Which 38 ammo for this old S&W?

The proper cartridge to use in that revolver is probably .38 s&w
Here is a link to some ammunition.
It may not be safe to shoot smokeless powder loads in your gun. Someone more knowledgeable than me might be along to tell you.
The ammunition you linked to, however is almost certainly not correct. It is used mostly in autoloading pistols.
 
I'm no S&W expert but I suspect that is chambered for the .38 S&W (38 colt)which IS not the same as the 38 special or any of the 38 auto cartridges. Does it indicate it is a 38? Some of these were also made in .32 caliber.
 
May I respectfully recommend that a well qualified gunsmith carefully check this revolver before you fire it; it may be fine, but it is obviously old and not in pristine condition, therefore I suggest you ensure your safety first.
 
I don't know what it is, perhaps a .38 S&W (not to be confused with a .38 S&W Special), but it is certainly not a .380acp.

If you can't figure it out, don't guess. I'd have a gunsmith look it over if I were really interested in firing it.
 
The .38 S&W is a revolver cartridge developed by Smith & Wesson in 1877. Though similar in name, it is not interchangeable with the later .38 Smith and Wesson Special due to a different case shape and slightly larger bullet diameter
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38 specials are .38 inches longer than 38 S&W but..007 inches smaller in diameter.

Plain old .38 Special Smith & Wessons will be too long for the chamber and a sloppy fit if you get them in and 4000-5000 CUP in pressure higher. Likely enough to do bad things to the gun..
 
Smith & Wesson .38 Safety 3rd Model DA Revolver - Cal. .38 S&W CF "Lemon Squeezer"...... ANTIQUE!

I am a heathen and I will and do shoot old guns from before the turn of the century but I would not shoot that gun with any ammo you can buy at your local toy store. Get it evaluated by an expert, insure it and stick it in a locked glass case.
 
Just get plain old .38 Special Smith & Wesson.
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Absolutely NOT 38 Special!!! They wouldn't fit anyway!
Take the advise of RWK. Have it checked out first. I might also add, from the OP stating "I think it is standard 38 auto" then posting a link to 380 ACP ammo I would consider learning a little more about firearms first. Just my observation, not meant to insult.
 
You can also go over to the S&W forum. Some of these old timers were for black powder only and some you can use smokeless. If I were to venture a guess it is probably a .38 S&W. As others have mentioned take it to a reliable gunsmith and have it checked out. Even if you can get ammo for it I wouldn't use it as a regular shooter. Some of these are collectables, especially S&W's. I have a couple of these and won't shoot them unless I have to.
 
Your revolver is a Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless.
It is in caliber .38 S&W.
Not .38 Special or .38 Auto or .380 or .38 Colt as in some of the guesses above.

If the front sight is integral with the barrel, it is a fifth model made after 1907/1909 and probably ok for fresh smokeless ammunition like this:
http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=74737
That is the only place I Googled that actually had it in stock.

If the front sight is pinned to the rib, it is a fourth model older than 1907 and is doubtful with smokeless ammunition. A few won't blow it up in your face but much shooting would wear the gun out in short order... according to David Chicoine who is a leading old gun gunsmith.
 
Please do not fire .38 Auto or .38 Super Auto in that gun! The rounds may fit and fire, but the pressures will be way too high. .38 S&W (the cartridge name, no matter what the make of the gun) runs around 14,000 psi pressure, and many old guns should not be fired with any modern smokeless ammo.

But .38 Aut0 (.38 ACP) runs 26,500 psi, almost twice what the gun was designed to handle, and .38 Super +P runs 36,500! Stick to what the gun was made for. If it says ".38 S&W" use that cartridge, not something else.

Jim
 
Top break S&W 38

Thanks for the info from above!
Lets see if I got this straight. If I have a S&W 38 top break 5 shot
serial #2282XX which should be a 5th edition, the front sight is not pinned
to the barrel. Is it OK to shoot factory Remington 38 146gr RLRN ammo in
this revolver?
 
Remington still supplies factory ammo in .38 S&W. The bullet is a 146 gr. lead roundnose and Bass Pro stocks it. I also bought Lee reloading dies for this caliber at Cabela's.
 
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