Talk:Smith & Wesson Model 20

38/44

The 38/44 round was a souped up 38 round introduced by S&W in 1930/31. It was in response to Colt's 38 Super. Both rounds were in response to law enforcement wanting a handgun round that was higher velocity. By the late twenties American law enforcement was dealing with criminal who were driving cars with all steel bodies and in a few cases wearing early body armor. The 38 special and 32 special just weren't up to the task.

The 38/44 is actually the predecessor of the .357 magnum which Smith & wesson introduced in 1935. It has been incorrectly reported that the 38/44 round is the equivlant of today's 38 +P load. No it isn't. It's the equivlant of the old 38 +P+ load that was so popular with cops in the seventies and early eighties before everyone switched to semi-autos. It got it's name because it was a 38 caliber load intended to be fired in Smith & Wesson's 44 frame revolver. Nowdays the 44 frame is known as the N frame. If you should come across some old 38/44 loads - sometimes called 38 Special HV (High Velocity) don't shoot it in a standard 38 special revolver. Only shoot it in a .357 magnum revolver.

Actually if it's still in the original box I wouldn't shoot it at all. That old load is becoming a collector's item. --Jcordell 14:05, 6 September 2009 (UTC)

Were the dimentions of the .38/44 round such that they could be chambered in a .357 revolver? Additionally, can a .38/44 revolver chamber .38 special rounds? -Anonymous

Yes and yes. The .38 HV is actually dimensionally identical to a .38 Special. - Nyles

Model 20 with 4" barrel

Model 20/ Heavy Duty with 4" barrel