38 Special revolvers. The . 38 Special CTG revolver is a six-shooter with a 6-inch barrel. Identifying the weapon is a matter of locating the identifying etchings with the serial number along the gun metal on the barrel. In addition, the Smith & Wesson logo gives away the maker of the firearm.
What year was my 38 Special made?
1898
| .38 Special | |
|---|---|
| Designer | Smith & Wesson |
| Designed | 1898 |
| Manufacturer | Smith & Wesson |
| Produced | 1898–present |
Where is the model number on a Smith and Wesson 38 Special?
Revolvers – The official serial number is located on the bottom of the butt of the frame. Some revolvers also have the serial number located on the inside of the frame, in the yoke area.
Is 38 Special and 38 S&W the same?
The larger case diameter of the 38 S&W will prevent it being inserted in a 38 Special firearm. Being the 38 Special is smaller it will fit into a gun chambered for 38 S&W but being smaller and higher pressure the case may rupture.
What does SPL mean on a gun?
Abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Description |
|---|---|
| SP | Soft Point or Spire Point |
| Spl. | Special |
| SPR | Special Purpose Rifle |
| Sprg. or SA | Springfield Armory |
What is the most powerful 38 Special ammo?
- Deepest Penetration: Black Hills +P, 125 gr JHP: 22.12 inches deep.
- Largest Overall Diameter: Federal Personal Defense Micro 130 gr HST JHP: .72 inches.
- Fastest: SinterFire Special Duty 110 gr Frangible HP: 1,060 feet per second.
What’s the difference between 38 and 38 Special ammunition?
There’s no difference between a . 38 and a 38 special. The former refers to a caliber with a . 357 inch bullet diameter, while the latter is a cartridge variant under the .
Is 38 Special centerfire or rimfire?
38 Special rounds are centerfire cartridges. Since centerfire cartridges use a primer that’s a component of the overall cartridge construction, they are inherently more complicated than rimfire cartridges.
What does plus P mean on 38 special?
38 Super Auto ammunition has the “+P” designation.) To prevent firearm damage and possible injury, +P ammunition must be fired only in those firearms certified for it.
What is the difference between a 38 Special and 38 Special?
38 S&W is shorter and fatter than 38 S&W Special (just about everyone just calls it 38 Special). They are NOT interchangeable. A 38 S&W will not fit in the hole of a 38 Special, and a 38 Special is too long for the cylinder of a 38 S&W.
Do they still make 38s in the US?
Very few (if any) guns are still made in 38 S&W. There are only a couple of companies that still load the ammo, and they only load it one way (as opposed to the 38 S&W Special, that is loaded by every ammo maker in the world and in just about every load imaginable). So much for history.
Why is 38 S&W Special so scarce?
A .38 S&W Special will drop into these cylinders and will fire. The main problem being that they will also bulge and/or split the cases, along with diminished accuracy. The reason .38 S&W is scarce is simple economics. Ammo factories are not set up to produce every kind of ammunition at all times.
What is the PSI of 38 Special Ammo?
A 38 Special is 17,000 psi (that’s how they stated it in the book – why they used cup for one cartridge and psi for the is a bit strange) based on that, I would be a little concerned with reaming out the 38 S&W chambers to accommodate the longer 38 Special. I think the ammo referred to by a previous poster would be a better way to go.
