Where to find 380 revolver ammo?

380 revolver ammo is the same thing as 38S&W as far as dimensions go.

When the cartridge was first made, it was dubbed the 38-200 and used a 200 grain cast lead bullet at around 650fps. The Geneva Convention, banned the use of lead bullets for warfare and the British went to a copper jacketed 170 grain bullet instead. Smith and Wesson has a round that is dimensionally correct but is loaded down and uses 158 grain lead bullets.

Any local gun shop will likely carry a few boxes of this ammo. I'm actually surprised you haven't gone to one to find the loaded cartridges.

If you are looking for the 38-200 loads, your only option is to either cast your own bullets or find "maybe" find someone who does and reload them yourself.

You're being very tight lipped about "this case." Why???

If you have one of the older "antique revolvers" you may have to get a set of loading dies that will do the job.

I have a lovely "antique status" revolver that requires a slightly shortened S&W case with more taper. It was designed to hold a "heeled" bullet.

If this is the case, you need to do more research on your particular revolver. Lots of reloading information out there and lots of info on bullet design. I use 9mm dies to resize my brass and when I'm lucky at a gun show, find some 38 call heeled bullets. In the meantime, I'm on the look out for a set of molds designed with a heel or a hollow base provision.
 
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I have seen some original surplus at shows in the past in rcaf marked boxes but its rare I have yet to see any brit surplus floating around I have some here but I wont sell it I don't think il find some again
 
Sorry, don't mean to hide anything.

Thing is, I put my hand on an antique which might not be common in any way. Therefore I'd need to prove the original caliber, to confirm it's ''antiqueness''. Since the .38s&w is on the no-go list, I'd need the ''real'' .380
 
I have seen .380mkIIz ammo on the EE several times.

The stuff that was there for quite a while is gone now however.

As I said in your other thread, I have some.

You need to PM me if you want any, I'm not the one that needs them, so your "PM me" fell on deaf ears.
 
Slowbalt said:
Sorry, don't mean to hide anything.

Thing is, I put my hand on an antique which might not be common in any way. Therefore I'd need to prove the original caliber, to confirm it's ''antiqueness''. Since the .38s&w is on the no-go list, I'd need the ''real'' .380
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Slowbait, how will the cartridge help???? You need to get it verified anyway.

I have a Webley No2, chambered in 380 cf. It will not chamber a 38 S&W cartridge, unless it has been sized down to accept a heeled bullet.

Usually, an antique status Webley will have a hollow base winged cartridge symbol, just under the Webley logo on the left side of the frame.

You may want to contact John Hipwell. He owns Wolverine Supplies and is one of the supporting sponsors. He loves old Webleys and is extremely knowledgeable.

One other thing, if your pistol will accept the 38 S&W cartridge, it will easily accept the 380 CF cartridge.
 
380 revolver is not the same as .38 - a .357 lead will drop right through the barrel - and that is one thing that you can do to demonstrate that the gun is not on the prohib list.
 
anchor3593 said:
380 revolver is not the same as .38 - a .357 lead will drop right through the barrel - and that is one thing that you can do to demonstrate that the gun is not on the prohib list.
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380 probably uses a bullet around .361 - same as a 38S&W.

have you looked at the 380 on the antique closely? Make sure it does not say 360. That is what is on mine and it is a different caliber than 38 S&W, although the 38 will chamber and fire.
 
380 revolver is a heeled bullet with a diameter of .375
380 S&W is a non heeled bullet with a diameter of .359

They are not the same and it is unwise to use 38 S&W unless you know for certain that the revolver is in that caliber.

It is unwise because antiques are often not marked and WAAAY to many people guess. I purchased a bulldog in what I was told was 380 revolver. I was also told that I could shoot 38 S&W in it. A 38 S&W cartridge fit the chamber perfectly. Fortunately I slugged the bore first and discovered that the bore was .345. I am sure that .359 S&W would have fired but what would have happened to my fingers or to the gun is uncertain.

There was a whole bunch of antique calibers in the 38 range and a great deal of variation from manufacturer to manufacturer. It may not be 380 revolver at all. The first thing you need to do to be safe is slug the barrel. Then you will have some idea as to what will work and what won't. This is how you figure out what caliber the gun really is.
 
Clotho said:
380 revolver is a heeled bullet with a diameter of .375
380 S&W is a non heeled bullet with a diameter of .359

They are not the same and it is unwise to use 38 S&W unless you know for certain that the revolver is in that caliber.

It is unwise because antiques are often not marked and WAAAY to many people guess. I purchased a bulldog in what I was told was 380 revolver. I was also told that I could shoot 38 S&W in it. A 38 S&W cartridge fit the chamber perfectly. Fortunately I slugged the bore first and discovered that the bore was .345. I am sure that .359 S&W would have fired but what would have happened to my fingers or to the gun is uncertain.

There was a whole bunch of antique calibers in the 38 range and a great deal of variation from manufacturer to manufacturer. It may not be 380 revolver at all. The first thing you need to do to be safe is slug the barrel. Then you will have some idea as to what will work and what won't. This is how you figure out what caliber the gun really is.
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Exactly!

take nothing for granted when dealing with "unknowns"
 
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