[MJRW]

Smith lists them as two different rounds on their website. What's the difference?

[4thHorseman]

THe S&W cartridge was a bullet before the Speciall. Both are made by S&W. The Special came latter in the advent of a more potent bullet. The S&W is a very old round. Maybe back as far as the mid 1800's. The early 1900's is when the Special was produced.:)
I don't think they are interchangable.

[Mike Irwin]

The .38 S&W Special, the .38 Special, and the .38 Colt Special are all the same cartridge, just different names for it.

Why S&W gives two names for the same cartridge on their website is beyond me.

[Nightcrawler]

They do the same thing on their website for .45 Auto and .45ACP, too.

[4thHorseman]

I agree that a 38 cal S&W special is the same as a 38 special, but I did not say that. I said a 38 S&W is a different cartridge than a 38 S&W Special. And they are. A 38 S&W can not fire a 38 special.
S&W model #2 was a 38 S&W. The modern revolver is a 38 special. A 38 S&W special if you like. That is were the term "Special" orginated from.
The special was delvelope to increase fire power of the same diameter bullet.
Do a search on the net and you can easily find a S&W 38 model #2 revolver. Very old gun. I have the details at home I can provide if needed, but I'm at work now,(Psst....don't tell my boss.):D

[Tom B]

Isn't an example of the 38S&W handgun the Terrier? Shoots what I call "a 38 short".

[charleym3]

There are two different families in the .38s.
The first, in order of length, is .38 Short Colt, .38 Long Colt, .38 Special, .357 Mag, and .357 Max. All of these cartridges have the same rim size .440" and body size .379" (though the .38 Long Colt has a slight taper). The Long Colt, Special, Mag, and Max all use a bullet of .358 (lead). However the Short Colt specifies a bullet .375".
The other cartrige is the .38 S&W aka .38 Colt New Police. It's rim is also .440" but that's the end of the similarities. The body spec is tapered from .3865" to .3855" and the bullet diameter is .361.

You've now had your trivia fix for the day.

Souce of the information is "Handloading" A publication of the NRA.

[Mike Irwin]

Horseman,

All due respect, but you were answering a question that wasn't asked...

MJ asked...

"...difference if any between .38 s&w special and .38 special?"

The .38 Special and the .38 S&W Special are the same cartridge.

The .38 S&W, no Special, as you noted is a different cartridge. But it didn't factor into the question.

S&W hasn't made a handgun chambered for the .38 S&W since sometime in the 1970s, so it's very unlikely that MJ found a reference to it on S&W's website.

The .38 S&W was introduced around 1874 or there abouts, and there is some dispute on the date of introduction for the .38 Special. Some sources say 1899, others say 1902. I personally think that 1902 was when the cartridge was introduced to the public, as it was originally designed in an effort to replace the .38 Long Colt as the standard military handgun round.

[MJRW]

Yeah, horseman's post did confuse me until later on =(

Not that I don't appreciate the learning but halp.

[4thHorseman]

"All due respect, but you were answering a question that wasn't asked..."- Mike Irwin

Yeah, you're right. Sometimes I think posts go in all kinds of directions, they are always a learning experience for me.
I thought about the orginal question after I sighned off and thought, "Ah heck, I'll catch it tomorrow.":) I always enjoy the conversations though, nothing lost.:)