Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns The 38 thread

I just picked up a model 15 with 4” barrel in Tulsa. I have a pre-15 my uncle carried as a deputy sheriff for L.A. county. He had sent the revolver back to S&W for going through and re-bluing before he retired in the 80’s. I had a couple model 10’s - police trade ins. Some how my sons have them now.
I think a model 15 is the best for the $’s.

Yes, but cylinder headspace may also need adjusted as well.

Any decent Smith should be able to fix you up.

Nice pile of 38s!

A man can't have too many 38'

I tend to think the S&W M15 is the perfect .38 Special revolver. It is S&W at their best.

I couldn't have said it any better. A pair of 15-3s. They look like they're touching, but I took the photo at just the wrong angle I guess.

Have a 15 (don't remember which -#) and a Detective Special (it was my Grandad's).
I never thought I'd enjoy a .38 as much as I do.

I was shocked to discover that while my seemingly tame handloads (lee 158 RF over Unique or Tru Blue) were running around 830-850 out of 4" '15, some 90's vintage (stored inside) Winchester 158 RN factory ammo, that was very consistent and very accurate, was clocking a whopping 620fps out of the same pistol. Small wonder the .38 had a lackluster reputation as a stopper.

I need a steel J-frame.......and a mod. 14.....and a 10......

Haha, Kid. I would trust you to give your best effort. 😜

Great report, Kid. And some awesome revolvers.

The .38 Special is better than ever in strong modern guns with loads using modern components. Everything from 148 gr wadcutters at 700 fps to 158 gr SWCs at 1200 fps. There is little that I do with a handgun that I can’t accomplish with a variety of .38 handguns and loads.

Expat

That last load is stepping on the heels of .357 Magnum. Fine in a Colt Official Police or an S&W Outdoorsman/Heavy Duty, but I don't imagine it's a good idea in a .38 Special chambered S&W K-Frame. Your mileage may vary, though.

Underwood advertises this one at 1250 fps.

https://underwoodammo.com/38-special-p-158-grain-hard-cast-keith/

Still wouldn't use it in any .38 Special-chambered revolver less robust than a Colt Official Police, or a medium frame Ruger, like a .38 Special-chambered Speed or Security Six.

Tons of K frames were chambered in 357 Magnum. It’s specd at 35kpsi. These and other +p+ 38 loads generate around 23-25k.

Yes wear will be accelerated somewhat, but almost no one will shoot enough of that load to make a difference.

Of course, but didn't they treat the steel differently for those?

In the cylinder; they also used the 357 cylinder in the 547.

The Underwood ammo still operates at under 30,000 psi, probably in the 27/28 psi range.

I carried a Ruger Police Service Six as a duty weapon from 1985-1990. I wasn’t crazy about the issued ammo (Winchester 110 grain +P+ Treasury Department Load). I was very confident with my ability to shoot that revolver. I bought it when we transitioned to S&W 4506 pistols. I also have a 3” heavy barrel model 60, a 1 7/8” 649, and an Airweight 642. When I was an active LEO we used to say “wheel guns for wheel men”!

Ron

They made .357's in K frames, too. Remember?

Yes, but they took metallurgic measures to sure them up against the higher pressures vs the same frame-sized guns chambered in .38 Special.

I'm not saying the guns will explode. I'm just saying 158 grain 1,200 fps loads are asking a lot of a K-Frame .38 Special revolver. It's nearly making a Magnum of it. Like I said, the Colt Official Police .38 is more than up to it, since Colt approved the use of .38-44 loads in them back in the day, which is basically what the load is that we're talking about.

"38-44 is a cartridge designation but also is a term for the revolver intended to use the new loading, which could reach 1,125 fps with a 158-grain bullet—but at the cost of serious wear and tear on standard revolvers."

- Handguns Magazine

I've got a dollar that says the metallurgy in a K frame Model 19 isn't all that different if at all from a Model 14 or any other K frame .38 Special.

I do love a good .38 Special.