.38 Special Fun?

Only one I can think of is a Smith and Wesson model 52, I don't think it is in production anymore.

It isn't; it is a VERY expensive gun, and it only shoots 38 WC ammo - but it shoots it VERY well

Here's a NIB one

Friend of mine is a bullseye shooter and has a 52 and a .22 caliber M41. Don't even BREATH on the trigger. They're expensive, but VERY accurate.

Time to buy a levergun?

.... or take up shooting in some form of competition?

I shoot my .38Spl ammo in a few different events from my local club's version of Speed Steel to using it recently along with a S&W 66 in IDPA.

It's really amazing how having to hit things while on the clock for score ups the intrest level.

Competition is a fun way to burn up ammo and gives your practice a purpose. I really liked shooting with the club I used to belong to before moving. I shot IDPA for a few years, but used a 9mm for that. I shot IHMSA for a while, but used a TC Contender with a 10" 7mm TCU for that. The club stuff, we always had something for the revolvers in addition to other stuff like rifle, even some country doubles occasionally for the shotguns. I really enjoyed those get togethers. and miss the club. I was in that club for about 25 years, VP for a while. But, we move on.

May I suggest something just a little different? Try a Marlin 1894 or a Rossi M94 chambered in .357. They shoot .38 spl just fine.

.38 is very boring. Send it all to me and I will dispose of it humanely.

Olympus said:

So I have a ton of .38 Special reloads and I'm kind of getting board shooting my revolvers. Is there any kind of auto loader that would fire the .38 Special?

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Think distance my friend. If you think your revolver is boring try shooting further than usually tried with a revolver. Try 50 yards, 100 yards and even further if you're still bored.

I have been shooting a J frame for years to at least 50 yards at the range just to see the faces of all those who swear a J frame is only a belly gun. Even then they think I'm using some kind of trick. lol

Try a Marlin 1894

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Try to FIND one of those....................

May I suggest something just a little different? Try a Marlin 1894 or a Rossi M94 chambered in .357. They shoot .38 spl just fine.

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Well, it's a Rossi 92...as in 1892....as in Winchester.

I believe the Coonan Arms 1911 that shoots .357 magnum will also shoot .38 special. It is an expenssive gun though.

I believe the Coonan Arms 1911 that shoots .357 magnum will also shoot .38 special. It is an expenssive gun though.

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If so, it'd likely require a spring change and as the Coonan is NOT a 1911, don't know that a 1911 spring would fit it. I don't know how much works from a 1911 on the Coonan. I do know the trigger mechanism isn't in ANY way similar.

MCgunner said:

If so, it'd likely require a spring change and as the Coonan is NOT a 1911, don't know that a 1911 spring would fit it. I don't know how much works from a 1911 on the Coonan. I do know the trigger mechanism isn't in ANY way similar.

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You can get new springs from Coonan and they do come with a .38 Special adaptor to put in the magazine.

You can get new springs from Coonan and they do come with a .38 Special adaptor to put in the magazine.

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I'm not really interested in a Coonan, but that's cool to know. Makes the gun quite a bit more versatile.

If so, it'd likely require a spring change and as the Coonan is NOT a 1911

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Fair enough. How about 1911 style? In either case, it does what the OP wants it to.

Olympus, I feel your frustration about living well away from any major to minor centers.

For me a big part of my shooting is the sporting aspect. And that means other people. And frankly I'd do a lot less shooting if the social aspect was missing.

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE the occasional solitary day at the range when I'm working on some new loads, sighting in a new gun or even trying to learn to shoot better with what I have. But in the end the social aspect of meeting the other shooting buddys at the range is a big part of what keeps me shooting instead of doing something else.

At least half of my shooting days are spent alone. My son will go sometimes if I persuade him.

Take a look at the new production Coonans, called the Coonan Classic. The new ones can run 38's and 357's from the same magazine, whereas the old model B's needed a special mag with a spacer for 38's. All that is required to shoot 38's in the Classic is a different recoil spring. The Coonan takes standard 1911 recoil springs, so it is just a matter of matching a spring to your load. It comes from the factory with a 10# for 38's. I have run a bunch of different loads thru mine, both 38 and 357. Very accurate, reliable pistol.

Take a look at the new production Coonans, called the Coonan Classic. The new ones can run 38's and 357's from the same magazine, whereas the old model B's needed a special mag with a spacer for 38's. All that is required to shoot 38's in the Classic is a different recoil spring. The Coonan takes standard 1911 recoil springs, so it is just a matter of matching a spring to your load. It comes from the factory with a 10# for 38's. I have run a bunch of different loads thru mine, both 38 and 357. Very accurate, reliable pistol.

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Wondering, but does it feed wadcutters? I shoot a LOT of wadcutters. I have SWC molds, though.

Well, if you can find one and the adapters, you could get yourself a dardick. While not chambered specifically for the .38 special (I think), there were adapters allowing their use for when trounds could not be acquired.

I never use full wadcutters, sorry can't help you on that one. I suspect it would not cycle low power, bullseye type wadcutter loads. I have made up a number of 38 loads with 158g LSWC without issue. My current fave is a replica 33/44 loading with 2400 and the LSWC. Just about all the power of a magnum load, but in the cheaper, easier to find special case.