I got my hands on some reloading equipment over the weekend (finally!) and in the stuff I got were dies for the above. I had never heard of either and was able to find the .45 scho in the book. Basically a short .45 Colt. But I was not able to find the .38 Colt in the book. Any info would be appr.

I got my hands on some reloading equipment over the weekend (finally!) and in the stuff I got were dies for the above. I had never heard of either and was able to find the .45 scho in the book. Basically a short .45 Colt. But I was not able to find the .38 Colt in the book. Any info would be appr.

Here is some loading data on the .45 Scholfield
http://www.reloadammo.com/45soload.htm

The .38 Colt http://www.chuckhawks.com/38sw.htm

Load data for the .38 S&W
http://www.reloadammo.com/38sw.htm

You pretty much can make your own 38 S&W cases from .38 Specials using a case trimmer.

I hope this helps.

Here is some loading data on the .45 Scholfield
http://www.reloadammo.com/45soload.htm

The .38 Colt http://www.chuckhawks.com/38sw.htm

Load data for the .38 S&W
http://www.reloadammo.com/38sw.htm

You pretty much can make your own 38 S&W cases from .38 Specials using a case trimmer.

I hope this helps.

So the .38 Colt and the .38 S&W is the same thing? Thanks.

1.) You cannot make proper .38 S&W cases from .38 Special, the outside diameter is wrong by a substantial amount. Just try to chamber a .38 S&W in a .38 Special revolver and you will see.

2.) .38 Long Colt can be made from .38 Spl. The Spl. relates to the .38 LC in precisely the same way as .357 to .38 Spl, and for the same reason.

3.) There is also a .38 Short Colt which (case) is identical to the LC case except for length.

4.) .38 S&W and .38 LC are hardly more similar to one another than .45 ACP and .45 Long Colt (and don't argue that point). At least the .38's both are rimmed.

The .38 S&W also called the .38 Colt New Police cartridge, as well as the .38 Super Police and 38/200 cartrige.

But I do stand corrected on trimming down the .38 Spl case as the headstamp rim thickness for the .38 S&W .055" and the case mouth opening is .0380" where as .38 Spl is .058" at the case headstamp rim thickness and the case mouth opening is .037" but both will use the same .358" dia bullets.

According to one source they say the .38 S&W and the .38 Spl use differant diamiter bullets, but my reloading manual states differantly which is the Speer manual #9 (1974 printing)

At one time the .38 S&W was even loaded with a 200-gr round nose lead bullet. Its nice to know the history behind this cartridge as it began in 1877 as a black powder cartridge. loading.

Some additional information that I have found:

The .38 Long Colt was introduced by Colt's Manufacturing Company in 1875. It is slightly more potent than the .38 Short Colt. It is also known as simply the .38 LC. The .38 LC and SC differ only in case length.

Now unless you find a .38 S&W to shoot loads in, just shelve the reloading dies as a collectors item :D