.38 S&W with adjustable sights?

[bowfin]

Does anybody know of any revolver chambered in .38 S&W that had adjustable sights, or at least a rear sight that didn't consist of a groove in the top of the frame?

[Iron Mike Golf]

Models 14 and 67

[Kraschenbirn]

Models 14 and 67

Nope!! S&W M14 and M67 are both chambered for .38 Spl. Checked my modest library and could not find a single photo or reference of any kind to an adjustable-sight .38 S&W.

Bill

[BCall]

H&R made the 925 "Defender". 5 shot break open with 2 or 4" barrel and adjustable sights.

[rintinglen]

Iver Johnson also made a 5 shot break top with adjustable sights. IIRC it was available in 2 1/2 , 4 and maybe 6 inch lengths. I believe it was the model 66, though it has been a mighty long time since I saw one--late 60's? I have read that some S&W Regulation Police Models were available with adjustable sights on special order, but I have never seen one.

[MT Gianni]

Didn't someone, maybe the King sight company, make an add on sight for fixed sight revolvers? Still top strap groove beats notch in the hammer for my eyes.

[Green Frog]

If your .38 S&W is a 5 screw version, the FDL Wondersite ™ is a good possibility. It isn't quite so durable as a factory installed one, but it could work for what you want to do(??)

Froggie

[bowfin]

Thanks for all the information.

I have two boxes of .38 S&W ammuntion and the group buy .38-200 boolit mould, so I have been keeping an eye out for a .38 S&W revolver...

...yep buying a gun to go along with the ammunition is the tail wagging the dog...

[Four Fingers of Death]

My 30's vintage Colt Police Positive has adjustable sights. If if is shooting off centre, you screw the Bbl in or out a few degrees, if it's shooting low you file the foresight, if it's shooting high, you had better be a good welder, lol.

Fixed sights are ok, 2/3rds of my handguns have them and they work well. You may have to fiddle around a bit getting a suitable load, but when you are on, thats it for teh rest of the guns life.

[Four Fingers of Death]

Thanks for all the information.

I have two boxes of .38 S&W ammuntion and the group buy .38-200 boolit mould, so I have been keeping an eye out for a .38 S&W revolver...

...yep buying a gun to go along with the ammunition is the tail wagging the dog...

I bought a 243 rifle once because I had a mould and a sizing die that I had forgotten about.

I bought a box of 375 gaschecks and later on a 375 Lyman mould which were both on special, because I just knew I would'nt go through life without buying a 375H&H (took me awhile, I got one last year!

[Iron Mike Golf]

Nope!! S&W M14 and M67 are both chambered for .38 Spl. Checked my modest library and could not find a single photo or reference of any kind to an adjustable-sight .38 S&W.

Bill

Ooops, mis-read the OP. Sorry.

[MtGun44]

Mick,

I never have seen a Pol Positive with adjustable sights! Do you have a picture?
Is this a factory item or an aftermarket or gunsmith mod? I have a Police
Positive in .38 S&W, but it is fixed sighted.

Bill

[Four Fingers of Death]

Mick,

I never have seen a Pol Positive with adjustable sights! Do you have a picture?
Is this a factory item or an aftermarket or gunsmith mod? I have a Police
Positive in .38 S&W, but it is fixed sighted.

Bill

If you read my post carefully, you would see that it is tongue in cheek fun, I can adjust for side to side by t urning the bbl and for elevation, by filing or building up the front sight.

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k228/4fingermick/Handguns/ColtPolicePositive38SW8.jpg

As you can see, standard sights! Lol!

PS, As you can see, another American icon being used to prop ol' Po Po up!

[MtGun44]

OK, I'm kinda slow sometimes. . . . . . . the joke's on me. I guess, after a fashion, all
sights are adjustable.

Some are a lot easier to adjust than others. :bigsmyl2:

Bill

[rintinglen]

FYI, Bill, Colt did make Police Positives in 22 WRM with adjustable sights that were similar to those of the Woodsman. The rear sight was windage adjustable only and the front sight was adjustable for elevation. I owned one briefly back in my gun trading days. I also saw one for sale at a gun show a few years back in 22 LR. These were both 6 inch Police Positives, not the Police Positive Special, and had the shorter cylinder. Mine was abysmally inaccurate, but it filled a nitch in the D frame collection I put together back in the 70's. I sold the 10 gun collection to a guy for 750 dollars to pay a lawyer when I was going through a divorce--and made money. LOL, now that would barely buy one Police Positive in nice condition.

[tacklebury]

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/386/products_id/80036/Handguns/Braztech-Rossi+Handguns/Rossi%20851,%204in%20Barrel,%2038Spl,%20Rubber%20G rips,%20Blued/

[Echo]

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/386/products_id/80036/Handguns/Braztech-Rossi+Handguns/Rossi%20851,%204in%20Barrel,%2038Spl,%20Rubber%20G rips,%20Blued/

Carrumba. That's a 38 Special, NOT a 38 S&W.

[Char-Gar]

If you are looking for a revolver to shoot those cases and 200 grain .360 bullets hunt up a Webley and load to factory spec. That is what that 200 grain bullet was designed for. These Webley pistols are high quality, fun to shoot and cost half the price of a Smith.

[crabo]

I thought I had seen a 586 in 38 Special. I would snatch it up in a heart beat if I ever saw another one. Here's a thread

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/162939-s-w-586-38-special-info.html

[44deerslayer]

Model 14 combat master

[herbert buckland]

Webley Mk IV target modle,they all so had a 22LR in the same frame and barrel type

[Montana Ron]

$$ deerslayer...........Model 14 is 38 Special not 38 S&W.........the 38 S&W was started in 1877 and the much longer and smaller in O.D. SPECIAL didn't see light till the 20 th. century......I have a M 14, a Police positive, and a M 60-14 in front of me right now and I load for all three and you can not get 38 S&W ammo into a 38 or 357 chamber or a 38 Special into the Colt 38 S&W cylinder as it's too long.............38 Special into 357 cyl works but your very wrong about a M14 in 38 S&W........................I would have one of them if they did exist and probably dump the 357....................

[44deerslayer]

sorry i was wrong

[KCSO]

Cut a narrow dovetail on the top of the S and W frame and slide in a rear sight from a 1911 GM. Then you have a windage adjustment and the old S and W round blade rear sight will be just about 2" high at 20 yards. If you want to get real foxy mill off the front sight and groove the base for a slide in brass blade and make up sights to suit.

[rintinglen]

If you can live with the fixed sights, somebody imported a ton of S&W Victory Model 38 S&Ws back in the 90s. I converted mine into a 38 special by replacing the cylinder and re-barreling, but I have seen many at gun shows.

[Alan]

Those S&W Victory models are somewhat of a crapshoot, however. A lot of them were just re-chambered for .38 Spl, which creates a gun that bulges cases BADLY when loaded with .38 Spl, and the throat is now oversized for shooting .38 S&W. The safest option is still to shoot .38 S&W in them, but accuracy may be unobtainable.

[gunfan]

and truly enjoy the "off beat" calibers. The .38 S&W is interesting, to say the least. I have always been in awe of how accurate these revolvers truly were (and are.)

Elmer Keith himself admired their accuracy, but not their power. These revolvers can be loaded to near .38 S&W Special performance. If you stop short of "firewalling" the .38 S&W round, you can stop an attacker quite readily with a soft lead 146-grain SWCHP loaded "to the nines." Now, if we could only get a cast .361" 146-grain SWCHP cast for the handloader, we could have a real ball with the cartridge! [smilie=p:

Scott

[Four Fingers of Death]

I have just accepted a 1942 made Enfield 38S&W DA revolver in exchange for money owed. He has expressed an interest in my Police Positive, so I will probably part with it, one 38S&W is enough for me and the Enfield will suit my big hands better. I have always been interested in them, so I will finally get the chance to own one.

I wouldn't mind a S&W Liberty. We had them languishing in the armoury as reserve guns when I was in an armoured regiment. From memory, ours had reasonably long barrels, probably around 5" or so. Pretty useless, but fun to shoot. I preferred the FN/FAL, I didn't want to stand out in a crowd with a sub gun or a pistol.

[justingrosche]

Alright every one repeat after me......
38 S&W is not 38 special. LOL

[robertbank]

Get yourself a Webley. The cartridge is to be fair pretty anemic but fun to shoot.

Take Care

Bob

[Four Fingers of Death]

Get yourself a Webley. The cartridge is to be fair pretty anemic but fun to shoot.

Take Care

Bob

Do you mean a 455? I haven't owned either the 38 or the 455 previously, but there are a few kicking around and the Enfields that I have seen my friends shoot are generally better shooters than the Webly. We call the Weblys Wobbly Scotts here. Both brands are a pretty nice gun, even though not that powerful, the Enfields made during the war look pretty ordinary, but generally shoot pretty well. I'm looking forward to getting mine. I have a group buy 'original' 140Gn boolit mould. It should go well with Black or smokless. The heavier boolit would be better with black I suppose.

[robertbank]

Sorry I should have said Enfield. Up here they seem to attract the generic "wobbly webley" moniker. Had a very good example a few years back. I found it to be a useless gun and got rid of it. My uncle carried one for six years back in the 40's. He preferred his 75MM cannon on his tank over the .38. Newt said he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with his revolver but it came with the uniform.

I found the gun was accurate enough off a bench but the trigger and sights limited any serious work.

Take Care

Bob

[gunfan]

Anemic? You can load the 148-grain HBWC bullet ahead of 3.0 Grains of Red Dot for 797 fps, yielding 208.8 fpe. If that is anemic, YOU stand in front of it! :wink: [smilie=1:

Yeah, right.

Scott

[robertbank]

We had a Bank robbery back in the 60's when the Edmonton Police carried Enfields. Two officers fired 12 rounds into the back of the cars windshield as it sped away. All rounds bounced off the glass. Bank officials met with the Mayor and presto the officers were then issued .38spl. S&W's. These were later changed to Glock .40cal.

Take Care

Bob