.38 Long Colt

gravedigger

February 18, 2003 18:34

I read in Cartridges of the World, that .38 Long Colt can be fired in a .38 Special revolver. What about in a .357 Mag? Is that TOO much case difference? What about .38 Short Colt.

-Marcus

***When the Second Amendment falls, the First will be sure to follow.***

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  RancheroPaul

  February 18, 2003 19:19

  I just went and looked in a 1932 Colt's Catalogue to get this information. I thought I remembered it, but wanted to be sure! Numerous Models of the guns of that day all said this about each one that was chambered for the .38 special:
  
  (Using in the same arm .38 Short Colt; .38 Long Colt; .38 Colt Special; .38 Colt Special Hi-Speed; .38 S. & W. Special (full and mid-range loads); .38 S. & W. Special High Velocity; .38-44 S. & W. Special Hi-Speed).
  
  Sort of looks like you could shoot any 38 cartridge you could find anywhere......drug store, livery stable, gunsmith's, hardware, lumber yard, and etc....... Hope this helps!
  
  "Life is FRAGILE!" Handle With Care!

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  Laredo Lefty

  February 18, 2003 20:19

  Digger.... Paul is right. Just about any .38 cal ammo can be fired in a .38 special except the .38 S&W which is a little fatter case than the special and wont "usually" fit in a .38 spl chamber. I say usually because I have found some .38 special guns that would chamber .38 S&W while most others wont.

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  Ampersand

  February 19, 2003 05:38

  I think that Smith & Wesson invented the .38 Special and put their name in it. I believe that the .38 Long Colt is the same round but Colt put their name on it. I guess they didn't want to stamp S&W on their guns?
  
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  RancheroPaul

  February 19, 2003 06:07

  Ampersand -- You are correct in this information. Seems a good reason for S. & W. NOT to mark on their guns that they could use the .38 Long Colt. Competitors and Rivals......left a little confusion in some of those cartridges but it clears up once you know about them.
  
  "Life is FRAGILE!" Handle With Care!

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  Ampersand

  February 19, 2003 06:45

  I'm still trying to figure out why Fords and Chevys don't use the same wheels.
  
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  Iconoclast

  February 19, 2003 07:28

  While it would likely be safe to do this, don't forget you are likely to get some build-up of crude / lead / lubricant in the cylinder of either the .38 Spl or .357 revolver using the shorter rounds and this most definitely would need to be removed before using the standard loads.
  
  There are cartridges made in the early 1900s with headstamp ".38 Colt Special" by UMC, US Ctg and WRA. I have never seen any with Remington, Remington-UMC, Peters or Western headstamps. From the situation with the first three, I rather expect this practice had ended before 1917.

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