S & W 'Terrier' - Images? Info? History? Testimonials?
- Thread starter Oyeboten
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I am guessing they declined in popularity once the Chief's Special made it's debut.
For some reason, I have lately began to revisit the .38 S & W Cartridge, and, particularly, to weish to know more about the sort of last of the various Revolvers which Smith & Wesson made which chambered it.
For some reason, I have lately began to revisit the .38 S & W Cartridge, and, particularly, to weish to know more about the sort of last of the various Revolvers which Smith & Wesson made which chambered it.
MMCSRET
Member
I do not have a Terrier, but I do have a Regulation Police, 4", 5 shot, 38 S&W, square butt. Dates to 1927. A great little gun, I cast and load my own, so ammunition is no problem and, the gun was designed to shoot lead bullets anyway. The Regulation Police is an "I" frame, same as the Terrier, but the Terrier has a round butt and a shorter barrel. Great guns!!!!!!!
They were fairly popular with plain clothes police, but what killed them off was the change to .38 Special for police holster guns. Most departments want plain clothes or off duty guns to use the same ammo as the service pistol, so the Terrier and Regulation Police were traded for Dick Specials. Later, the Chiefs Special resulted in a lot of folks going back to S&W in spite of sacrificing a round.
Jim
Jim
It is interesting how popular the .38 S&W Cartridge was for at least Eighty Years...even among Police.
I wonder, is there any reason not to shoot the WWII era .38-200 Cartidge ( or the Colt equivelent or whatever the hgeavier Colt versions were, for Police Use back when? ) in an S & W 'Terrior'? As a once in a great while thing?
Seems like it would be a Strong little Revolver, all in all.
I wonder, is there any reason not to shoot the WWII era .38-200 Cartidge ( or the Colt equivelent or whatever the hgeavier Colt versions were, for Police Use back when? ) in an S & W 'Terrior'? As a once in a great while thing?
Seems like it would be a Strong little Revolver, all in all.
Radagast
Member
Oyeboten:
Louisiana Man has already done your research for you.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=505534
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=505640
Louisiana Man has already done your research for you.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=505534
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=505640
Radagast
Member
Same discussion at TFL:
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=398325
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=398325
MMCSRET
Member
I cast Ideal #358246 and #360271, RN and SWC, both drop from the mold @.361, I size and lube @.360, both weigh 146 grains when ready. Both shoot to point of aim @ 25 yards when loaded over 2.15 grains of A#2 loaded in Remington or Starline cases. The 38-200 would not do that, the 38-200 was designed for larger, heavier revolvers with longer barrels. I like the traditional U.S. loads, they work very well.
The Terrier started out on the I frame and sometime after model numbers were assigned it became a J frame gun (slightly bigger). I think maybe the 32-1 is the first J frame model.
The 38 S&W cartridge is still produced but very limited in loadings and is very pricey to buy. This caliber is easy to reload and I do so for several 38 S&W revolvers that I own.
My guns shoot the readily available .357" sized bullets just fine despite being a bit undersized for the .360" bore of the 38 S&W.
Thinking I might want to carry my Terrier I worked up a load using the 125 JHP that clocked 975 FPS from the 2" barrel. Note that this is 100 FPS faster than the 875 FPS I get with factory +P 38 Specials from my 2" revolvers.
The 38 S&W is not a toy. But this is a caliber that requires loading your own for performance and economy.
I wish I had a Colt Banker Model in 38 S&W but collectors shave driven the prices on these through the roof.
The 38 S&W cartridge is still produced but very limited in loadings and is very pricey to buy. This caliber is easy to reload and I do so for several 38 S&W revolvers that I own.
My guns shoot the readily available .357" sized bullets just fine despite being a bit undersized for the .360" bore of the 38 S&W.
Thinking I might want to carry my Terrier I worked up a load using the 125 JHP that clocked 975 FPS from the 2" barrel. Note that this is 100 FPS faster than the 875 FPS I get with factory +P 38 Specials from my 2" revolvers.
The 38 S&W is not a toy. But this is a caliber that requires loading your own for performance and economy.
I wish I had a Colt Banker Model in 38 S&W but collectors shave driven the prices on these through the roof.
Thanks Radagast,
I had forgotten Louisianna Man's name, but remembered some of his Threads in which the .38 S&W Cartridge was being discussed.
He was also over on the 'Castboolits' Forum.
If S & W had made an N Frame chambering the .38 S&W Cartridge, or Colt, a NBew Service, one could work up some even peppier Loadings..! ( Lol...)
I had forgotten Louisianna Man's name, but remembered some of his Threads in which the .38 S&W Cartridge was being discussed.
He was also over on the 'Castboolits' Forum.
If S & W had made an N Frame chambering the .38 S&W Cartridge, or Colt, a NBew Service, one could work up some even peppier Loadings..! ( Lol...)
jhvaughan2
Member
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Nice revolvers but my advice would be to hold off and try to get one on an I-frame (prior to '61. These are smaller then the j-frame by a bit. A J-frame terrier (model 32) is not much more than a lesser-powered model 36 (38 special).
W.E.G.
Member
Terrier in .38 S&W compared to a couple Chief's Specials in .38 SPL and .357 MAG
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Accurate as can be for the intended purpose.
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Accurate as can be for the intended purpose.
Thanks SaxonPig,
Ye'd mentioned in passing -
Nice to hear this.
This kind of real life practical info, is some of what I had hoped might be offered in this Thread.
Usually, of course, the .38 S&W Cartridge is associated with the much earlier and less robust Break-Tops, whether of Smith & Wesson maker, or, other.
Where, the various small Frame Colt and S&W Hand Ejecting revolvers, being much stronger, could abide peppier Loadings ( than the Break-Tops ought to have asked of them ), thus, putting a Terrior or Police Positive Snubby ( ie: When dedicated at the Factory - the Banker's Special, ) into a League overlapping very respectibly, their .38 Special counterparts.
Ye'd mentioned in passing -
Nice to hear this.
This kind of real life practical info, is some of what I had hoped might be offered in this Thread.
Usually, of course, the .38 S&W Cartridge is associated with the much earlier and less robust Break-Tops, whether of Smith & Wesson maker, or, other.
Where, the various small Frame Colt and S&W Hand Ejecting revolvers, being much stronger, could abide peppier Loadings ( than the Break-Tops ought to have asked of them ), thus, putting a Terrior or Police Positive Snubby ( ie: When dedicated at the Factory - the Banker's Special, ) into a League overlapping very respectibly, their .38 Special counterparts.
Hi W.E.G.,
Thank you also!
Very nice.
The Terrior, on the right in the image, is especially nice to see an example of.
The earliest Chief's Special, looked just at that, but for it's longer Cylinder...where, very soon on, they changed the Front Sight and Trigger Bow size.
I would sure love to find an early Chief's Special to call my own.
And, a Terrior as nice as yours is!
Wow...lovely...
Thank you also!
Very nice.
The Terrior, on the right in the image, is especially nice to see an example of.
The earliest Chief's Special, looked just at that, but for it's longer Cylinder...where, very soon on, they changed the Front Sight and Trigger Bow size.
I would sure love to find an early Chief's Special to call my own.
And, a Terrior as nice as yours is!
Wow...lovely...
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