.38 S&W

Infobox Firearm Cartridge
name=.38 Smith & Wesson


caption=A box of WWII-dated .380" Revolver Mk IIz cartridges (and separate cartridges)
origin=flag|United States
type= Pistol
service=
used_by=
wars=
designer=Smith & Wesson
design_date=1877
manufacturer=Smith & Wesson
production_date=
number=
variants=.38/200
is_SI_specs=
parent=
case type=Rimmed straight
bullet=.361
neck=.3855
shoulder=
base=.3865
rim_dia=.440
rim_thick=.055
case_length=.775
length=1.240
rifling=
primer=
is_SI_ballistics=
bw1=158
btype1=L SWC
vel1=767
en1=206
bw2=195
btype2=L RN
vel2=653
en2=185
bw3=200
btype3=LRN
vel3=620
en3=176
bw4=
btype4=
vel4=
en4=
bw5=
btype5=
vel5=
en5=
test_barrel_length=
balsrc= [http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/PerCaliber2Guide/Handgun/Standarddata/35738Cal(9.2 mm)/38%20Smith%20Wesson%20Page%20110.pdf Reloading data at Accurate Powder]

The .38 S&W is a revolver cartridge developed by Smith & Wesson in 1877. It was modified for use by the British military and called the .38/200 (also known as 380/200 Revolver Mk I) in 1922 for .38 caliber pistols and revolvers which replaced the larger .455 and .476 inch handguns. It fires a .361 caliber bullet with a pressure limit of 13,000 CUP [cite web |url=http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/PerCaliber2Guide/Handgun/Standarddata/35738Cal(9.2 mm)/38%20Smith%20Wesson%20Page%20110.pdf |title=Accurate Powder .38S&W Reloading Data |accessdate=2007-09-25 ] It should not be confused with the .38 S&W Special cartridge which has different case dimensions and a different caliber bullet. Colt also chambered revolvers for the cartridge which they called the .38 Colt New Police - the principal difference being that the Colt rounds were flat nosed, while the S&W used a 148 grain (9.6 g) rounded nose lead bullet.

Both the Colt and the S&W cartridge claimed a muzzle velocity of 730 ft/s (220 m/s) and a muzzle energy of 176 ft·lbf (239 J).

The .38 Super Police version of the bullet uses a larger 200 grain (13 g) bullet with a muzzle velocity of 630 ft/s (189 m/s) and a muzzle energy of 176 ft·lbf (239 J). This cartridge was issued to British military forces as the .380/200 Revolver Mk I round. British authorities later issued a different .38 S&W military cartridge with a lighter, 178 - 180 grain jacketed bullet, known as the .380 Revolver Mk IIz.

History

After the First World War, there was a move away from the larger .455 caliber. The professional core of the pre-war British Army had been decimated and replaced by a larger and mostly conscripted force. It was recognized that the short training period available to the new recruits did not give them time to become proficient with the large-bore .455 revolvers, and that a smaller caliber would be easier for new recruits to develop competence with in pistol shooting.
Webley demonstrated a lighter version of their Mk III revolver with modified .38 S&W ammunition, firing a heavy convert|200|gr|sing=on bullet, later known as the 380/200. It received favorable reports from the Army and the revolver was accepted in principle.

As Webley had used the .38 S&W cartridge dimensions for their revolver, and the cartridge length was fixed by the size of the cylinder of the revolver (the same as for the wider .455), Kynoch produced a cartridge with the same dimensions as the .38 S&W but with 2.8 grains (0.18 g) of "Neonite" nitrocellulose powder and a 200 grain (13.0 g) bullet. This combination gave a velocity of 630 fps (189 m/s) at the muzzle, and over 570 feet (170 m) per second at convert|50|yd. In tests performed on cadavers and live animals, it was found that the lead bullet, being overly long and heavy for its calibre, become unstable after penetrating the target, somewhat increasing target effect. The relatively low velocity allowed all of the energy of the cartridge to be spent inside the human target, rather than penetrating completely. This was deemed satisfactory and the design for the .38/200 cartridge was accepted as the "380/200 Cartridge, Revolver Mk I". After a period of service, it was realized that the convert|200|gr|abbr=on soft lead bullet could arguably contravene the Hague Convention, which outlawed the use of bullets designed so as to "expand or flatten easily in the human body". A new cartridge was therefore adopted into Commonwealth Service as "Cartridge, Pistol, .380" Mk IIz", firing a 180 gr (11.7 g) full metal jacket round. The 380/200 Mk I loading was retained in service for marksmanship and training purposes. However, after the outbreak of war, supply exigencies and the need to order readily-available .38 ammunition from U.S. sources forced British authorities to issue both the 380/200 Mk I and the .380 Mk IIz cartridges interchangeably to forces deploying for combat. [Shore, C. (Capt), "With British Snipers to the Reich", Paladin Press (1988), pp. 201, 224-225 ]

The 380 cartridge was phased out of British service in 1963, when the 9 mm calibre Browning Hi-Power was finally issued to most British and Commonwealth forces.

The Cartridge, Pistol, .380" Mk IIz is still produced by the Ordnance Factory Board in India, for use in revolvers of the Indian Army and some African countries.

Revolvers chambered for .38/200 may also fire .38 S&W (AKA .38/145), .38 Police Positive, and .38 Banker's Special cartridges, along with the .380" Mk IIz round, though caution should be exercised as always when using ammunition designed for more modern guns to different specifications.

ynonyms

*.38/200
*.38 Super Police

ee also

*Colt .38/200 Revolver
*Enfield No. 2 Mk I Revolver
*9 mm x 19 caliber
*S&W Victory Revolver
*.38 S&W Special
* Webley Mk IV revolver

References

* ".380 Enfield Revolver No 2" (1993) Stamps, Mark and Skennerton, Ian, Greenhill Books, London ISBN 1-85367-139-8
* "Howdah To High Power" (2002) Maze, Robert J, Excalibur Publications, Tucson AZ ISBN 1-880677-17-2