38 special resized to 38 S and W?

fightinghamster

fightinghamster

Regular
Super GunNutz
Rating - 100%
20   0   0
Location
Newfoundland
Anyone here resize 38 special brass to use in a 38s&w revolver? I’ve got a bit of spare 38s&w brass lying around but I want more as I love shooting my endfield revolver, is it as easy as trimming lenth and running through a resizing die? Any help is always appreciated
 
fightinghamster: Not recommended. .38 S&W and .38 Special do not share a common case. The .38 S&W being somewhat larger in diameter. Cartridges formed from .38 Special brass are prone to case rupture, when fired. Far better.....and safer, to use proper S&W brass.
 
Last edited:
Alex McKr said:
fightinghamster: Not recommended. .38 S&W and .38 Special do not share a common case. The .38 S&W being somewhat larger in diameter. Cartridges formed from .38 Special brass are prone to case rupture, when fired. Far better.....and safer, to use proper S&W brass.
Click to expand...

Good to know, I’ll start on my quest to find second hand 38s&w cases now
 
fightinghamster: Starline manufactures new, .38 S&W brass. Pretty much non-existent, right now.* But info may be useful for future reference. Site sponsors: Double Tap Sports and Rusty Wood Trading(to name just two), are Starline retailers. Hope this helps.

*Update: Just went to the Rusty Wood site. Shows Starline .38 S&W brass in stock.
 
Last edited:
winchester 38 special cases trimmed to proper length work fine. they might bulge a bit, but they not split. even if they do who cares, its common brass. best cases for conversion are the ones that have no extractor groove at the rim, like blazer or old dominion cases if happen to have those.
 
If you just want to plink, use 9mm brass. 38S&W is 9mm rimmed.

Poke the empties out with a stick or screwdriver.

USE 38 S&W LOAD DATA!!! 9mm is about 35,000 psi, like a 357mag.

xJVFPLV.jpg
 
I'm going to use some of my 38S&W sized through the 38SPL die for my 357mag single shot rifle. Along with 38spl and 357mag of course.
Have loads along the line of 22short/22lr/22mag but in 357 cal.
38S&W for small close range stuff like grouse and squirrels, should be nice and quiet.
 
You would be way better to sell the 38S&W brass than try to run it into 38 sp die, 38 sp is common, s-w is not.
I use to have a pail full, at one time, when no one really cared about it.
I remember buying 1000 rounds of blanks for 95.oo , worked great and it is standard brass cases.
 
marshall said:
You would be way better to sell the 38S&W brass than try to run it into 38 sp die, 38 sp is common, s-w is not.
I use to have a pail full, at one time, when no one really cared about it.
I remember buying 1000 rounds of blanks for 95.oo , worked great and it is standard brass cases.
Click to expand...

I have a pre-victory 6" 38S&W as well and no shortage of brass, not too worried. I can always run it through the pistol afterwards at any time.
 
I used 9mm dies many years ago. 9mm is tapered of course. Belled the cases enough to get the bullets seated.
Didn't have any .38 equipment. I suspect I also used shortened .38SP cases. Worked fine in a Colt Police Positive I had at the time.
 
Suther said:
Very interesting.

Does that also mean you could size 38sw in 9mm Para dies?
Click to expand...

It has been a long time since I made 38S&W plinks with 9mm brass. I recall sizing the 9mm brass with both 38Spl and with 9mm. I don't recall which worked best. I bought a 38S&W sizer die a long time ago.

If you also load for 9mm, using 9mm cases for a 38S&W is dangerous, because one day Murphy will put a real 9mm in your 38. The gun will most probably take it ok (don't ask how I know this) but it can dame a gun.

If you don't have a 9mm pistol then 9mm cases make perfect plinker loads.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom