stew38
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S&W mod 36 --38sp cal. i was told you can only use 38 S&W ammo. in gun
s&w mod36 38 sp.
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yesit'sloaded
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I've shot +p in mine, maybe 200 rounds total. My gunsmith said it wasn't a problem to shoot the every so often for two reasons.
1. Most +p .38 ammo isn't actually +p.
2. The 2 inch barrel isn't long enough for the burning powder to build up the pressure needed to cause damage.
I wouldn't go shooting a box of +P a week through it, but it can handle it in moderation few times.
1. Most +p .38 ammo isn't actually +p.
2. The 2 inch barrel isn't long enough for the burning powder to build up the pressure needed to cause damage.
I wouldn't go shooting a box of +P a week through it, but it can handle it in moderation few times.
stew38
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This S&W mod.36 was given to me it,s and old gun nickel plated in A1 shape what it be worth
yesit'sloaded
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Do know what year it was made?
SASS#23149
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If it says .38 special caliber on the barrel,then any brand of .38 special ammo is usable.
there was an older original version of .38's known as "38 S&W ",but I doubt any 36's were chambered for that older round.
there was an older original version of .38's known as "38 S&W ",but I doubt any 36's were chambered for that older round.
stew38
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No i do'nt
OAKVILLE SHOOTER
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Unless the gun has been re-chambered, you should not shoot 38 S&W in a 38 Special. Bullet diameter is .361 on the S&W, .358 on the Special. Case diameter is .3855 on the S&W, and .379 on the Special.
I have a Ruger Blackhawk chambered in .357 Mag. The friend that I bought it from took the 9MM cylinder and re-cut the chambers to 38 S&W. He also replaced the grip frame with stainless steel, re-contoured the grip frame and made a set of grip panels for it. It is an absolute cupcake to shoot and is lots of fun to boot.
Out of curiosity, I just tried to load a 38 S&W round into my Model 10 Smith .38 Spcl. It went in almost all the way, but not quite. The cylinder did close, but I had to push the round pretty good to get it in far enough. Fairly snug getting it out with the ejector too. There is no way that I would have been able to eject six rounds at the same time. Probably wouldn't be able to eject one spent case with the ejector either.
I have a Ruger Blackhawk chambered in .357 Mag. The friend that I bought it from took the 9MM cylinder and re-cut the chambers to 38 S&W. He also replaced the grip frame with stainless steel, re-contoured the grip frame and made a set of grip panels for it. It is an absolute cupcake to shoot and is lots of fun to boot.
Out of curiosity, I just tried to load a 38 S&W round into my Model 10 Smith .38 Spcl. It went in almost all the way, but not quite. The cylinder did close, but I had to push the round pretty good to get it in far enough. Fairly snug getting it out with the ejector too. There is no way that I would have been able to eject six rounds at the same time. Probably wouldn't be able to eject one spent case with the ejector either.
yesit'sloaded
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Is the gun marked .38sp or 38S&W?
stew38
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The barrel has38 S&W. special ctg.
OAKVILLE SHOOTER
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Then it is chambered to shoot 38 Special.
The Blue Book has three listings for the Model 36. All of them are chambered for 38 Special.
The Blue Book has three listings for the Model 36. All of them are chambered for 38 Special.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
stew38,
The .38 S&W and .38 S&W Special are two totally different rounds and NOT interchangeable.
Like said above, any .38 Special ammo will be safe to shoot in your M36. My M36 is of 1975 vintage and will safely fire any .38 Special round on the market today.
The .38 S&W and .38 S&W Special are two totally different rounds and NOT interchangeable.
Like said above, any .38 Special ammo will be safe to shoot in your M36. My M36 is of 1975 vintage and will safely fire any .38 Special round on the market today.
rainbowbob
Member
I'll give you a hundred bucks for it.
dagger dog
Member
38 S&W and 38 S&W Special are 2 different cartridges, the older 38 S&W case is larger in diameter than the 38 S&W Special.
38 S&W= 0.38555" dia.
38 S&W Special= 0.3790"
The length of the Special keeps it from being fired in the older design top break actions chambered for the 38 S&W.
You may find some 38 specials that will chamber the 38S&W round but this is due to manufacturing errors or extreme wear and not the norm.
Your comment on only using "only S&W 38 ammo" maybe is brand oriented and not caliber specific?
I haven't seen any of the Blue boxed S&W ammo in a long time.
I could not see any danger or problems in a good condition Mdl 36 digesting any brand ammo as long it is of good quality, I doubt the gun would even "burp"!
38 S&W= 0.38555" dia.
38 S&W Special= 0.3790"
The length of the Special keeps it from being fired in the older design top break actions chambered for the 38 S&W.
You may find some 38 specials that will chamber the 38S&W round but this is due to manufacturing errors or extreme wear and not the norm.
Your comment on only using "only S&W 38 ammo" maybe is brand oriented and not caliber specific?
I haven't seen any of the Blue boxed S&W ammo in a long time.
I could not see any danger or problems in a good condition Mdl 36 digesting any brand ammo as long it is of good quality, I doubt the gun would even "burp"!
Shade00
Member
Yep, you're not going to be able to fit a .38 S&W cartridge into a gun chambered for .38 S&W Special (.38 Special). They're too big.
I think what he meant in the OP was .38 spcl. vs. .38 spcl +p? Presuming that's the question, I'll take a stab at that.
The factory CS department frequently "rolls forward" their date at which you can use +p ammo. It use to be "on model stamped guns" (e.g., 1957 forward, which yours would be if it is a Model 36). Recently I have heard "non-pinned guns (implying 1981 and forward). Frankly, with the difference between .38spl and +p at 3,000 psi, I would not hesitate to practice ones in a while with +p and carry it in it. But there are decent .38 spcl rounds, too, so it's not a big deal. I do this in my Victory and pre-model 10 M&P's. SaxonPig has done a +p torture test on, I think, a transition M&P with narry a hick-up.
The factory CS department frequently "rolls forward" their date at which you can use +p ammo. It use to be "on model stamped guns" (e.g., 1957 forward, which yours would be if it is a Model 36). Recently I have heard "non-pinned guns (implying 1981 and forward). Frankly, with the difference between .38spl and +p at 3,000 psi, I would not hesitate to practice ones in a while with +p and carry it in it. But there are decent .38 spcl rounds, too, so it's not a big deal. I do this in my Victory and pre-model 10 M&P's. SaxonPig has done a +p torture test on, I think, a transition M&P with narry a hick-up.
stew38
Member
S&W mod 36
I shot it today both 38S&W and 38sp. worked fine. Very nice shooter love it .Thanks guy,s for all help
I shot it today both 38S&W and 38sp. worked fine. Very nice shooter love it .Thanks guy,s for all help
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
I bet forcing those .38 S&W's in the .38 Special chambers was quite a chore!
OAKVILLE SHOOTER said:
rcmodel
OAKVILLE SHOOTER said:
What part of this did you not understand?
rcmodel
stew38
Member
case on s&w 38 WAS 0.3795 CASE ON 38SP WAS0.375 WORKED FINE DROPPED RIGHT IN
OAKVILLE SHOOTER
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More power to you man. I wouldn't do it, but maybe thats just me. Keep in mind that if you shoot a lot of S&W, that you can create a ring in the cylinders making it difficult to chamber 38 Spcl. Similar to shooting lots of 38 Spcl in a 357. If the bullets are chambering and ejecting fine, you shouldn't hurt the gun since the S&W round is less potent than the 38 Spcl. Maybe the cylinder has been re-chambered.
OAKVILLE SHOOTER
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Not to question you, but are you sure that you were actually shooting 38 S&W ammunition. Cases should have been about 0.006" larger in diameter. How did the two cartridges compare in length?
fecmech
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Screwed up back in the 70's when I first started reloading. Did'nt have much money, no .357 Mag cases and was loading mags in .38 spl cases. At the time I thought I was trying hot .38's (10 grs /2400/168gr Keith cast bullet) in my flat latch Mod 36. Instead it was a .357 magum load of Herco(that is over todays magnum load of Herco) behind the same Keith bullet. Fired all 5 and then realised what I had done. The 36 came thru it all just fine and I have put at least another 1000 rds of standard .38's thru it since. Yes it has some end shake but no worse than some of the new stuff Smith has put out since. I don't worry much about the +P 158 gr LSWCHP's that I carry in the gun.
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