38 Special is Special

The 38 Smith and Wesson Special was developed by Smith and Wesson in 1899. It was designed to be a more powerful version of the 38 Long Colt. It fires a .357 diameter bullet and its name comes from the approximate diameter of the loaded case mouth. I love reloading and shooting 38 special, it is a special cartridge.

[whomagoose]

You have answered the most often asked question in over 100 years.

[LivetoshootNC]

The original 38 S&W used a bullet that was pressed over the brass just like a 22 LR still is done today. The projectile was .380 diameter. Smith modernized the 38 offering by reducing the bullet to .357 and loading inside the case as is done today. They kept the 38 caliber designation to imply power. In 1935 they came up with Magnum to imply more power and went back to 357 to follow more modern standards instead of calling it 38 magnum.

[BlueSazerac]

Thank you Hank Hill for explaining this to me

[rashiro]

.38spl is a fantastic round to learn to reload with because of how many options there are. Straight wall cases make reloading easy, and it’s a VERY accurate round when you dial it in.

[jamesjustice]

Nice video I knew it wasn't an actual 38 caliber but didn't know why it called it that

[kennethboston]

I load hand cast 158gr Kieth type pure lead bullets. As long as I don't go faster than 1 thousand feet per second, the lead fouling is kept at a minimum. I sometimes get a bucket of wheel weights. I smelt them down with lots of flux, cast them and run them through a sizing/ lube die. It takes all day and I only do the smelting outside with a good breeze going. I just love the.38 Special almost as much as shooting.460 Smith and Wesson shorts out of my BFR. Keep on reloading!😁

[randysmith]

Thank you sir for that bit of history.

[SilverSlugVideos]

Hot DAMN that's a spicy crimp on the 357

[slaytanicsabbath]

Wow, that's one of those things I'd thought about when Im shooting my Dan Wesson but always forgot to look into, thanks man!

[mhmghb]

It goes back to the days of heeled bullets where the bullet had a reduced diameter shank to fit inside the case mouth but the actual diameter was that of the case.

It's probably the most versatile round out there with things going to +P+ and down to wadcutters you can almost see traveling to the target. Great for beginners or teaching people to shoot.

[jimbutke]

Carried a .38 in the Air Force in the 80s. I own a few 9mm but still have a fondness for revolvers

[wildancrazy]

The best trigger pull, And most accurate pistol I ever owned was a mod 10, I so regret letting that one go.. good video and information.

[Frogtalkin]

my grandfather loved this caliber, he loaded them so hot the cylinder extractor would be stuck on his pistol.

[NO]

Ok everyone. The original 38colt used a heeled bullet that was the same outside diameter of the case- .38” much like a 22LR uses a heeled bullet today.
This then transferred to the 38S&W and then the 38 spl. So when the cartridge changed to 35cal, the 38 name stuck.

[KaraTheGirlie]

That is the most shiny revolver ever, major props on the upkeep of that beautiful weapon

[billballbuster]

Revolver cartridges have a long lineage and were originally designed tor black powder. So the cartridge cases have larger volume than the more modern semi-auto cartridge. So the large 38 Special cartridge case only has the same amount of powder as the much smaller 9mm.

[DeadPool-jebh]

That's a nice s&w
I have a 10-5
Just classic beauty

[NBC_]

I learn something new about guns and ammo everyday!

[ww]

The 38 Colt used a healed bullet the same od as the case. 22lr uses a healed bullet. 38 Colts bullets were externally lubed. S&W changed that to internally lubed bullets. Thanks for the video

[jimjones]

"I don't know what it's called I just know the sound it makes when it takes a man's life"
Nick noltes character in tropic thunder