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.38 s&w fire in a .38spl?

GreenGunner
Hello, pardon the ignorance.

I had picked up a box of .38 s&w to fire in an old top strap revolver, which proved to not be a working weapon. Was wondering if running em through my taurus 85 was a horrible idea-
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8 comments

Date Votes
  • 22WRF
    What will interchange with the 38 SPl
    38 Colt Special
    38 S. & W. Special
    38 Targetmaster
    38 S. & W. Special Mid-Rage
    38 Special (+P)
    38-44 Special (+P)
    38 Special
    38 Special Flat Point
    Note the absence of the 38 S&W

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  • GreenGunner
    ok, thanks. How about one more? Would it be "alright" to run .38+p through a taurus 85? Or must it be rated/marketed as being able to handle them? thanks again
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  • Tailgunner1954
    I think you'll find the 38S&W is to fat to fit into the cylinder.
    .3855 at the mouth vs .3790
    .3865 at the base vs .3790

    Whittemore
    Some guys like a mag full of lead, I still prefer one round to the head.
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  • robkelly2242
    .38 S&W is a slightly fatter cartridge than the .38 Special. It won't fit the chamber(s). However, a lot of older revolvers either had the chambers bored out or lengthened so that both cartridges could fit. Such guns are not safe with anything other than light loads.
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  • GreenGunner
    Hmmm. I am sitting here w/ it, and S&W shells slide in and out just fine. Is it very common for people to have had such machining done? There are no obvious marks/signs that anything was altered on this gun (to my novice eyes anyhow). I would imagine a micrometer in the hands of a smith could tell...?
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  • Wheelgun
    quote:Originally posted by GreenGunner
    Hmmm. I am sitting here w/ it, and S&W shells slide in and out just fine.....

    To simplify what the others have already said, .38 S&W is not the right cartridge for any firearm marked '.38 Spl.' or '.38 S&W Special', etc.

    Since you say the ammo fits the chambers of your revolver, it makes me wonder if it's actually .38 S&W ammo. What does the headstamp on the cartridge cases actually say? Is it .38 S&W, or .38 S&W Spl.?

    Mark

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  • GreenGunner
    On the shell... ".38 S&W... R-P", and from a box of "remington Express 38 S&W 146 gr Lead RN R38SW.

    The Taurus was bought used at a local gun show. It is Brazilian made, but stamped Taurus not Rossi if that means anything~
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  • MIKE WISKEY
    SOME MONTHS (YEARS) BACK THIS CAME UP AND WHILE THE "BOOK" SPECS. SAY A .38 S&W SHOULDN'T FIT IN A .38 SPECIAL CHAMBER SOME TIMES THEY WILL. I HAVE A COUPLE OF BOXES OF NEW W/W .38S&W AMMO AND IT WILL FIT IN THE CYLINDERS OF SEVERAL UNMODIFIED S&W .38 SPECIAL REVOLVERS I HAVE (M-14, 15). IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO SHOOT .38 S&W IN A .38 SPECIAL=PROBABLY NOT, WILL THE GUN GO BOOM=PROBABLY NOT. WOULD I SHOOT THEM IF THATS ALL I HAD=YES.
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