.38 caliber semi-auto?

[bikemutt]

So I was reading a story in the local newspaper today concerning the arrest of an individual involved in a murder investigation. What caught my eye as odd was the murder weapon: "Huden allegedly told a friend in Florida that he had used a .38-caliber handgun to kill Douglas. In 2004, detectives in Las Cruces, N.M., recovered a semiautomatic .38-caliber pistol they believed was used to kill Douglas."

Is there really any such pistol? I know revolvers can be made to fire semi-auto rounds with moon clips but I'd never heard of semi-autos chambered in revolver rounds.

Story link: http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110711/NEWS01/707119803

 

[ColtPythonElite]

It could be any one of a number rounds considered .38 caliber, not just the classic .38 Special.

 

[rehorne]

possibly a 38 super or a 38 auto. I know colt made auto loaders in both calibers

 

[mole]

Sweetest gun I ever shot was a .38 special Smith and Wesson auto. I'm thinking it is the model 52. They use wad cutters seated all the way into the case. My wife's grandfather has it. I need to go see if he'll let me play with it again.

mole

 

[David E]

Probably a .380 reported simply as ".38 caliber."

The press and many cops don't know much about guns.

 

[Shadow 7D]

And lets not forget .38 most popular caliber in small guns .380...

 

[napjerk]

.38 super 1911's are pretty common down here in Texas, NM, etc. They're really popular in Mexico too.

 

[MMCSRET]

The 38 Super was not commercialized until 1929. Until that time you had 38 ACP and 380 in several different makes.

 

[bikemutt]

Thanks for the information. I don't know how many times I've read where the getaway vehicle was a Chevrolet Aerostar or a Dodge Skylark and such, I sort of suspected they may have meant to say .380 caliber. But, now I know they may be right after all

 

[Ankeny]

Sweetest gun I ever shot was a .38 special Smith and Wesson auto. I'm thinking it is the model 52.

I also had a model 52 Smith. Shot a ton of .38 Special wadcutters through that gun.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Probably a .380 reported simply as ".38 caliber."

My thought as well.

 

[Got_Lead?]

I think the journalists are in error as usual, it was probably an AK-47 pistol that was used.


Highly unlikely............

 

[Sunray]

"...thinking it is the Model 52..." That'd be one. Colt made a Gold Cup in .38 Special too. However, the media hacks are notorious for getting their firearm facts wrong. As mentioned, there are all kinds of .38 calibres.

 

[Jim Watson]

Hey, Got Lead,

How do you load those conicals in your M52-0?
Backwards, submerged like a .38-44 No 3 NM Target, or in Short Colt cases?

 

[Jim K]

Neither the press nor the police can be relied on for accurate information about anything. When the AWB was under debate in Congress, one newspaper ordered that all crime stories must include the words "semi-automatic assault". Needless to say, the results were ludicrous, but the press doesn't care about accuracy or truth, just in promoting their agenda.

Jim

 

[Got_Lead?]

Jim:

I'll start a new thread on the 52 and light bullets. I seat them flush, kind of like a nagant.

I am just starting to work-up some loads for the ol gal, and would be very interested in hearing what anyone has to say about the guns and loads.

 

[oneounceload]

This is a perfect example of why caliber dos NOT equal cartridge in nomenclature

 

[bigfatdave]

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

.38 can refer to a number of firearms cartridges:

.38 ACP
.380 ACP
.38 Special
.38 Short Colt
.38 Long Colt
.38 S&W
.38-200
.38 Super

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.38