What is this cartridge - a "Western .38 Auto"

FirstFreedom · May 24, 2006, 07:21 PM

My buddy got an old box of these at a flea market. Just marked "Western. .38 Auto". But it *looks* an awful lot like a .38 super to me - same thing?

pumpkinheaver · May 24, 2006, 07:24 PM

.38 acp was the "predecessor" of the .38 super. .38 auto is loaded to lower pressures. Western is the brand name.

**Mike Irwin** · May 25, 2006, 12:02 AM

Pumpkin is correct.

I can't remember when Winchester bought Western Cartridge Company, but I believe it was before WW II.

The .38 ACP is the only one of John Moses Browning's cartridges ever to go obsolete.

If you ever have a gun chambered for .38 Auto, or .38 ACP, NEVER EVER fire .38 Supers in it. It will very likely damage the gun within a few shots.

johnbt · May 25, 2006, 09:46 AM

Actually, it was the Olin family's Western Cartridge Co. that bought Winchester Repeating Arms in 1931. They'd owned WCC since the 1890s IIRC.

This quote says something a little different, but the point is that Olin took a big chance and saved Winchester.

"1931 Olin purchases Winchester Repeating Arms Company and combines it with the Western Cartridge Company."

May 24, 2006, 07:21 PM	#1
FirstFreedom Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A. Posts: 12,455	What is this cartridge - a "Western .38 Auto" My buddy got an old box of these at a flea market. Just marked "Western. .38 Auto". But it looks an awful lot like a .38 super to me - same thing?

May 25, 2006, 12:02 AM	#3
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 21,782	Pumpkin is correct. I can't remember when Winchester bought Western Cartridge Company, but I believe it was before WW II. The .38 ACP is the only one of John Moses Browning's cartridges ever to go obsolete. If you ever have a gun chambered for .38 Auto, or .38 ACP, NEVER EVER fire .38 Supers in it. It will very likely damage the gun within a few shots. __________________ Coworkers. A convenient source of food in a post apocalyptic world.

May 24, 2006, 07:24 PM	#2
pumpkinheaver Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2006 Location: Missouri Posts: 292	.38 acp was the "predecessor" of the .38 super. .38 auto is loaded to lower pressures. Western is the brand name.

May 25, 2006, 09:46 AM	#4
johnbt Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 1999 Location: Richmond, Virginia USA Posts: 4,205	Actually, it was the Olin family's Western Cartridge Co. that bought Winchester Repeating Arms in 1931. They'd owned WCC since the 1890s IIRC. This quote says something a little different, but the point is that Olin took a big chance and saved Winchester. "1931 Olin purchases Winchester Repeating Arms Company and combines it with the Western Cartridge Company."