.38 spl short

[Salmoneye]

Well, considering the realities of chamber tolerances and such I can see the cartridges being able to be inserted. But the bullet is up to as much as .004 to .005 larger than it is supposed to be for the barrel. That's a LOT of squeezing down to get from the light charge. By the time the bullet is "extruded" out the barrel I'd be surprised if the muzzle velocity isn't severely reduced.

Not the current factory (last 30 years or so) .38 S&W that I have pulled and mic'ed...

They run .354"-.356", are dead soft, and have a 'healed' (or hollow base more accurately) bullet that 'slugs up' to the bore it is riding in...

I have read that the diameters of .38 S&W have varied so much over the decades, that the ammo companies err on the 'safe side' of bullet diameter and construction...

I have an e-copy of the old Lyman Manual #44 that calls for bullets from .354" to .360" in .38 S&W...It expressly recommends slugging your barrel and matching bullet to groove...Factory ammo companies don't have that luxury...

I load .358" cast for my Albion-Enfield, and get great accuracy...