Colt Official Police , 4" , 38 Special

[Ben]

Lyman 358429, 3.5 grs. of B'Eye.
On our previous outing with the revolver , we shot 148 gr. W/Cs
with 2.8 of B'Eye. The revolver shot low. With the fixed sights,
it seemed like a good option to try a heavier bullet. Our 429's weigh
171 grs.

BINGO ! It worked.

My 15 yr. old grandson Trevor shooting double action :

https://rumble.com/v4rysa6-april-27-2024.html

 

[Rushcreek]

That’s great. It’s on now according to the post it!
My new to me OP .38 Special is printing high with 158 Speer swaged hp over 3.5 Red Dot.
I’m going the other direction with 105 SWC at high velocity to see what happens.

 

[JWFilips]

Dang! In Double action! That kid is a wizard of Firearms!
Good job Trevor ( & good job Grandpa!!! )

 

[Ben]

That’s great. It’s on now according to the post it!
My new to me OP .38 Special is printing high with 158 Speer swaged hp over 3.5 Red Dot.
I’m going the other direction with 105 SWC at high velocity to see what happens.

I think it will improves things for you.

Ben

 

[Ben]

Dang! In Double action! That kid is a wizard of Firearms!
Good job Trevor ( & good job Grandpa!!! )

Thanks JW,

Ben

 

[462]

Excellent shooting, Trevor.

 

[Thumbcocker]

Good stuff.

 

[CZ93X62]

Mentor, rapt & capable student, with a classic example of police & citizen sideiron. Mighty good stuff all around.

A 4"-barreled 38 Special or 357 Magnum revolver does a whole lot of jobs very well. It took forever (almost), but a lot of everyday carry or defensive armament has drifted in the direction of the bottom-feeders and striker-firing these days. This takes nothing away from the 38 Special's sporting value, and the caliber remains decisive if well-placed in an exchange of finality.

Mostly, we take our toys out for recreation and enjoyment. I find myself getting a bit lost in the defensive elements of this hobby field from time to time, and a view of the news on TV reinforces that take hourly......my eyes glaze over. An hour in the desert with the Colt OMT or S&W Model 625 re-grounds me and restores my placid calm.

 

[Ben]

Thanks Allen,

Ben

 

[Petrol & Powder]

An American made DA revolver, chambered in 38 Special with a 4” barrel may very well be the most universal handgun ever created.

While that type served as the primary LE sidearm for many decades, it is also just a fantastic all-around handgun. Accurate, reasonably powerful, easily carried, durable, reliable, incredibly versatile and just downright FUN to shoot.

 

[Walks]

My 6" OP uses that same load with a 6 O'clock hold. For dead on try #358495 over 3.0grs.

 

[CZ93X62]

Not a HUGE thread swerve here, but one niche where the 38 Special remains very popular is in the snub-nose configuration. S&W has all sorts of J-frame 38 Special +P models listed......and some of this same diminutive size and weight in 357 Magnum (though I have no interest in herding any such beast).

My old shop has been wedded to the autopistol since 1987, but the J-frame S&W 38s and the newer Ruger LCR snubbies still get lots of use in 'Back-up arm' and 'Off-duty' roles.

I recall LTC Jeff Cooper's writings from 45-50 years ago concerning defensive pistol carry. He dwelled on the good work done by the GI Model 1911A1 (et al) 45 ACP caliber pistols, and it's track record in back-alley engagements is decisive. He DID write something interesting c. 1978, though......right about the time I finished the Sheriff's Academy and went outside to play. This subject was the 38 Special snub-nose revolver, and he allowed that not all venues accommodated full-potential Colt Commander or Govt. Model 45s as fashion accessories. (I get a twitch in one ear just typing that out......).

In such instances LTC Cooper considered the 38 Special a viable option to help prevent ventilation by evil-doers & malefactors. His thoughts on ammo paralleled current thinking, a lead SWC of 158 grains at full-snort. This last bit concerning the ammo might be a mite fuzzy, but seems about right. Stuff can evaporate a bit after 45 years.....just sayin'.

My big paws don't get along well with J-frame 5-shot 38 Specials, and I have a dinky little S&W Model 642 that delights in re-proving that concept on every attempt I make to manage the noisy little BLEEP. In times past our nation produced snubnose 38 Special PERFECTION......The Colt Detective Special. Colt's D-frame 6-shot platform was everything needed, the Police Positive Special concept with 2" barrel. In 1969 this series' apogee was reached with it's 3rd Generation--+P-capable, decent OEM gripset that fit most folks well, and 6 shots of same. Best of breed, that critter.

I had a 2" Model 10 S&W for a few years, and I still wonder about my own STUPIDITY of turning that jewel loose when we swapped to bottom-feeders. I had use of a 3" Model 13 for a time as well, and THAT was a keeper for sure--just don't run 125 grain JHP loads through it. The 158 grain JHP W-W Super-X would keep it happy for decades; I still run clones of that load in my 357s, Lyman #358156 atop 13.5 x 2400 for about 1225 FPS from my 4" 686.

Time to halt this maundering, I'm swerving out some now.

 

[RicinYakima]

As we discussed last month, the S&W Combat Masterpiece loaded with 158 grain SWC at 900 f/s will take care of 99% of the real needs a person has. But I am old school, so a OP, Army Special, Ruger or Charter Arms four inch will serve just as well. Not so sure about the Police Positive Special as they are not really high round count revolvers at that loading level.

 

[smokeywolf]

Shortly after March 1963 (the Onion Field incident), the little snub nose pistols became quite a bit more popular, as the carrying of a backup became much more widely practiced in law enforcement. Some of those backups are referred to as an "onion field gun".

EDIT to add: In 1973 backup guns got another bump as the Joseph Wambaugh book "The Onion Field" came out.

 

[smokeywolf]

Mrs. smokeywolf is pretty proficient with a 4" Colt Police Positive in 38 SPL.

 

[RicinYakima]

Mrs. smokeywolf is pretty proficient with a 4" Colt Police Positive in 38 SPL.

Wonderful guns, I've had several along with DS, Cobras and still have my Agent. But they require a lot of maintenance if shoot with +P loads very much, in my experience. After I had my Agent refreshed about ten years ago, I only shoot target loads for practice and one cylinder of +P twice a year.

 

[Rushcreek]

Mine has probably put in time with an unknown police department, but since it’s a field gun now I bought some Altamont grips for it.
There’s a number on the backstrap, but I haven’t a clue what it means.

 

[CZ93X62]

I didn't have enough time with a Gen III D-frame to assess their durability compared to the 1940s and 1950s platforms. My subjective 'feel' back then was that the IIIs had a bit more to them, but it has been a while.

I agree that an I-frame Colt or K-frame S&W is a better option for constant use & carry. As always, trade-offs rule the earth.

 

[Charles Graff]

I have put allot of load through Colt OPs in 38 Special. 3.0 BE under a 158 RN (368311) has always shot to the sights. given great accuracy and was easy on the old Colt. 1952 5 "