Review: S&W 38/44 Heavy Duty

The S&W 38/44 Heavy Duty was introduced in 1930. The 38/44 version of the 38 Special cartridge was created In response to police requests for a more potent 38 Special round. The S&W Heavy Duty was the gun specifically designed for that round. The reason for the hotter 38 Special was law enforcement needed a bullet that could penetrate body armor and "bullet proof" glass that was starting to be used at the time, especially by members of organized crime. Colt had responded to this need in the late 20s with the introduction of the 38 Super in the 1911 automatic.

The 38/44 was the direct predecessor to the 357 Magnum, which was introduced by S&W in 1935. In fact, the published velocity of the 38/44 round at the time (around 1200 fps for the 158 gr bullet) indicates that the 38/44 was as hot as modern day factory loaded 357 Magnum loads. This is why S&W used their 44 Hand Ejector, 3rd Model frame as the foundation for the Heavy Duty. The smaller M&P 38 Special (built on what would later be known as the K-Frame) could not handle this high pressure round and S&W specifically advised against shooting the 38/44 in these guns.

When S&W assigned model numbers to their guns in 1957 the Heavy Duty became the Model 20. It remained in production until 1966.

For more information you can visit an excellent web site devoted strictly to the 38/44 Heavy Duty: www.38-44heavyduty.com

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• S&W
• Smith
• Wesson
• Heavy
• Duty
• 357
• Magnum
• revolver
• shooting

[nbenicewicz]

OK so the .38/44 is more powerful than a regular .38 Special but not as powerful as a .357 Magnum, what is the difference between this and the .38 Special+P?

[Gary7even]

@nbenicewicz The original 38/44 loadings were probably hotter than modern 38 Special +P loads--maybe more like modern 38 Special +P+, which is getting close to 357 levels.

[DolittleMccoy]

Whats the reason for the Snap Caps? I've always heard it wasn't good to dry snap a revolver. Just wondering?

I just traded for an old style 38. Smith and Wesson but i'm not sure what year it could be. The top of the barrol says Pat: 4 May 1881 12 April 1898 27 May 1890 11 June 1900 26 July 1900 23 May 1901

Handle stamp says : NZ 8304

Any ideas?

[Gary7even]

@DolittleMccoy It's not a good idea to dry fire a revolver--especially one with a hammer mounted firing pin--unless you use snap caps. That's the reason for snap caps--to prevent damage to the firing pin.

Post over on the S&W forum about your old S&W. Someone will be able to help you date it. Is it a top break or hand ejector model?

[Jrhoney]

Hell of a good example of an older Smith & Wesson. I love the older ones, such a classic look.

[John94pl]

Bonnie Parker/Barrow Gang firearm !!

[nbenicewicz]

@Gary7even Boy that was pretty dumb wasn't it? Cops in the 20s and 30s wanted something more powerful than .38 Special, .38/44 came out, then .357 Magnum, then .38 Special+P several decades later and then .38 Special+P+. Why didn't they just go back to the .38/44? Now there are three different calibers which are basically the same thing.