Ammo Question

[Mean Daddy]

Just bought a S&W .38 Special and wondering if I can use .380 or .38 Super in it. Also, anyone have a good source for ammo? Thank you.

[Spirochete]

You can find plenty of 38 special or any other ammunition on gunbroker.com. It's like eBay for guns.

You can bid on ammo, but I'm supplying the "Buy Now" link:

https://www.gunbroker.com/Ammunition/search?Keywords=38%20special&BuyNowOnly=1

[MachIV]

A massive no...and no

[mylife]

More accurately, .357 magnums can safely shoot .38 special.
The converse is not true

[CodeToad]

Nope. 38 Special, maybe 38 Special +P if the instruction manual says so.

Don’t worry, though, 38 Special is perhaps the most abundant round to be found.

[mylife]

I had a sw air weight 442 38 special.
I hated that gun, it was rough on the hand, and the da trigger sucked it was but concealable

[Patriot_MP]

Check with the manufacture on P+ type of ammo — your weapon may not be designed for that... If it’s a .38 Special - then buy .38 Special ammo ... you want to fire .380 auto — then buy a .380 auto pistol... Don’t be mixing rounds like that — it’s dangerous!

[ought-six]

No, on both questions.

[PapaBear3625]

The fact that you are even asking this question indicates you need some instruction before handling your gun.

Seek out somebody at your local range who will help a newby. Lots of gun people like being helpful.

In your .38 revolver, you should only use standard .38 special ammo. You can use .38 +P if your users manual explicitly says you can. DO NOT try putting .357 magnum rounds into a regular .38 gun.

[Psalm 73]

"....38 Special and wondering if I can use .380 or .38 Super in it."

For realz?

[jeffersondem]

“Nope, it will shoot .357 magnum if it can handle the pressure, otherwise it goes Kablooey”

No! Do not attempt to shoot .357 magnum in .38 special firearm.

You can, however, shoot .38 special in a .357 magnum firearm.

[Baldwin77]

For future reference

[IYAS9YAS]

As of right now, Lucky Gunner has some .38 Spcl. It ain’t cheap at a buck a round. But they have it.

[NFHale]

It’s chambered for .38special. So You USE .38 special. Anything else... not a good idea.
But it’s fine to ask; that’s how one learns without getting injured.

[Navy Patriot]

Just bought a S&W .38 Special

Without a model number or physical description the answer is NO, do NOT use anything other than .38 Special ammunition.

Not even the more powerful +P ammunition, ONLY .38 Special.

[Quickgun]

Unfortunately, no. No one makes moon clips to fire the rimless cartridges in that revolver. There ARE other cartridges that could be used, but they are pretty much obsolete and would likely be even harder to find. .38 Short Colt, and .38 Long Colt are two that come to mind. Most .38 Specials won’t chamber the old .38S&W cartridge, I am told.

[Big Red Badger]

No,No-NO!
.
GUNBROKER has .38 Special
and everything else.
It’s more like Ebay in that
You Bid against others.
.

[OftheOhio]

Here’s your huckleberry. Buffalo Bore, standard pressure short barrel low flash heavy 38spl (non +P) 158 grain soft cast LSWHP-GC 850 FPS. Buy a couple of speed loaders to go with your pistol.

[Big Red Badger]

I’ve been Watching that site for awhile now and
Prices are spiking with
No end in sight.
Every caliber pops up but
.22 is ridiculous and .38
Lead Round Nose,,,
Over a buck a round!
Lord Help us.

[OftheOhio]

I thought up a couple of wildcats years ago when talking about 32’s with a dear (navy vet) friend. A 38 super necked down to a 32. I called it a .32 SuperFly. Another was a 38 Special necked down to a 32. I called it a .32 Pimp.

[smokingfrog]

SGammo is usually very good on pricing but their stock levels are extremely low now.