38 Special revolvers
- Thread starter doubleh
- Start date
35 Whelen,
You really need to shoot those USFA single actions. They are a joy on the range. I shoot this "38 Colt & Smith&Wesson Special" USFA Gunslinger (I hate that name) model.
Here's another dedicated 38 Special, a 1952-3 Smith & Wesson Heavy Duty. It gets a steady diet of 38-44 hand loads - a 158g @ 1125 +- FPS.
The smooth target stocks have been replaced with period diamond checkered Magna stocks and a S&W grip adapter.
Dave
You really need to shoot those USFA single actions. They are a joy on the range. I shoot this "38 Colt & Smith&Wesson Special" USFA Gunslinger (I hate that name) model.
Here's another dedicated 38 Special, a 1952-3 Smith & Wesson Heavy Duty. It gets a steady diet of 38-44 hand loads - a 158g @ 1125 +- FPS.
The smooth target stocks have been replaced with period diamond checkered Magna stocks and a S&W grip adapter.
Dave
stonebuster
Member
Good looking shooter. I just did some woods bumming around with my Model 10 myself today. About 4 miles carrying in an old Bucheimer Concealor very comfortable with a good stiff gun belt. Carries high and tight with no flop. Under an untucked T-shirt my wife didn't even notice I was wearing it.
You may like to try one.
Armored farmer
Member
I have a Bianchi 5L for my model 10. It is very similar to your Bucheimer.
I have a Bucheimer that happens to fit my '58 sheriff's model cap n ball perfectly. I like it alot.
IWAC
Member
Wow! I had no idea it was worth that much! I don't think I'll sell it though - it's not hurting anything sitting in the desk in the living room. And I'd rather have it than the $100 I paid for it 25 years ago. Besides, I DO take it out and run a few rounds through it every once in a while, in the name of "testing out a new 38 Special load."
I once had a .38 Colt Diamondback on layaway..$88...but I was a newly married man, and heading back to College, so I returned it.
Later, I decided the 357 was a more versatile caliber, and I've stuck with it since. I'm now thinking a .38 might be a viable choice, but I load my 357s to .38 +P levels, or what my late Brother-inLaw called "Hot .38-Mild Magnum" levels and find that all I need for any foreseeable uses.
.308 Norma
Member
Yep, .38 +P loads are not bad at all in my old Model 67-1, and 357s loaded to .38+P levels are quite pleasant in my Ruger "Security Six" .357. On the other hand (no pun intended) .38 +Ps in my little Smith snub-nose are "snappy" to say the least.
A .38 Colt Diamondback for $88 though??? And you returned it??? Man, that must have hurt.
Not that I blame you - we do what we have to do. In 1971 I traded my impeccable '55 T-bird for a new (less than $3,000 then) Chevy half-ton pickup truck because my wife and I had just gotten married, I was being sent overseas, and my wife needed dependable transportation - which my beloved T-bird was not.
Oh well, like I said, "We do what we have to do." I'm still married to the same beauty, and that T-bird was probably in a scrap yard, and then melted down and turned into something else years ago. Maybe it was even turned into some of the guns my beautiful wife and I have owned and used over the years.
I readily agree with 308 Norma's choice as well...and in the same gun. Just another point to consider: .38 Spl length cartridges are easier to eject from any revolver & especially the snub nosed variety, than .357's (read less likely to hang up on a less than smooth ejection effort). I have found this to be doubly true for my Smith M-60 .357 and carry the .38 Special +P version of Speer's 135 gr Gold Dot. YMMv, Rod
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I thought the reason .357 brass is hard to eject was because of the .135" carbon ring in the chamber from firing .38 Special in a .357.
Obligatory pic. It's a Police trade in, so lots of holster wear, not shot much.
Edit to add: Model 64-6
Obligatory pic. It's a Police trade in, so lots of holster wear, not shot much.
Edit to add: Model 64-6
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Jim Watson
Member
What he is talking about is the length of extractor stroke vs the length of the case.
Strangely enough, Aristocrat makes a collar to shorten the stroke. It takes a smart whack to eject the empties but there is not enough room to trap a case UNDER the extractor star.
As to the other, the carbon ring cleans out readily if you stay on top of it.
Carbon rings in the chambers are greatly over rated! I have shot 10s of thousands of 38 special in my 686 Smith along with some 357s. I have never had a problem with carbon rings.......but when I come in I clean the piece no matter if it shot one round or 100.
PistoleroWadcutterGANG
Member
Louis Lead remover. Making revolver life “sweet” for over 60+ years. Every revolver owner should get one.
Speedo66
Member
A gray 3M ScotchBrite pad will give a stainless S&W a finish just like new, matches the factory finish.
Thanks!
Old Dog
Member
Yeah, the 15-4 is a splendid revolver. Here's one I bought (with my nickel Model 10 bought at the same gun show) and it's still unfired.
PistoleroWadcutterGANG
Member
Don't beat yourself up. You had your reasons and sometimes you have to. Been there, done that. regards man
