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Tell me about this .38 long cartridge revolver

Aaron1124

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2009
Messages
2,044
Location
Kent, Washington, USA
I came across this .38 long cartridge revolver when cleaning out my father in law's garage. He didn't know a lot about it, other than it came from his grandpa, and he's never shot it, himself.

I did some research but couldn't find a lot about it online. The manufacturer is GAC Firearms MFG. Co

Does anyone have any familiarity on this piece?

Thanks in advance,

Aaron
 

WalkingWolf

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2011
Messages
11,930
Location
North Carolina
I believe it is a Spanish made copy of American firearm. Might help to post a picture, but I am guessing it looks like a S&W pre war revolver.
 

skidmark

Campaign Veteran
Joined
Jan 15, 2007
Messages
10,444
Location
Valhalla
Have no idea about your particular gun. As mentioned, a picture or more info on the markings and where they are located may help. You could also look here
http://world.guns.ru/index-e.html or here http://arms2armor.com/Firearms/firearms.htm

Be aware that .38Long is not .38S&W aad it definately is not .38Spcl. If you do not have this http://www.saami.org/specifications...1-Unsafe_Arms_and_Ammunition_Combinations.pdf
bookmarked, saved on your hard disk, a backup copy saved somewhere else, and printed out do so now.

stay safe.
 

WalkingWolf

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2011
Messages
11,930
Location
North Carolina
Here's a picture of it.

As I thought, a Spanish copy of a S&W pre war. Yes ammo is available but it is expensive. If you reload it is simple to cut down 38 spl cases for it. IIRC the original load called for a heavy bullet over black or early smokeless powder. Seems to me the gun was loaded to throw a 200 grain bullet at 600 FPS. Yes it was a very heavy bullet moving at a snails pace. You should be able to get by with a 158 grain bullet loaded to about the same speed or a little faster.

Hodgdon shows with a 150 grain bullet starting load with 3 grains of universal for 631 FPS, 3.5 grains is maximum for 769 FPS. With a 125 grain bullet the load is 3.2 grains universal for 626 FPS, 3.7 grains for 772 FPS.
 
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