Who has a .38 sw revolver in four inch barrel, pictues please

[44and45]

I'm thinking about adding to my S&W revolvers with a .38 sw caliber. (not .38 special)

I've got an old 5 screw Victory model in .38 special, which is nice, but don't know what models the .38 sw came in.

Anyone have some pictures of say a four inch barrel model.

Jim

 

[ugaarguy]

According to the SCSW, .38/200 British Service Revolver (K-200) - the British service cartridge was a .38 S&W with 200gr bullet - were made in 4", 5", and 6" lengths. SNs 680,000 to 1,000,000 were made prior to the V prefix Victory Models which were numbered concurrently with US .38 Special victory models. Further there are the rare and never cataloged postwar "Pre-Model 11" and post 1957 Model 11 which are the postwar K-200s with the new short action trigger and hammer. They were produced until 1965 (with some shipping as late as 1970). These were also made with 4', 5", or 6" bbls.

 

[44and45]

A Victory model in .38 sw is not exactly what I had in mine, but the info is extremely appreciated.

I was hoping to see some pictures of a four inch barrel civilain model...whatever that may be.

Did they make one in smaller than K-frame size, one that had a shorter cylinder.

Thanks, Jim

 

[bhk]

Smith and Wesson made a Model 33 and pre-33 (Regulation Police) in .38 SW. This was a five-shot, 4 inch barrelled revolver based on the I-frame, improved I-frame, and J-frame depending on the date of manufacture. They had fixed sights and were manufactured up to 1974. They would look like a modern model 60 with a longer barrel and in blue. Except they had square butts.

 

[ugaarguy]

The K-200s - pre and post WWII - were sold to civillians, though mostly in the UK and commonwealth countries where .38 S&W cartridge (in .38/200 form of course) was common far more common than the American .38 Special.

You may even find some of the older Colt DA revolvers like the Official Police & Police Positive and perhaps other models in .38 S&W. I'm not familiar with the Colt revolvers though, so you might ask those more knowledgeable about what models fit the specs you'd like.

 

[Will5A1]

The Model 11 -looks just like a Model 10 but its in .38 S&W, I've an 11-4, it dates to the early '60's, was exported than reimported by Century (I think, I picked it up in June and don't have the factory letter back on it yet, but it does have the Century Import mark/logo). If you've seen a 10 you've seen an 11, only difference is the caliber and barrel markings.

 

[44and45]

Thanks, fellows.

The model 11 sounds just like what I'm looking for if it looks like a model 10.

Jim

 

[Tom Servo]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone make self-defense loads in this caliber? I know a guy whose wife is very recoil-sensitive but loves the 38SW, and all I can find for him are the cast lead.

 

[ugaarguy]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone make self-defense loads in this caliber? I know a guy whose wife is very recoil-sensitive but loves the 38SW, and all I can find for him are the cast lead.

Option one is to find a .38 special revolver and handload it light for her.

Option two is a bit more involved, and may or may not work. .38 S&W bullets should measure .360" diameter, which is why .38 Special bullets with their .357 to .358 diameter generally don't exhibit the best accuracy when fired from .38 S&W spec bbls. You might be able to run the .364" diameter gold dots (made for the 9x18 makarov caliber) thru a .360" diameter sizer die http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=350467&t=11082005 and handload them into .38 S&W cartridges.

 

[44and45]

I don't know if its true or not, but the Brits used a 200 grain cast bullet that was not real fast velocity, but reputed to really tear up someone's boiler room. That was from the WW-2 era.

I've loaded some 38 sw with 158 grains, but would have to look the loads up to give you any data.

The bigger the bullet, the harder the recoil going to become. Load up some 125 grain soft lead hollow points might be pretty good at 750 fps velocity, but only in good firearms, no breaktops. Recoil shouldn't be bad.

Some of the older .38 sw revolvers had .360 to .364 diameter barrel rifling, so some bullet swaging is helpful to bump the .38 special cast stuff up to the .360 diameter area.

Jim

 

[RON in PA]

The Brits never issued the 200 grain bullet, but went to a 174 grain fmj bullet. Hague Convention and all that.

 

[Will5A1]

IIRC the 200 gr load was replaced or supersceded sometime in the 1930's by a 178 gr FMJ, the ".380 MKIIz", Fiocchi still sells and loads this round, or did until quite recently, but it was/is pricey, came in 25rd boxes. There was some cheaper surplus ".380 MK11" made by FN floating around the gunshows, I'm down to two boxes of that. Factory .38 S&W is too expensive to even consider, I think the local gunstores are getting close to $30 a box for it.

 

[44and45]

Well, I mentioned the WW-2 era, but they could have had it before that with the 200 grain bullet in Royal Army issue for awhile.

Don't remember the facts about the Hague Convention forcing them to give it up...but they did use it on some adversireys that did considrable damage to their internal organs and they died a painful death. Thus, it was considerd inhumane to use said 200 grain bullet in their .38 sw.

Jim