Colt Police Positive .38 - I am stoked!

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Walkalong

Walkalong

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Found this little beauty on GB. I just picked it up. Lots of honest wear from carrying and shooting some, but no rust (which I despise) and all six chambers lock up tight as can be. The chambers, throats, forcing cone, and bore look superb. Opens and closes like a Swiss watch. (Or an old Colt ;)) I can't wait to shoot it along side my Victory Model in the same caliber, .38 S&W. :D

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A lot of folks turn their nose up at the 38 S&W round but I think its a dandy trail and small game round. I would love to have a colt like yours. I would have to buy the dies, brass and a mold and load up a few hundred. There is no reason it couldn't be bumped up a little in the power department either.

That would make it a light recoiling, low flash home defense gun just perfect for a woman or even a man. There was a thread on here a couple of days ago about a revolver for granpa. That gun would be the perfect answer I believe. Nice pistola!
 
Hello friends and neighbors // I like it, nice honorable wear, patina similar to my 1943Colt, Offical Police, great looking grips.

Your grips are much better, mine are worn smooth on the left side and are stamped BPD. Most folks immediatly say Boston (and it might be) but it is most likely Belmont a small town near here.

I have a 1914 Colt Police Positive Special in transit from a GB purchase.
This one is .32-20, I just hope I'm as pleased with it as you are with yours.

Congrats on a fine snag/save.
 
Walkalong

Very nice addition to the collection. Just the right amount of wear; used but never abused. Congrats on a great find.
 
Colt hated writing SW on their guns for a long time.
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Ah, so that is why it just says Police Positive .38 on the barrel, without the S&W.
I have a 1914 Colt Police Positive Special in transit from a GB purchase.
This one is .32-20
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I may do that one day. I have a S&W Model 1905 in .32-20 that I enjoy shooting. It would make another nice pair.
 
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If you are going to reload your ammunition (which is a good idea considering the cost of over-the-counter .38 S&W cartridges) be aware that Colt's are an exception to a general rule.

Most other revolvers chambered to use .38 S&W rounds have barrels that prefer bullets sized to .361". Colt's on the other hand have chamber throats and bores that are tighter, and do better with much more common .358" ones. To load, you will need a set of .38 S&W dies and a .358" inside neck sizing plug - usually associated with .38 Special/.357 Magnum dies.

Given that you have a hand ejector, rather then a top-break it is safe to increase loads to duplicate standard .38 Special performance, but do not use .38 Special loading data or powder charges!
 
Thanks Old Fuff :)

I'll be shooting these plated rounds, a 148 HBWC and a 158 gr SWC. I quit playing with lead in .361 bores some time back. They shoot very well in the Victory model. I am using a small charge of not too fast powder and moving them at barely 700 FPS from the 5" S&W. Should be fairly tame and quite safe in the Colt.

I am hoping these loads shoot closer to point of aim in the Colt than the Victory Model. In the Smith they are perfect left to right, but about 2" low at 7 yards. Anything lighter and or faster are even lower.

What bullet weight were these Colts set up for?
 
The .38 Colt New Police cartridge (AKA .38 S&W) usually had a 146 grain bullet @ 745 FPS out of a 4" barrel. I'd try the 148 grain WC with the bullet seated to give you a cartridge OAL around 1.140"

Lyman recommends a lead 158 grain bullet, backed with 2.6 grains of Bullseye (MAX) which should give you 730 FPS out of a 4" S&W barrel. Cartridge OAL is 1.150"

Work up your loads, to find the best "sweet spot" for accuracy and point of aim/point of impact. The .358 dia. bullets should work better in the Colt, but with slightly higher pressure, as the same slug is undersized in a S&W.
 
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I love mine. Fun to shoot. Ex wife handled it like a dream and it was her favorite gun. Self defense? I dunno. It's better'n nothing, I guess.
 
Self defense? I dunno. It's better'n nothing, I guess.
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The cartridge was introduced in 1876, and is still with us. During the World War Two era Smith & Wesson chambered their Military & Police/Victory Model in .38 S&W for the British and their Commonwealth. The second biggest buyer was the U.S. Army's O.S.S. (which preceeded the CIA). :what:

I 'spose it's a bit better then nothing... ;)
 
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