Posted: 12/21/2013 2:46:00 PM EDT
| hey guys sorry to have to ask this my grandfather has an 38 special short s&w . is the 38 special ammo the same or does this revolver take a special bullet thanks for the help. |
|
My first question is what model revolver is it chambered in? The ".38", "S&W" and "Short" monikers can get really confusing.
Just after the civil war, the .38 Short and .38 Long (both rimfire cartridges) were used in rifles and pistols. The .38 Short (rim ire) was a common cartridge in black powder pistol conversions. However, Smith and Wesson developed the centerfire .38 Smith & Wesson starting in about 1877 chambered for it's break open revolvers. It's shorter than the .38 Special. There were also centerfire .38 Short and .38 Long Colt cartridges used in 1887 Colt Army and Navy revolvers, as well as .38 Long Colt S&W revolvers. The .38 Special was designed to replace the .38 Long Colt (and was also called the .38 Colt Special and .38 S&W Special). You can fire .38 Long Colt in a .38 Special, but you can't fire a .38 Special in a .38 Long Colt. ---- So it would help to know: 1) The precise model 2) Approx when it was made, 3) Whether it's rimfire or centerfire (because you can't just assume it's centerfire with an old pistol), and 4) The exact wording on the barrel. And a picture always helps as well. |
