38 special semi rim question

[dj454]

I was digging through some assorted brass that a friend gave me a few years ago. I have a couple of pieces of brass marked 38 Special SR. It does not have the normal 38 special rim but a semi rim like a 38 super but it is the same length as a 38 special as well. It will chamber in my .357 magnum and there is enough rim to eject it. The brass was made by Western. Nobody seems to know anything about it. I am just curious what was it designed for  I imagine maybe for a semi auto 38 special but I only know of the one made by S&W but it used the standard brass from what I can find. Does anybody know anything about this cartridge. Thanks.

[tombogan03884]

Be interesting if you had a .38 Super to try it in.
Like the .45 Auto Rim.

[ellis4538]

Might be a version of the .38 AMU which is a version of the .38 Spl. made specifically for the US AMU and used in .38 Spl. Bullseye guns.  The S&W M52 and the Colt 1911 38 super modified to take .38 Spl. rounds.  I had one built by Giles and it was a joy to shoot and 100% with flush seated 148 gr. wc ammo.

Richard

[dj454]

A couple that I shoot a plates match with have .38supers so I'm going to take one of them with me to compare the size. I think what I have is longer than a 38 super but I will see. Just a curious cartridge and when I google it I can't find anything on it.

[ellis4538]

It is not a .38 s by any means.  It is as you said a semi rimmed 38 spl.  The 38 AMU/38 spl. w/flush seated lwc is very close to the suggested oal of the 38s.  Try and Google the 38 AMU.

Richard

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[dj454]

S&W Model 52 Master.
http://www.shootingtimes.com/handgun_reviews/ST_swmodel5238_200906/

Colt 1911 mid-range match conversions by custom gunsmiths.
http://www.clarkcustomguns.com/gandy.htm

Colt also offered a 1911 .38 Spl "Kit Gun" conversion package in the 1960's in .38 Special or .38 AMU. (Rimless .38 Special developed by the Army Advanced Marksmanship Unit at Ft. Benning.)

Both were designed for 148 grain wad-cutter match ammo.

They would not function with full length RN or SWC bullets.

They were quite common in NRA Bullseye competition years ago.

I found this when I googled 38amu thanks. I knew about the S&w 52 but it used the normal 38 brass or the one my friend had did. But the rimless version designed by the AMU is exactly what it is. Pretty cool I'd like to check one of the guns out.