..I found several boxes of an interesting ammo the other day...it is a metal-piercing 38 special..150 gr. conical-shaped bullet...looked in an old 50s Gun Annual...ballistics rate it at 1100fps..WOW...back of box says adapted to several models including the Official Police Colt(which I own)...before I try a few I wonder if anyone has any thoughts...not worried about the gun blowing apart as it has a substantial frame ...(34-35 oz.)... but dont want to injure the firearm...this isn't intended for a steady diet for the gun...
Western Super-X 38 Spl. metal-piercing..
- Thread starter aspen1964
- Start date
They were designed for use by "Highway Patrolmen" in the 1950s. They were supposedly to be used against vehicle bodies and engines. The rounds would penetrate the bodies, hitting the BGs inside. The .357 load was portrayed as being able to shoot completely through an engine block.
I'd take the velocities published with a grain of salt. Some of them were fired from 16" to 24" pressure barrels.
I'd take the velocities published with a grain of salt. Some of them were fired from 16" to 24" pressure barrels.
Well, I would think if Winchester says it is designed for the Official Police it would be fine for your gun. Having said that however, depending on when yours was made (if it is a pre WW2 gun), I wouldn't overtax it with those rounds. It will be fine every now and then but don't go down to the range and put 5 boxes of those through it ever week like regular .38 rounds as you don't want to wear out the gun. AND EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY I would have a Colt qualified gunsmith look over the gun first for any signs of structural stress before I shot any such hot loads or even +P rounds in it. Lord only knows what somebody before you had been putting through that gun abusively.
Aside from that, your OP should handle those rounds just fine I would think.
Aside from that, your OP should handle those rounds just fine I would think.
thanx...my OP is a 1944...nearly unfired when I recently purchased it..except for the metal being it's age..the gun is about new condition...as I said the OP has a substantial frame but I wanted some opinions...I don't intend to shoot anything like this except once in a great while and in very small quantities...
OHHHHHH. That's the same year as one of mine (I have a 1944 and a 1961) and yours is like new 
I like the older look with the half moon sight and the short ejector rod cap and the "horse head" like hammer as opposed to the "spoon looking" hammer of the 1961...but I still like the 1961 as my second fav handgun.
I like the older look with the half moon sight and the short ejector rod cap and the "horse head" like hammer as opposed to the "spoon looking" hammer of the 1961...but I still like the 1961 as my second fav handgun.