Old Gun books--.38/44 in Detective Specials

[Eldon Hickey]

In 1956, when I was 7 years old, my favorite Uncle bought me copies of Gun Digest and Shooters' Bible....my first gun books. I practically memorized them. Of course they disappeared on one of my many moves over the years. I did a google search a few days ago and was surprised to find both on Amazon and reasonbly priced. Got the '56 Shooters' Bible ($13... in good shape) today...like being reunited with an old friend....brought back a lot of memories. When I got to my favorite gun....the Colt Detective Special...the ad stated that the D Special was suited for all .38 Special ammo, INCLUDING THE .38/44! The old .38/44 ammo exceeded some modern .357's ballistically. I thought that was interesting to say the least....not something I would do but I presume some did. That being the case I would expect to find a lot of older D Specials which were shot loose...I haven't.

[charles isaac]

This has been talked about some here. Colt used some good steel in those guns and it just goes to show that buying a Colt was more than just buying the name.

There's a guy that has tested D Frames with some psychotic loads.

[Doug.38PR]

getting a coke & peanuts. Popping some popcorn. Looking forward to this thread

[Boge]

Mas Ayoob said that in the 70's he was told by a Colt exec. that Colt had bored out some experiemental DS's to .357 Mag. and they stood up to thousands of rds. That said, I have shot some Buffalo Bore .38 158 gr. +p and it took it well, but the recoil is very stout to say the least.

[Oyeboten]

Hi Eldon Hickey,


It does seem surprising that Colt advertisements from the early-to-mid 1930s, through I guess, the 1960s, did indeed advocate the use of .38-44 or 'Heavy-Duty' Cartridges in all their .38 Special line-up, including the Detective Special.


I imagine, among those people who tried it, that the experience was so unpleasant, that one or two rounds satisfied their curiosity.


Hence, they were unlikely to stretch out or shoot loose, their small frame Colts by over-doing it with those Cartridges!


S&W said the same in their ads in the early-to-mid 1930s and on, for their 'M&P' Revolvers, including the 2 inch version.

I'd use those Rounds in an Official Police or a New Service...but it'd be just too nasty in a Police Positive Special or Detective Special for my comfort, or for preserving one's pride in nicely managed and fast recoil-recovery...Lol...

[kenhwind]

In the NRA Book of Small Arms Volume I, Pistols and Revolvers by Walter H. B. Smith, Copyright 1946 the National Rifle Assn; which are more or less condensed versions of "Small Arms of the World".
For the Police Positive Special, he states:
"General Description: A square-butt arm on a .38 caliber frame designed to allow the use of ammunition as powerful as the .38 Special (including high-speed loads)....."

[Doug.38PR]

is the .38-44 Hi Speed really that powerful? Reason I ask is because Bill Jordan clocks it at something like 1085 feet per second out of a 6 inch barrel. Sunday I put a cylinder of 158+P LHP Remingtons through my 4 inch Official police. They weren't far behind. They were, as follows: 932.1, 953.4, 948.5, 976.4, 946.9, 917.1 Feet Per Second

If the Detective Special can handle that kind of power, then I imagine the hi-speed isn't much more of a strain

[Oyeboten]

The published figures I recall from mid 1930s Advertisements, for the .38-44 and the 'Heavy Duty', were of 158 Grain RNL, and, 1,250 FPS.

Barrel Length was not stated...


They ( or many of them anyway, as some I am sure were lighter, ) were in practice, on par with what later became the .357 Magnum Cartridge in it's early Loadings.

[Juan Largo]

I seem to recall Elmer Keith mentioning (perhaps in SIXGUNS BY KEITH) that even the J-frame Smiths would stand up to .38/44 loads. Elmer handloaded his .38s up to 13.5 gr 2400 under a 168gr bullet.

[kenhwind]

The information I have from the same source as post #6; lists the:

.38 Special 158 Gr; MV 870 fps; tested with a 6 inch barrel

.38 Special Super-X 150 Gr. M.P; MV 1175 fps; tested with a 5 inch barrel

.357 Magnum 158 Gr; MV 1510 fps; tested with a 8 3/4 inch barrel