M10 .

38 Special Revolver
Gary's U.S. Infantry Weapons Reference Guide

TECHNICAL DATA 2-Inch Barrel 4-Inch Barrel

Alternative Designations Smith & Wesson Model 10 Military and Police Revolver Country of Origin USA Date Of Introduction ? Caliber 0.38 in (9.65 mm) Cartridge .38 Special System of Operation Rotated chamber Number of Chambers 6 Weight 1.66 lb (0.75 kg) Length 7.25 in (184 mm) 1.91 lb (0.86 kg) 9.25 in (235 mm)

Safety Features No manually operated safety Trigger Pull Single-Action: 2.5 to 5 lb (1.1 to 2.3 kg) Double-Action: 16 lb (7.3 kg), maximum

Basic Load 18 rounds Performance 2-Inch Barrel Muzzle Velocity 950 fps (290 mps) Maximum Range 950 yd (869 m) 1085 yd (992 m) 4-Inch Barrel

Maximum Effective Range 50 yd (46 m) Sights

65 yd (59 m)

Front Sight Fixed 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) serrated ramp Rear Sight Square notch

DESCRIPTION
The M10 is a six-shot, breech-loading, manually operated, hand-held weapon. The M10 has a solid, one-piece frame; a swing-out cylinder with six chambers; and a handactuated extractor for easy unloading. Built-in mechanical devices are provided to prevent the revolver from firing except by a deliberate pulIing action on the trigger. No manually operated safeties are provided. The sights are fixed, the trigger is serrated, and the hammer thumbpiece and forward portion of the extractor rod are knurled. The grips may be checkered or smooth. The M10 revolver is a selective double-action type since it may be fired by drawing the hammer back with the thumb to the cocked position and releasing it by squeezing the trigger (single action); or by squeezing the trigger to allow the hammer to be cocked and released (double action). Replaced in U.S. service by the M9 9mm pistol.

VARIANTS Round Butt, 4-Inch Barrel (NSN 1005-00-937-5839)

The 4-inch barreled revolvers are used by aviators and military police.

Round Butt, 2-Inch Barrel (NSN 1005-00-937-5840)

The 2-inch barreled revolver is used mainly by Army CID and counterintelligence personnel.

Square Butt, 4-Inch Barrel (NSN 1005-00-214-0934)

The 4-inch barreled revolvers are used by aviators and military police.

OPERATION
The M10 revolver fires only when the trigger is pulled all the way back (the hammer block is lowered by the rebound slide only when trigger is pulled all the way back). Firing Single Action. 1. When hammer is pulled back, sear engages full-cock notch in hammer. 2. Pulling the trigger lowers the hammer block allowing hammer to fall. Firing Double Action. 1. When the trigger is squeezed, it engages the sear raising the hammer to nearly full-cock position. 2. Continued pressure on trigger allows sear to escape from trigger and the hammer to fall. 3. When the trigger is squeezed, the rebound slide pivots the hammer block downward. The hammer block strikes the cartridge primer. Action of Cylinder Stop.

The cylinder stop prevents the cylinder from making more than one-sixth revolution each time the revolver is cocked. 1. The cylinder stop withdraws from the cylinder as the trigger moves. 2. Trigger hand pivots and engages the ratchet on the extractor portion of the cylinder. 3. The trigger slips off the cylinder stop as it continues rearward. The cylinder stop engages the next notch.

AMMUNITION
Ammunition for the M10 is issued in the form of a complete .38 Special round. A complete round (cartridge) consists of all the components (cartridge case, bullet, propellant powder, and primer) necessary to fire the weapon once.

.38 Special M41 Ball .38 Special Wad Cutter propellant powder, and primer) necessary to fire the weapon once.

.38 Special
Ballistic data for .38 Special ammunition. Velocity 15 ft (4.6 m) from muzzle

Model M41 Ball Wad Cutter

Cartridge Weight 203 gr (13.15 g) 220 gr (14.26 g)

Cartridge Length 1.55 in (39.37 mm) 1.16 in (29.46 mm)

Propellant

Chamber Pressure

SR 7325 Smokeless powder

16,000 psi 950 fps (290 (1,125 kg/cm) mps) 16,000 psi 800 fps (244 (1,125 kg/cm) mps)

Cartridge, Caliber .38, Ball, Special, M41 The cartridge is intended for use in personal defense hand guns. The cartridge has a brass case and a jacketed bullet.

Type Classification: OBS - MSR 08836015

Cartridge, Caliber .38, Wad Cutter

The cartridge is used only in pistol competition firing and marksmanship training. The cartridge has a brass case. The bullet is designed with a concave forward end to act as a paper punch cutting a clean hole in targets. Type Classification: Commercial

More M10 Art

M10 revolver assembly

M10 barrel assembly

M10 receiver assembly.

M10 Photos - Click on image sample to see full size image.

U.S. Army Photo 537x400, 27K, JPEG

Last updated: 22-AUG-2004 Copyright 2004 Gary W. Cooke To the best of my knowledge all military data and images presented in these pages are UNCLASSIFIED, NON-SENSITIVE, and approved for public release. Sources: FM 23-35 Combat Training With Pistols & Revolvers. TM 9-1005-206-14&P-1 M10 and M108 Operator's Manual. US Army TACOM-RI Small Arms Group website.