acp. If you can't figure it out, don't guess. I'd have a gunsmith look it over if I were really interested in firing it. __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

March 28, 2011, 03:32 PM	#10
Old Grump Member in memoriam Join Date: April 9, 2009 Location: Blue River Wisconsin, in Posts: 3,144	Smith & Wesson .38 Safety 3rd Model DA Revolver - Cal. .38 S&W CF "Lemon Squeezer"...... ANTIQUE! I am a heathen and I will and do shoot old guns from before the turn of the century but I would not shoot that gun with any ammo you can buy at your local toy store. Get it evaluated by an expert, insure it and stick it in a locked glass case. __________________ Good intentions will always be pleaded for any assumption of power. The Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern will, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters. --Daniel Webster--

January 8, 2012, 02:49 PM	#16
oi789 Junior Member Join Date: January 8, 2012 Posts: 1	Top break S&W 38 Thanks for the info from above! Lets see if I got this straight. If I have a S&W 38 top break 5 shot serial #2282XX which should be a 5th edition, the front sight is not pinned to the barrel. Is it OK to shoot factory Remington 38 146gr RLRN ammo in this revolver?

March 28, 2011, 02:44 PM	#2
Gary L. Griffiths Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2000 Location: AZ, WA Posts: 1,466	You have an old S&W revolver that is undoubtedly chambered for the .38 S&W cartridge. This is NOT the .380 ACP and it is NOT the .38 Special. Here is the ammo you need: http://www.ammoengine.com/find/store...2F66257-5.html __________________ Violence is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and valorous feeling which believes that nothing is worth violence is much worse. Those who have nothing for which they are willing to fight; nothing they care about more than their own craven apathy; are miserable creatures who have no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the valor of those better than themselves. Gary L. Griffiths (Paraphrasing John Stuart Mill)

March 28, 2011, 02:48 PM	#3
ComradeChris Junior Member Join Date: August 27, 2009 Posts: 4	The proper cartridge to use in that revolver is probably .38 s&w Here is a link to some ammunition. It may not be safe to shoot smokeless powder loads in your gun. Someone more knowledgeable than me might be along to tell you. The ammunition you linked to, however is almost certainly not correct. It is used mostly in autoloading pistols.

March 28, 2011, 02:54 PM	#4
dakotashooter2 Senior Member Join Date: January 13, 2005 Posts: 498	I'm no S&W expert but I suspect that is chambered for the .38 S&W (38 colt)which IS not the same as the 38 special or any of the 38 auto cartridges. Does it indicate it is a 38? Some of these were also made in .32 caliber.

March 28, 2011, 03:06 PM	#7
dakotashooter2 Senior Member Join Date: January 13, 2005 Posts: 498	Take it to Rick Dale at the pawn shop in las Vegas. He'll have Chumley shoot it to see if it is safe..................LOL

March 28, 2011, 03:15 PM	#8
Usertag Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2011 Location: Louisville Posts: 261	Just get plain old .38 Special Smith & Wesson.

March 28, 2011, 03:47 PM	#13
crazy charlie Senior Member Join Date: February 29, 2008 Location: PA Posts: 229	You can also go over to the S&W forum. Some of these old timers were for black powder only and some you can use smokeless. If I were to venture a guess it is probably a .38 S&W. As others have mentioned take it to a reliable gunsmith and have it checked out. Even if you can get ammo for it I wouldn't use it as a regular shooter. Some of these are collectables, especially S&W's. I have a couple of these and won't shoot them unless I have to.

March 28, 2011, 04:06 PM	#14
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,546	Your revolver is a Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless. It is in caliber .38 S&W. Not .38 Special or .38 Auto or .380 or .38 Colt as in some of the guesses above. If the front sight is integral with the barrel, it is a fifth model made after 1907/1909 and probably ok for fresh smokeless ammunition like this: http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/prod...ducts_id=74737 That is the only place I Googled that actually had it in stock. If the front sight is pinned to the rib, it is a fourth model older than 1907 and is doubtful with smokeless ammunition. A few won't blow it up in your face but much shooting would wear the gun out in short order... according to David Chicoine who is a leading old gun gunsmith.

March 28, 2011, 04:16 PM	#15
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	Please do not fire .38 Auto or .38 Super Auto in that gun! The rounds may fit and fire, but the pressures will be way too high. .38 S&W (the cartridge name, no matter what the make of the gun) runs around 14,000 psi pressure, and many old guns should not be fired with any modern smokeless ammo. But .38 Aut0 (.38 ACP) runs 26,500 psi, almost twice what the gun was designed to handle, and .38 Super +P runs 36,500! Stick to what the gun was made for. If it says ".38 S&W" use that cartridge, not something else. Jim

January 8, 2012, 03:06 PM	#17
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,546	If in decent mechanical condition, yes.

January 8, 2012, 03:07 PM	#18
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Er, maybe folks should have to pass a test in order to participate on some forums. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

January 10, 2012, 06:38 PM	#19
johnbt Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 1999 Location: Richmond, Virginia USA Posts: 6,004	The forum is the test. We like having live, living members. With all of their fingers and eyes.

January 10, 2012, 07:48 PM	#20
shoptroll Member Join Date: January 2, 2012 Location: Elizabethtown, Pa Posts: 60	Remington still supplies factory ammo in .38 S&W. The bullet is a 146 gr. lead roundnose and Bass Pro stocks it. I also bought Lee reloading dies for this caliber at Cabela's.

January 10, 2012, 08:39 PM	#21
elmrich Member Join Date: April 28, 2002 Location: Kentucky Posts: 63	Here's what you need. http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/index....8vb1cirgi960c0 __________________ (\__/) (='.'=)This is Bunny. Copy and paste bunny into (")_(")your signature to help him gain world domination.