38 (not special) questions

[GoodOlBoy]

A buddy of mine is going to bring my an OLD Houston PD 38 five shot revolver to fix for him. It is NOT 38 special, just 38. Here is the question I want to build some test loads for it once I have it fixed, is it possible to cut down 38 special brass or is it a completely different cartridge geometry? I find about 4 different "just plain 38" dimensions on the internet and no two match.

GoodOlBoy

[Mr. 16 gauge]

I found this on the net; you probably did also:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.38_S%26W

From the first paragraph, I would assume that you cannot just cut down .38 brass and make up some rounds. I have some old reloading manuals....when I get a minute I will see what I can come up with from them.

[GoodOlBoy]

Yeah I did then I ran across two that said that that was a oddball autoloader round and that you could cut them down, then a third who claimed you couldn't cut them down because they werent big enough to fill the cylinder. . . . . I dunno at this point.

GoodOlBoy

[Adam Helmer]

GOB,

You are dealing with a .38 Colt New Police, I suspect. That is a .38 S&W and NOT .38 Special. The Lyman Reloading Manual and Cast Bullet Handbook list many loads for this caliber.

I reload for the .38 S&W. If you need brass, call me for a CARE Package.

Adam

[GoodOlBoy]

Adam I suspect that is what it is, Since I am working on it for a buddy I will hold off until I get it functioning, then I will probably just make him purchase the dies, bullets, and brass himself. Thanks for the info.

GoodOlBoy

[PJgunner]

I agree with Adam. It's the .38 Colt new Police. Same as the .38 S&W (nor spl.) IIRC, the only difference between the two in factory ammo was the Colt round was a round nose with a flat on the nose and the S&W round was strictly a round nose bullet. You can't use .38 Spl. brass as the chamber is slightly fatter.
Paul B.

[GoodOlBoy]

So let me ask this question, does that then still use 38 S&W brass or does it use something else? You say it was a different bullet design but it concerns me that it may still not have been quite the same thing. Ergo does it use 38 S&W ammo, or something else like 38 short colt?

Thanks

GoodOlBoy

[Adam Helmer]

GOB,

I will let you read the caliber info on the barrel of that revolver. Why not just buy a box of .38 S&W ammo to make sure your fix was a fix ,LOL.

I will check "Cartridges of the World" once you confirm the gun's caliber.

Adam

[GoodOlBoy]

If he could buy the ammo around here he would. Unfortunantly nobody in our area carries it.

GoodOlBoy