.38 Short Colt will fit and fire in a .38 S&W chamber; cases might bulge slightly. As for .38 S&W in a .38 Special/.357 or .38 LC chamber, the operative word is "sometimes."
SAAMI .38 S&W (.38 Colt NP) case diameter specs are .380-.386". .38 Special (.38 SC. ,38 LC, .357 Magnum, .357 Maximum) case diameter specs are .373-.379".
As you see, the upper end of the .38 Special spec is close to the lower end of the .38 S&W spec, and if a slight difference in chamber diameter is added in, the "larger" round will fit and fire in the "smaller" chamber. Just for fun, I tried loading .38 S&W into a dozen .38 Special revolvers and found it fit about half. In some guns, it would fit some of the chambers, but not all.
Jim
SAAMI .38 S&W (.38 Colt NP) case diameter specs are .380-.386". .38 Special (.38 SC. ,38 LC, .357 Magnum, .357 Maximum) case diameter specs are .373-.379".
As you see, the upper end of the .38 Special spec is close to the lower end of the .38 S&W spec, and if a slight difference in chamber diameter is added in, the "larger" round will fit and fire in the "smaller" chamber. Just for fun, I tried loading .38 S&W into a dozen .38 Special revolvers and found it fit about half. In some guns, it would fit some of the chambers, but not all.
Jim