Actually, the bullet diameters on old, misfired pre-WW2 Rem-UMC and WRA Co. .38 S&W rounds assembled in balloon-head cases, when tapped out with an inertia bullet puller and measured were all .357-.358. Same with WW2 Kynoch and modern Fiocchi.
Actually, the bullet diameters on old, misfired pre-WW2 Rem-UMC and WRA Co. .38 S&W rounds assembled in balloon-head cases, when tapped out with an inertia bullet puller and measured were all .357-.358. Same with WW2 Kynoch and modern Fiocchi.
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I pulled down a vintage Winchester .38 S&W 200g cartridge and measured it at .356. Soft lead + hollow base = obturation at low pressures.
Since this post first started, I have since started reloading 38 S&W for a 1910 police positive, 1931 bankers special and a 1941 Official Police 38-200. Older Lyman data with either 3 grains red dot or even 3 grains bullseye with Lyman’s 357477 (150 grain) shot fine sized to .358. It is deadly accurate out of the 5” official police.
I'd never, ever. been interested in 5" revolvers...until I got a Victory Model in .38 S&W and felt it point naturally wherever I looked. Other K frames balance extremely well in my hand, but that 5" Victory just feels right. The Colt OP frame is slightly larger than my hand can comfortably handle in DA mode, although SA is good. I like I, J, L, and N frames and shoot them comfortably, but the K frame is in a class by itself. A 3rd Generation Colt D frame Detective Special--shrouded ejector rod and those hand-filling stocks--was one I never should've let get away!
I'd love a Banker's Special in .38 S&W, that's for sure! So would a million others though, many of whom have deeper pockets than I do, lol. Does yours prefer the 150g or 200g loads? I suspect the former shoot great, the heavyweights perhaps a bit uncomfortable with the old-style grips. Any chrony results of the vels you've obtained with those RD and BE loads you mentioned?
Would enjoy seeing pics of those three guns, if you care to post them!
Some velocity data:
Velocity Comparison Webley & Scott .380 Mark IV vs. .38 Colt New Police Positive
Ammunition:____________________Webley MkIV 4"______Colt Police Positive 4"
Fiocchi 146-grain LRN factory load___750 fps, 19 Sd_______794 fps, 14 Sd
Accurate 155D-146-gr.HP 3.0 BE____794 fps, 15 Sd_______852 fps, 12 Sd
Acc. 36-155D, 2.5 grs. Bullseye_____710 fps, 16 Sd_______756 fps, 11 Sd
Acc. 36-178D, 2.1 grs. Bullseye_____595 fps, 10 Sd_______601 fps, 18 Sd
Acc. 36-201D, 2.1 grs. Bullseye_____601 fps, 12 Sd_______612 fps, 20 Sd
NOE 201-gr.Mk2, 2.1 grs. Bullseye___609 fps, 12 Sd_______629, fps 15 Sd
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Louisiana Man, I have never fired a 200 grain bullet out of my Colt 38 S&W chambered revolvers. If I can post a pic in the future, I will. The police positive looks just like the many thousand made with the hard rubber grips. The bankers special is an early square butt bankers. And the Official police looks like just any other official police 5” other than the barrel stamping of 38-200, other British acceptant stamps, lanyard loop and “380” stamp on the frame where the barrel threads into. I also have a 5” nickel army special in 38 special that points and balances so well.
This is shot in to the past. Longranger was me and re registered with my real name. I did eventually find and use some Remington 158gr. HBWC that actually are .360” and shot very good at 750 FPS.using B/E .Also ended up sending my RCBS Cowboy dies back to RCBS along with 6 fired cases. They sent me back a set of custom ground .38 S&W dies fitted for my Colt. Seems the Cowboy dies were nothing more than re labeled.38 Special . I have since added 2 more Colt PP’s a dandy 5” . I was only interested in a safe accurate load and the Remington 158 gr. HBWC is very accurate in three PP’s . Filthy dry lubed and dirty B/E shoots to good to look further for me.
I bought 2k of them and that will last me the rest of my life.
I have run into .38 S&W sizing dies that are, as stated above, the same diameter as .38 Special sizing dies. To get past this irritation I bought a Lee carbide sizing die for the Super 38 cartridge. This die is the correct diameter for the .38 S&W cartridge and a lot less expensive than the RCBS offering. Life can be more enjoyable when we find proper tools for this cartridge.
Attachment 258027 1941 colt official police in 38-200.
Last edited by smkummer; 03-11-2020 at 10:10 AM.
https://www.wholesalehunter.com/Prod...tails/11231559 May be of interest.
Yes, I recalled some of the info and was surprised how old the posts were......
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |