380 Friday - Like 455 Friday But 75 less. Which Is The "Best" 380/200 Service Revolver?

The Bloke, The Chap and Nick head to the range to see which is the "best" of the three standard .380/200 revolvers in British service in WW2. In the rain. With possibly surprising results! Featuring an Enfield No.2, a Webley .38 Mk.IV, and a S&W M&P.
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[@tfbtv]

This was a good episode. I liked how you let your personality come out a bit more, and showcased some fine revolvers in action!

[@diamondflaw]

Sped-up part of this left me with an overwhelming desire to watch the Upper-Class Twit Of The Year competition again. In the best possible way.

[@xelntchancechance2466]

Great to see a channel not obsessed with blowing up produce and taking the piss out of myths. Really enjoy the experimentation and lack of immature hollywood/videogame bias that seems to dominate. Please keep doing what you are doing. Monty Python references never hurt either.

[@shanejoseph1700]

Fastest growing gun channel on KZbin and your British up yours Pierce Morgan

[@25ghr]

It's a shame we cannot enjoy the shame shooting, experience in the UK largely because of the Government and liberal bastard like Piers Morgan, and other media types,,

[@ryanrichardson5241]

thanks enjoyed your take on 38 smith wesson war pistols as we in south carolina call them thanks again

[@magna94us]

Excellent look into these war time revolvers. About 15 years ago a bunch of post-war reworked Enfields were imported into the US. I had a couple of opportunities to pick one up for about $160 but I didn't know enough about them at the time. Now that I do, I can see I need a kick in the back side for passing up a fascinating piece of history. So again, thanks for a painfully interesting education. Looking forward to an in depth follow up on the top breaks and the Victory as well to hear a little different perspective on that piece

[@hanktorrance6855]

Always interesting, you bring out great historic arms and questions too

[@rclaughlin]

They must have an uncharacteristic Smith there. In my experience, the Smith trigger is lighter AND smoother than you'll find on a Webley or Enfield. The Smith grip is skimpy, however, and does squirm in the hand during firing.

[@Hibernicus1968]

Yep. The S&W generally has the best double action triggers of ANY revolver. Colts are about as smooth, but in double action the trigger stacks. But yeah, the big problem with Colts and Smith and Wessons both is the skinny grips. I've never understood why American revolver makers manufactured the grips that way. I have an old Smith and Wesson ex-police revolver in .38 special, and it's the exact same gun seen in this video except for the chambering. A previous owner had put a huge aftermarket grip on it to solve the problem. I removed that because that grip was actually too large for my hand, and to me it just looked wrong on an old pencil barrel .38. But I still had to put a Tyler T grip adapter on with the original style grips because the original grip by itself is just too damn skinny, and as you say, it makes the gun shift in the hand under recoil. There's just not enough grip surface to hold on to. With the T grip adapter it's a really nice gun to shoot now. Pity S&W couldn't get it right from the factory. (Interestingly, I don't have a problem with the big N frame S&Ws. The factory style magna grips work just fine for me on those revolvers, and I don't need to add an adapter to make the grip fit.)

[@filianablanxart8305]

Because Revolver Grips are a personal thing . Any knowledgeable shooter will replace the grips ( or add grip adaptor ) to their taste , and the factory grips were more or less disposable .

[@myparceltape1169]

Good to read that the grips are changeable to suit the hands. Some people have really big hands 'like spades' as they used to say.

[@lynnkramer1211]

I believe S&W is now a British company. I remember because of the row made when they caved into gun controllers here in the USA. Many Americans quit buying them then and there

[@jharrypot2004]

In 1987 they were bought by Tomkins (A huge London-based engineering firm) for $112 million and in 2001 they sold them for $15 million + $30 million of debt.

[@dcaonoek]

You had all the young lads on it this time

[@yeoldegunporn]

My wobbly No2's still work just fine. Cool vid. Thanks for sharing.

[@yeoldegunporn]

Honestly I have no idea. I've shot them all but not enough to compare. They will all hit on paper at 25 yards at least. From reading Skennerton's book though it seems that was all that was required of these revolvers. The accuracy also depends a lot on what kind of ammo I am putting through them. As I'm sure you know.

[@jayfrank1913]

Very cool.

[@isserfiq]

Interesting comparison. I'd be curious to see a comparison using your 38-200 hand-loads vs the 145 grain PPU 38 S&W that I currently use in my Webley MkIV-38. I am tempted to spring for that 200 grain NOE mould.

[@isserfiq]

With the tip of the original unmodified front blade even with the level top of the rear sight, I am getting about 3 inch group around the bulls eye at 10 yards using the 145 grain PPU single action shots.

[@merlemorrison482]

I have a 1934 MK 2; it still has the wood grips and is SA/DA

[@harrykane3840]

Sorry, I'm a bit late to the game but here goes. . . Three Brits in a sped up sequence and NO yackety sax !? Come on, now!

[@cheesenoodles8316]

A slightly wobely Enfield and S&W MP only experience for me. Enfield better grips & S&W stouter but both did fine. A nice contrast in design. I would pick the S&W MP.

[@scruggs6633]

I thought that one fellow had quite the nasty burn scar until I saw it was a brace of some sort lol

[@kenibnanak5554]

LoL, it would have been cute to add an 1890s vintage RIC (or clone of) in 380R for comparison, perhaps a Bulldog variant as well.

[@wmsollenberger8706]

oyi! The Keystone Cops couldn't have done it better!!

[@deadsweetheart1]

The later starred enfields were a workout for your trigger finger

[@annabeltheunicorn9374]

One of those guys look like Dr Crippen lol

[@greatman73]

Webley the best 👌

[@troy9477]

The Webley looked like it had the most modern grip shape. Glad to hear the Enfield DAO is good. I hate the small S&W factory grips too. Where do u get lead for casting in Europe? Good video

[@myparceltape1169]

Not all the church rooves have been taken yet.

[@0570965]

What would the value be for an original Enfield 32 with all original parts and grips?

[@Nooziterp1]

The 380/200 was based on the .38 S&W, and why the British army didn't go with the .38 Special is one of the great unsolved mysteries. The .38 Special was a decent military round, but I have read that the 380/200 was 'better suited to disposing of unwanted puppies than stopping charging stormtroopers.'

[@BD-rx2de]

i believe it was because the longer cartridges like 38 sp were a problem in top break auto ejecting revolvers. More distance to clear and more chance of hangup on ejection. so the swing out cylinders became the standard when 38 sp was widely adopted

[@Nooziterp1]

@@BD-rx2de The 200 gn bullet as originally intended for the British version of the 38 S&W would have had sufficient stopping power. Unfortunately the Hague convention put paid to it, forcing the British to substitute it for a 178 gn. Keeping the top break design.

[@kevinoliver3083]

​@@Nooziterp1 The original Mk.1 cartridge was issued throughout WW2. Officially it was for training purposes only, but it ended up on the frontline.

[@78a67h]

Had the cameraman concentrated more on the revolvers being reviewed rather than on the faces of the shooters it would have made for a more interesting video.

[@johnsaia9739]

I thought all private ownership of handguns in Britain was banned?

[@UrielX1212]

I would venture to say he isn`t filming this in the UK unless its Northern ireland or the Isle of Man.

[@paullytle246]

John Saia Switzerland

[@paulbroadway987]

I have an Enfield number 2, Mark 1* that is marked 1931. Is this possible? The revolver has a black paint finish on it and is worn where the holster came in contact with the cylinder, barrel and sideplate. I am going to fire it as soon as I can find some .38/200 rounds.

[@SomervilleBob]

Maybe the Smith was made for a Canadian market...

[@BlokeontheRange]

It has a US ordnance mark on it

[@BlokeontheRange]

And no Canadian proof marks.

[@nicholasryczywot6937]

wheres a good place i can get a .455 Webley that isnt super expensive

[@KI.765]

Has the Bloke lost a bit of weight recently?

[@scottchesnutt493]

Bloke's wife has probably been on him to finish her "Honeydo's" Like cut and trim the lawn. Prune the hedges. Clean out the garage, all that "honest" labor has no doubt trimmed a bit off the Bloke. ::hehe:: Thx Sir, and Be Well

[@gunslinger2172]

Hey bloke What is the Current British Service handgun I knew for years you all used the Browning Hi-Power P-35 what do you use now?since the browning has been retired My british friends out there Please advise? thanks

[@BlokeontheRange]

Various SIG-Sauers, and Glock 17. I *think* all the Brownings are gone by now.

[@garandman8114]

The Chap looks like a kid without facial hair.

[@thebotrchap]

Garand Man Yer not wrong there!

[@admiralpercy]

Is that black powder?

[@admiralpercy]

Bloke on the Range I don't reload, is that amount of smoke typical?

[@admiralpercy]

Bloke on the Range Like, lead round nose, as opposed to copper patched? It just seems odd that the bullet would effect three offgas

[@gunslinger2172]

Hey bloke what happened to the Colt Official Police?

[@BlokeontheRange]

What happened to it? I never had one. They're super rare.

[@BlokeontheRange]

They were super rare in service as well, which is largely why they're super rare now. IIRC only 10,000 or so of them.

[@deepbludreams]

it always confounded me as to why the 380 service revolvers even exist, I thought the Empire liked 455 for its power during world war one? what's the reasoning to go to the 380/200, something that sort of outdated it the moment it was invented.

[@miskatonicrus]

Penetration with most handgun rounds, compared to rifle rounds, is an iffy thing. Figure they were thinking of follow up shots with the reduced recoil and less ammo weight as well. Though .38 special existed back then as well, so why .38 S&W is a good question.

[@BPaul-hk2jh]

I read somewhere that the recoil of the 455 was the number one complaint. Cost, weight, ease of packaging, transportation, etc wasn't really a concern til after the vietnam war era when the 5.56 NATO round was put into service.

[@jumpykilllerqx6029]

Why when I see reports on crimes they say a .35 cailber revoler or autoloader was to do the crime.

[@jumpykilllerqx6029]

+Bloke on the Range but what was used in the crime was a either .38 special or a 9×19mm.

[@jumpykilllerqx6029]

+Bloke on the Range Sir have you happen to read my comment about what propellent did the 6.5 carcano used.

[@Surv1ve_Thrive]

+Jumpy killlerQx if you look on youtube for 'C&Rsenal Carcano' these guys just produced lots of well-informed content on Carcano development and variations. I believe the catridge evolution/development was discussed. Have a watch.

[@jumpykilllerqx6029]

+Nick Thorp Thanks.

[@kanejones99]

How are you able to own handguns in the UK? I thought they were only allowed for humane dispatch and security

[@paullytle246]

Kane Jones he lives in Switzerland

[@25ghr]

Vets certain pest and Animal dispatchers ,can get a modified 2 shot pistol or Revolver, but it's not easy, old duffers and folk with plenty of money can get a collects section 7 licence, very hard to get,, and even to find a place to shoot, Bisley has open the a couple of times a year, sometimes they have ,black powder ,revolvers, for public use , you need photo ID, it's a good day out, V V

[@25ghr]

Sorry about the spelling mistakes, predictable text is a pain,,,

[@Thejudge4545]

Where are you guys? In canada or UK?

[@paullytle246]

Blazin' Love Switzerland

[@jordanhicks5131]

Clearly the smith and wesson is the best.

[@BlokeontheRange]

As a range gun, sure. As a combat gun? Not so much. And I shoot the S&W way more than the other 2.

[@leighrate]

Shooting double action because that was the doctrine? Growl. F...... that.

[@j.c.delich5520]

Are you like the Hickok45 of the UK? If so, that might be a good metaphor for the two countries. Hickok45 is very large, very well armed, a good shot and very entertaining. You wear emerald green pants and compared to Hickok are like a leprechaun, and can vaguely hit a target.

[@paullytle246]

Christopher Delich he lives in Switzerland

[@sternstones4871]

you may want to add a disclaimer that you are not in the UK....might fool people into thinking brits have god given rights. but very nice videos though.

[@alannguyen2221]

Sternstones well all he really showcases are some bolt actions and other vintage guns. You can get those pretty much anywhere

[@MoonshineSazerac]

No one has a god-given right to own a gun, you fucking goblin.

[@doktormusmatta]

People think he's in the UK all the time. Their loss imho.

[@timwilliamanderson]

Moonshine people have the right to have guns

[@25ghr]

These right's were taken away bit by bit in the name of public safety, it's very sad ,,the shooting community should have taken a stance after Hungerford, but they didn't, it's so bad that our Olympic pistol team have to train abroad,,

[@ley8299]

This starts getting awkward around 9:20

[@themostokaypersonever84]

Shofield > webley