Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Loads for a top break S & W in .38 S & W..??

A good friend in another state bought a top break S & W in .38 S & W. He is convinced we can locate some loads that are safe in this old pistol.. The little I have found indicates it should only be a wall hanger.. I know little about the model only the make and caliber.. Does anyone shoot and load for one of these old guns?? My feeling is he wants someone to tell him go ahead and load for it.. What I have read, it is a wall hanger.. He has shot factory stuff, and says it shoots fine..

That would be an issue, black powder round in it's original form. Top break as well. Condition of the revolver would be paramount. Perhaps some very light Cowboy action loads with softer lead hollow base bullets. The only 38 S&W I have had was a WWII lend lease pistol, well into smokeless powder times. Bullets are hard to find, they are not 356 more like 361. Cases are available from time to time.

Whatever you find out here spend some time at http://www.smithandwessonforums.com/forum/

There are folks that still carry these things.

There are several suppliers of good cast lead bullets in .360" to .361". Primary choices are 145 gr or 200 but there are some in between. I load 160's in my .38 S&W's over 3.5 gr of Unique.

My mold is an old Lyman RNFP that drops at .361".

Here is my Favorite 38 S&W.



Not the prettiest but light, easy to carry and accurate.

Mag tech makes a 146gr LRN specifically sized for .38 S&W, think Graffs had them last time I picked some up.

Thanks everyone for the links and information.