NOT a .38 Special. Nope, the short, fat, original .38 Smith & Wesson.

So far I've accumulated 500 pieces of Winchester brass, and 500 pieces of Starline.

Also have 155 rounds of loaded .38 S&W, 50 by Remington, 100 by Magtech. And 5 Buffalo Bore!

There also exists here a new set of Lee carbide .38 S&W dies. I am in the process of finding a suitable 200 grain mold in the British MKI style, but until then I've found a caster who can provide that bullet, and four other designs suitable for reloading the .38 S&W round.

What I don't have is a darn resolver to shoot that silly short round. Looking for a Terrier built on an I-frame puhleeze!

Otony

I HAVE A HALF-DOZEN COLT AND SMITH .38 S&Ws, INCLUDING A BANKER'S SPECIAL AND A TERRIER. THEY ALL SHOOT JUST FINE WITH STANDARD .38 SPECIAL CAST BULLETS.

.....and I thank you profusely for that tidbit of information, sir.

I may pick up one of the 200 grain molds just to play Super Police, but it's good to know that there is a huge variety of other usable slugs.

Otony

I have seen the 38 S&W cylinders on the net. Seems like Sarco had some new ones a few years ago. Should be an easy conversion. IF they are the same length. I think they are because I bought a new 5 inch Victory model barrel from Numrich a few years ago and it fit the M&P perfect with its 38 special cylinder (minimal fitting).

Bob

Webley MK IV .38/200 (aka .380 Revolver or .38 S&W)

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Sincerely,

Hobie

.

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Of the Troops & For the Troops

Older J-frames abound, especially shooter-grade guns, because collectors shun them, and shooters who are not undaunted by common sense avoid them as well. Cast about, and ye shall be rewarded.

JLF

Otony, if you decide to go light for a plinking and small game load, Magtech markets a 146 grain RNL bullet, the same as is loaded in their .38 S&W factory load. Even if you juice it up a little it still shoots to most fixed sights.

Also don't forget to try a hard-cast 158 grain SWC. Most of the Smiths made since the end of WW2 have barrels that shoot .358 diameter bullets quite nicely. My 1956 Terrier dotes on the Magnus 158 grain SWC over 3.2 grains of Unique, for about 725 fps. Shoots a bit high to the sights, but quite accurate.

and an available gun at the same time. I got a sudden recurrent attack of Weblyitis, saw one at a local show asking $550 FIRM and told that they sold on GB for that "all day long". I knew that wasn't true and got this one for $200 less just as quick as you please. I've had it apart several times and fixed a couple of issues, major among them the lack of single-action capability. I am astonished at how well this rattle-trap (compared to a Colt) shoots. I busted parts of clay birds on the 50-yard berm with regularity.

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Sincerely,

Hobie

land speedloaders...

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Of the Troops & For the Troops

Both were "rechambered" to .38 Spl. Various parts kits were scrounged off the auctions and now one is a 'true' .38 Spl and the other is restored to .38 S&W. Got a bit of an education about swapping out S&W guts along the way. It is a fun cartridge in this platform. It's also cause for near-terminal giggles when loaded with BP and shot out of an old Owls' Head. I am still kicking myself for passing on a Terrier a few years back...

work. The HKS D-frame loaders do.

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Sincerely,

Hobie

Takee a lookee here...

http://ssporters.com/parts/smith-and-wesson.html

If anyone has a double-action-only Enfield, a grip adaptor for a square butt K-frame will fit it nicely and make it much easier to shoot DA. Now, FINDING one of the blasted adaptors is another story.

There are fun, not to expensive, have some history and shoot very well.