This is a very interesting thread. I'm a S&W Model 52 fan and have always been interested in the Colt 38's. I haven't added one to my collection yet though.
I happened to get into a 38 Mid-Range Wadcutter discussion with a friend over the weekend. A result of that was pulling a 38 AMU cartridge from my collection and comparing it to a 38 Special to see how the AMU rim differed. Here's a picture I took. The AMU is clearly turned into a semi-rim. I thought this thread would be a good place to share this picture.
JRD,
The Colt GCNM .38 Mid Range pistols are really nice pistols to shoot. Had Colt done some more R&D before they hit the market, theres no telling what they may have turned out to be. As I stated previously, I shoot mine regularly.
Great information guys. Thanks very much. I had recently seen a Giles in a local GS with a tag marked 38 Super. The pistol is a Colt which was originally a Super but I think it might be a conversion. If the owner permits me I would like to bring a dummy 38 Special round to seek if this is in fact a conversion. Typical Giles stippling, heavy rib and brazed buttons inside slide for additional barrel alignment.
I’d like to ask the folks here who have a Clark 61 conversion if the slide was machined to accept that large, rear, half-rib sight. You’d have to have removed it to be able to answer.
So, if one were to put an 8 pound spring in a Coonan classic (that's the spring it takes to cycle wad cutters in mine anyhow), would it allow said person to compete?
One reason the lock up guns got away with the 6-8 lb springs safely was the mags would only accept wadcutter length ammo, With the 8 lb spring and 158 grn full power ammo a cracked slide or frame would be a big risk
Longfellow,
I'd be confident that the Giles pistol is chambered in .38 Wadcutter. The barrel in my Giles pistol is marked Colt .38 Super.
My Clark Model 61-S slide is drilled and tapped (2 screws) holding the 1/2 length Bomar rib to it. Other than that I cant help.
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 |