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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,438
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,438 |
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.
Last edited by Bugger; 04/11/24.
I prefer classic. Semper Fi I used to run with the hare. Now I'm envious of the tortoise and I do my own stunts but rarely intentionally
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 21,958
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 21,958 |
10-7 A line up 357 flattop with a 9mm cylinder. My thought is to ream out the 9mm to 38, can be done? Yes, but cylinder headspace may also need adjusted as well. Any decent Smith should be able to fix you up. Nice pile of 38s!
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Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,266
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 1,266 |
A man can't have too many 38'
Last edited by slugflinger; 04/11/24.
Think. It's not illegal, yet.
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 24,667
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 24,667 |
I tend to think the S&W M15 is the perfect .38 Special revolver. It is S&W at their best.
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Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 1,421
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 1,421 |
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.
"Their minds are dead" - Carmine Ricca
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,538 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,538 Likes: 1 |
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......
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 44,435 Likes: 8
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 44,435 Likes: 8 |
LD those are some nice S&Ws. If you could loan them to me for a couple decades I’d try my best to wear them out. Haha, Kid. I would trust you to give your best effort. 😜
Slaves get what they need. Free men get what they want. Rehabilitation is way overrated. Orwell wasn't wrong. GOA member disappointed NRA member 24HCF SEARCH
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 44,435 Likes: 8
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 44,435 Likes: 8 |
I went to the ranch for a little bit when it cleared off this evening for some DA shooting. I recently watched an old interview with John Prine back when he was king of the PPC world. Being a self taught handgun shooter I gathered several tips on technique that he mentioned and my DA shooting has markedly improved. Still have to get a flyer in every cylinder full it seems but I’m getting better. All these were shot at 10 yards offhand DA. All the 38s were with a 158 wadcutter over 3.5gr of W231. Great report, Kid. And some awesome revolvers.
Slaves get what they need. Free men get what they want. Rehabilitation is way overrated. Orwell wasn't wrong. GOA member disappointed NRA member 24HCF SEARCH
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,083
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,083 |
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
"There are no dangerous weapons. There are only dangerous men." - Robert Heinlein
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 131,742 Likes: 20
Campfire Sage
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Campfire Sage
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 131,742 Likes: 20 |
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.
Last edited by The_Real_Hawkeye; 04/11/24. Reason: clarified my meaning
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 19,077
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 19,077 |
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 N-Frame, but I don't imagine it's a good idea in an 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/
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 131,742 Likes: 20
Campfire Sage
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Campfire Sage
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 131,742 Likes: 20 |
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 N-Frame, but I don't imagine it's a good idea in an 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.
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 8,185 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 8,185 Likes: 1 |
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.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 131,742 Likes: 20
Campfire Sage
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Campfire Sage
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 131,742 Likes: 20 |
Tons of K frames were chambered in 357 Magnum. Of course, but didn't they treat the steel differently for those?
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 21,958
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 21,958 |
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.
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,608
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,608 |
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
People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. Orwell
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 44,435 Likes: 8
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 44,435 Likes: 8 |
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. They made .357's in K frames, too. Remember?
Slaves get what they need. Free men get what they want. Rehabilitation is way overrated. Orwell wasn't wrong. GOA member disappointed NRA member 24HCF SEARCH
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 131,742 Likes: 20
Campfire Sage
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Campfire Sage
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 131,742 Likes: 20 |
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
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 44,435 Likes: 8
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 44,435 Likes: 8 |
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.
Slaves get what they need. Free men get what they want. Rehabilitation is way overrated. Orwell wasn't wrong. GOA member disappointed NRA member 24HCF SEARCH
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 67,739
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 67,739 |
I do love a good .38 Special.
Sam......
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