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Colt Army Special 38 six shot revolver

fourthstoogefourthstooge Member Posts: 8 ✭✭
edited March 2002 in Ask the Experts
I have a Colt Army Special 38 and was told by the previous owner to use "38 Colt" ammo instead of "38 Special." What is the correct ammo for this revolver with a swing out cylinder? The serial number is 321XXX with the number 3 written below that. The "38 Special" rounds seem to fit fine and my friends Police Positve appears nearly identical and he uses "38 Special."Thanks. pmccormacksr@hotail.com[This message has been edited by fourthstooge (edited 03-15-2002).]
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  • fourthstoogefourthstooge Member Posts: 8 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have a Colt Army Special 38 and was told by the previous owner to use "38 Colt" ammo instead of "38 Special." What is the correct ammo for this revolver with a swing out cylinder? The serial number is 321XXX with the number 3 written below that. The "38 Special" rounds seem to fit fine and my friends Police Positve appears nearly identical and he uses "38 Special."Thanks. [This message has been edited by fourthstooge (edited 03-14-2002).]
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  • KnifecollectorKnifecollector Member Posts: 3,267 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My book says the Army Special was chambered for the 38 Colt. Doesn't list the 38 special as a chambering for this gun. I don't know what the difference is.
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  • RancheroPaulRancheroPaul Member Posts: 1,459 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    From a Colt blueprint dated 1924, the drawing for the Army Special shows the cylinder measurements and indicates that the following ammunition may be used:38 Short38 Colt Special38 Long Colt38-44 Special38 S & W SpecialAlso, the old advertising from that period of time said under:Calibers: .38 Special, (Using in the same arm .38 Short Colt; .38 Long Colt; .38 Colt Special; .38 Colt Special Hi-Speed; .38 S. & W. Special (full and mid-range loads); .38 S. & W. Special High Velocity; .38-44 S. & W. Special Hi-Speed).Given all this, it appears you can just about shoot most of the .38 ammo made! This information all comes from my R. W. Wilson library of Colts. Hope this helps!
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  • XracerXracer Member Posts: 1,990 ✭
    edited November -1
    The Colt Army Special was the official U.S. sidearm from 1892 to 1911 and was designed for .38 Colt (similar to, and interchangeable with, .38 S&W).... earlier and lower powered rounds than .38 Special.If, indeed, .38 Special fits, I'd suggest using only low-powered loads.[This message has been edited by Xracer (edited 03-15-2002).]
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  • S&W ManS&W Man Member Posts: 208 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The Colt 38 Army and the Navy were designed for the 38 US Militray Service cartridge. This is the same as 38 LONG colt. The gun will also chamber 38 short, 38 special and evev 357 Magnum (Although you cannot close the cylinder with the MAg) A 38 S&W IS NOT THE SAME AS A 38 LONG COLT. The are not interchangeable. a 38 colt will chamber in a 38 S&W but a 38 S&W will not chamber in a 38 long colt. the 38 S&W is a larger diameter (by about .004".) I would recommend 38 long colt in this gun or a light load 38 special. A full and definately a hot 38 special load could be dangerous in this gun. I know from experience as my dad had one of these.
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