As you surmised .38 short and long Colt are same as .38 Spcl, just shorter, and fine in revolvers. In olden times those short and long colts might have used heeled bullets, not sure, but modern versions are fine. .38 S&W is a totally different animal and not compatible. As for lever guns, pretty much all of them would jam up with short or long Colts. A Marlin might be able to be short stroked and modified for the shorter cartridges. For a toggle link rifle, you would need a special modified carrier. Those are available for big bore but not for .38/.357 so it would have to be custom made.