.38 S&W Short: Where to get .360/.361" bullets?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Problems like this are best solved by bullet casting.

You can get a mold from NEI Handtools: www.neihandtools.com . Most of the time a mold is available in a standard weight and the correct diameter. BTW, the correct diameter for the bullet is the same as the cylinder throat diameter. You can then size and lube them or, if the diameter is right, lube them and shoot them unsized. It will work quite well.

If you have a buddy that casts for .38 special, ask him what size his bullets are straight from the mold. Perhaps his cast in the correct size range (many cast oversize and are meant to be reduced in sizing) and would only need lubing.
 
Have you tried a .358 bullet? I've loaded many hundreds of .38 S&W rounds with a standard .38 Special lead SWC bullet. 2.5 gr. of Bullseye and a good crimp works great for me. Plenty accurate enough for my .38 S&W revolvers.
 
I tried .38 cast bullets in my S&W .38 S&W and got severe leading from too small and too hard a bullet. I started shooting jacketed bullets in it. A soft 148 HBWC might do fine though. I never tried it. There are a couple of places that sell the size you need. I can't remember where offhand, but someone will know.
 
Reminton 148 gr HBWCs run 0.360+ or ++ on a normal run. Try those. However, I don't know how practical that bullet will be, ultimately, it is very long.
 
I worked up a load to duplicate the original .380/200 military load in .38 S&W. I use the bullet as-cast, not sized, and lube with Lee Liquid Alox. Works quite well.
 
Antique break action Iver Johnson revolvers in 38 S&W have a weak spot, the eye of the latch can stretch.

A wise man pointed out to me that this is not the direct effect of pressure, but of bullet friction and recoil movement of the barrel mass.

I have stopped using .357" JHP in those revolvers.
I have stopped using 38 Super loads in them.

I now use soft bullets with wimpy load.

l35864.gif

512.gif


Call this old guy up:
http://www.westernbullet.com/cbip/cbip.html
 
I solved the problem for myself with my 3rd model DA Smith by substituting Lymans 358212, nominaly 146 grains. Originally bought the mould for some heavy 9mm stuff, didn't want to buy another mould for the Smith and tried this....works well, accuracy is every bit as good as the factory stuff.

PS: my load's a near carbon of Starters.
 
woad yurt
i have a lee tl mould that drops a .361 swc using WW,they weigh 162.5grs.
look on lees site & decide if itll work for what you want,if so pm me & well get on a trade for some.
i have about 500 cast now ,100 lubed with alox


GP100man
 
Hi. Does anyone know anyone who makes a .360-.361" bullet for a .38 S&W Short? All I can find is .358" for .38 Spl. Thanks.
Click to expand...

I have a quick question , Can you safely use .360 bullet in .38 S&W , I thought the .358 bullet work just fine but my Webley did not shoot that well. I have small quantity of .360 bullet for my Makarov that I can try but is it safe for .38 S&W ?
 
Makarov bullets are usually .364 diameter but if your are truly .360 they should be usable.
 
Makarov bullets are usually .364 diameter but if your are truly .360 they should be usable.
Click to expand...

Travis two
You are right , I check the Makarov bullet and it is .365 not .360 , I think it will be too big for .38 S&W
 
I have a quick question , Can you safely use .360 bullet in .38 S&W , I thought the .358 bullet work just fine but my Webley did not shoot that well. I have small quantity of .360 bullet for my Makarov that I can try but is it safe for .38 S&W ?
Click to expand...
sandy4570,
He's asking about the .38 S&W, not the .38 S&W Special. The original .38 S&W shot a .360" bullet and newer .38 S&W Special shoots a .358" bullet. The two rounds are not the same. As a matter of fact there are more than two .38 revolver rounds. Along with the .38 S&W and the .38 S&W Special you also have the .38 Short Colt, .38 Long Colt and the .38-40 Winchester. Back in the late 1800 the 3 big gun makers put out their own rounds chambered for their guns.
 
not trying to high jack this or anything but the 38/40 is a .40 bullet over 38 gr vol. black powder which is not the common format for bp metallic cartrages.
 
Last edited:
... if your gun was made for 38 S&W you can also shoot 38 short colt but it it is a short colt gun you cannot shoot the S&W cartrage in it.
Click to expand...

No you can't, or at least you shouldn't.

The .38 Short Colt, .38 Long Colt, .38 Special and .357 Magnum share a common case and rim diameter (rim = .440. case = .379, bullet = .358)

The .38 S&W has an entirely different set of dimensions: ( Rim = .443, case = .386, bullet = .360).

You can safely fire .38 Short Colt in revolvers chambered for .38 Long Colt, .38 Special, and .357 Magnum. It is unlikely anything serious would happen if you fired a .38 Short Colt in a .38 S&W revolver, but it is possible the case could rupture in the oversized chamber.

There was a cartridge called the .38 Colt New Police (or .38 N.P.) that was the same as the .38 S&W, but I don't believe it's been manufactured since World War Two

In any case, .38 Short Colt ammunition is dificult to find, and more expensive then .38 S&W.
 
oK I posted some bad info I just looked at the article I read and it did say colt new police not short colt. I will edit my post
Sorry guys
 
.38 S&W loads

Yo, Clark, I saw your post on the Iver Johnson top break revolver and your mention of Western Bullets. My question is, can you share your load data on their 145 or 160 grain bullets?

I noticed the 145 GR bullet has a Diameter of .358 and the 160 GR has a Dia. of .360. Since they seem to not be seated as deep as other .357 and .358 bullets I am hesitant to use the data for other bullets with these.

Thanks Y'all
 
My grandfather immigrated from Sweden to the Alaska Gold rush.
He had an Iver Johnson break action hammerless 38S&W, black powder ammo, and a lever action carbine.

At gunshows in 2000 I would buy many Iver Johnson break tops for $35.
I shot some Copper jacketed 158 gr bullets with 38 Super loads and stretched the eye hole of the latch. That made the actions sloppy.

I pointed out the troubles I had from too much pressure to my father, the great chief engineer gun designer. He snapped back at me that pressure did not directly stretch that latch, but recoil acceleration on the hinged barrel mass and bullet friction in the bore.

I do not have a high IQ like my father, becuase I take after my mother.
It took me a couple days to imagine what he was talking about.
But now I get it.

So now I shoot 2 gr Unique or 1 gr of Bullseye with a SOFT lead bullet in 38 S&W breaktop and 1 gr Unique or .5 gr Bullseye and a soft lead bullet in 32 S&W break top.

The secret to those loads is to keep the recoil down and keep the bullet friction down.
 
I just use

the Hornady swaged hollow based wad cutters - 148 grain and they work very well. Accuracy is good and very little leading - what little leading there is comes out with a patch.

The hollow bases on these expand very easily to fill the bore and seal the base off during firing.

A very good alternative to .360" bullets.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

P
  • Locked
.38 S & W Bullet?
Replies
6
Views
538
Old Fuff
O
P
  • Locked
OK...need .361 bullets
Replies
10
Views
922
old gun
O
M
  • Locked
.38 Long Colt
Replies
2
Views
457
MI2600
M
Old Grumpy
  • Locked
.38 s&w
2
Replies
39
Views
3K
Old Grumpy
Old Grumpy
M
  • Locked
Ok, it's a silly bullet, but we're going to make it - .38 S&W 145 Grain RN
Replies
16
Views
2K
MissouriBullet
M
Back
Top