[BeauBeaux]

Any data for this?

My reloading books don't have it. I'm thinking it's a black powder round.

Can 38 Special be cut down to make the brass for this round. Since I don't have data don't know what the case length is.

Help appreciated.

 

[Beladran]

38spl is the magnum version of the 38S&W. my book at the house has data for it. i will post some this evening if nobody else has

 

[locrawlr]

.38 S&W is an old round and reloading info can be found in lots of loading manuals. .38 Special cases probably shouldn't be cut down and used in place of the .38 S&W because there is to much of a difference in case diameter between them. I would recommend buying correct brass.

 

[Doug Bowser]

Buy some .38 S&W cases. The .38 S&W is larger in the base than a .38 spl. The bullets are larger .361" vs .357" for the .38 spl.

Doug

 

[BeauBeaux]

Got a Hodgdon manual that has the 38 S&W.

Side x side

Case head .440 for both
Case head width .055 for the 38 S&W vs .058 for 38 spl
Case mouth .380 for the 38 S&W vs .379 for the 38 spl

This should work because the old top break S&W's have more than enough room for the extra .003 in case head width.

Going to trim 5 to the .775 and see how it works.

 

[Doug Bowser]

As I remember it, the .38 S&W will not fit in the .38 Spl chamber.

Doug

 

[22lrfan]

This is what the Manual of Cartridge Conversions says:
.38 S&W / .38 Special
Case Length .780 / 1.155
Head Diameter .386 / .380
Rim Diameter .433 / .440
Neck Diameter .386 / .379
Rim Thickness .047 / .058
It list a load of 4.7 gr Unique with a 150 gr .359 lead bullet at 890fps. It say that .38 Special cases can be used and they will fireform to fit the chamber.

Cartridges of the World has these loads:
2.5 gr Bullseye with 148 gr lead bullet at 700 fps,
3.0 gr Unique with a 158 gr lead bullet at 700 fps,
Remington factory load with 145 gr lead bullet at 685 fps.

I've got a 1970 Lyman manual that has these loads with a 150 gr lead bullet:
Powder Starting / Maximum
Bullseye 2.0gr:598fps / 2.9gr:810fps
Red Dot 2.1gr:578fps / 3.0gr:740fps
Unique 3.5gr:731fps / 4.6gr:973fps
This manual says that these loads are for solid-frame revolvers only.

I've had several S&W top breaks and have fired them with the factory ammo. I didn't shoot them enough to buy the reloading dies. If yours is a top break I would keep the loads light or use factory ammo. They are a weak design. Factory loads are not hard to find. I think Top Dollar Pawn in Jackson has several boxes.

 

[BeauBeaux]

Great post 22lrfan, thank you.

Was only going to use starting loads. Already knew the top breaks are weak.

Have plenty of 38 spl brass, to make a couple boxes of 50 will never be missed. lol