[XDRoX]

I don't hear about this on GT too often, but on calguns it's brought up all the time. There is a large group of people over there that believe shooting 38spl exclusively in a 357 is not good for the gun.

Is this true? Their argument is that the shorter rounds will dirty up the cylinders or something like that. Any truth to this?

The reason I'm asking is because I figured if it was true I'd just load light 357 rounds. I have the brass so it's not a big deal, but I'd rather not waste my 357 brass if this is BS.

Thanks

 

[Ahmid]

I have been shooting thousands of 38 specials in my 357 magnums for close to fifty years. Still have the guns. No damage...

 

[DaleGribble]

I've probably fired close to 5000 thousand rounds of .38 through a S&W N frame and yes the cylinder got very dirty but was easily cleaned.

I wouldn't hesitate to continue shooting .38 through a .357.

 

[GioaJack]

Reportedly if you shoot enough shorter .38 rounds in a .357 chamber you could get gas cutting into the cylinder wall. I say reportedly because I've never seen it happen, never talked to anyone that it's happened too and quite frankly I don't see how it can possibly happen.

What difference does it make if the case mouth stops in the cylinder at one point or 3/10th of an inch farther down.? None. I suppose that theoretically you'll eventually get some gas cutting but you'll shoot the gun out well before that happens.

My NRA bullseye gun is a 6 inch Smith model 19 with God knows how many rounds through it... timing in double action is not what it used to be but that's easily fixed, it looks like its been dragged down a dirt road behind a pick-up and in addition to a few trigger jobs I've replaced the hammer, trigger, main spring and rebound slide a couple times the one thing I've never replaced is the cylinder.

You will get a carbon ring in your cylinder from shooting shorter .38's in a .357 cylinder which will eventually make it difficult to chamber .357's but that problem is easily remedied with a brush and a bit of Chore Boy.

If you have a bunch of .357 brass, (a bunch means different things to different people) go ahead and shoot reduced loads, or shoot .38's to your heart's content... you're not going to hurt anything.


Jack

 

[ANeat]

You a bullseye shooter Jack?

+1 on the 38's in a 357, yes it will get some carbon in the cylinder, just clean it.

 

[rjrivero]

Reportedly if you shoot enough shorter .38 rounds in a .357 chamber you could get gas cutting into the cylinder wall. I say reportedly because I've never seen it happen, never talked to anyone that it's happened too and quite frankly I don't see how it can possibly happen.

What difference does it make if the case mouth stops in the cylinder at one point or 3/10th of an inch farther down.? None. I suppose that theoretically you'll eventually get some gas cutting but you'll shoot the gun out well before that happens.

Jack

That's awesome: Flame Cutting the CYLINDER on a diet of 38 special loads? I agree with Jack. Theory doesn't make it so.

If you shoot a steady diet of 38 in a 357, and then decide to load up a cylinder of 357, you could get some sticky cases due to soot build up on the cylinder walls. It's always a good idea to clean the cylinders REALLY WELL on a 357 that has had a bunch of 38's shot through it, for sure.

The most "compelling" argument I've heard about the "incompatibility" of 38's in 357's is one of "bullet jump." The theory is that since the 357 is longer than the 38, the bullet has to jump a further freebore gap before it hits the forcing cone. Therefore the bullet may strike off center of the forcing cone causing more stress and therefore the possibility of damaging the forcing cone.

It too, I guess, could be true in THEORY. However, there is such a big overlap between the OAL between 38 Special (1.275-1.550") and 357 Magnum (1.405-1.590") I don't give it much credence either. Not to mention, the pressures of the .38 are more docile than the pressures of the .357. I mean, really. If SAAMI says it's okay, then who am I to disagree?

Load em up and shoot them!

 

[XDRoX]

Thanks guys, I figured this would be the case. I'll keep shooting them.

 

[fredj338]

Thanks guys, I figured this would be the case. I'll keep shooting them.

You will get a carbon build up right in front of the case mouth & this will cause issues when you switch to magnums. For this reason, I stopped shooting 38sp long ago in my magnums, just load the magnums down, end of issue. You could get some gas cutting/pitting, loading very hot 38sp+P type loads w/ slow powders & 1000s of rounds, but that is not what most guys load 38sp for. I just don't like readjusting the dies from 38sp to 357mag.:supergrin: Hey, the TB wprks great in the 357mag case w/ 158grLSWC. I get 800fps in most 4" mags @ 4.3gr. Fired cases fall out w/ little effort.

 

[XDRoX]

You will get a carbon build up right in front of the case mouth & this will cause issues when you switch to magnums. For this reason, I stopped shooting 38sp long ago in my magnums, just load the magnums down, end of issue. You could get some gas cutting/pitting, loading very hot 38sp+P type loads w/ slow powders & 1000s of rounds, but that is not what most guys load 38sp for. I just don't like readjusting the dies from 38sp to 357mag.:supergrin: Hey, the TB wprks great in the 357mag case w/ 158grLSWC. I get 800fps in most 4" mags @ 4.3gr. Fired cases fall out w/ little effort.

Ya that's something else to consider I guess. I don't have separate conversions for 38spl and 357, so maybe when I switch it over to 357 I'll just leave it.

Thanks for the data. I use 158gr LRN, but I'm sure it'll be about the same.

I've been using 3.0gr of TB in 38spl. Feels like a 22:supergrin:

 

[fredj338]

Ya that's something else to consider I guess. I don't have separate conversions for 38spl and 357, so maybe when I switch it over to 357 I'll just leave it.

Thanks for the data. I use 158gr LRN, but I'm sure it'll be about the same.

I've been using 3.0gr of TB in 38spl. Feels like a 22:supergrin:

Yeah, LRN, LSWC, same same. I like a little more vel than that. The 4.3gr load of TB was running a comfy 800fps in a 4" gun. Plenty light for the kids & ladies to shoot.:tongueout:

 

[XDRoX]

Yeah, LRN, LSWC, same same. I like a little more vel than that. The 4.3gr load of TB was running a comfy 800fps in a 4" gun. Plenty light for the kids & ladies to shoot.:tongueout:

On thurs I got a new revolver. It's a pre-lock 586 4" S&W. The cool part is it isn't blue nor stainless. It's flat black. There weren't too many made with that finish. A coworker just inherited it from his dad and knew I liked guns so offered it to me. It's in excellent condition, super tight still. I gave him $450 for it.

I'll post pics when I pick it up from the shop.

 

[dudel]

Never had a problem. However, I'm doing target loads with softish HBWC. That not going to have the same effect/wear as +P+ JHP loads.

 

[dudel]

Reportedly if you shoot enough shorter .38 rounds in a .357 chamber you could get gas cutting into the cylinder wall. I say reportedly because I've never seen it happen, never talked to anyone that it's happened too and quite frankly I don't see how it can possibly happen.

Jack

Agreed. Since both rounds headspace on the rim, the 357Mag is also "short" in the chamber. That would be cutting the chamber as well if this were happeing.

 

[M1A Shooter]

this same issue comes up when looking at higher pressure calibers like the 454casull and 45lc. not sure the 38spl would have enough power to cause problems unless maybe its the 38spl+p but in that case, id just shoot the mags in the same gun.

that said, im fairly new to revolvers and this is just my thinking. i have a 1980 smith 19-4 and have shot 158gr sjhp magnums and 148gr dewc in 38 through it.

 

[ColCol]

I just bought a SP101 today and plan on shooting +P loads in it quite a bit...it'll probably be 75-25 +P to 357 loads. I had a Highway Patrolman(M28) back in the late '70's and no one ever shot anything but 357's in a 357 revolver then that I knew of. to my knowledge, there were no +P loads back then-least as I recall. Now, if I can just find my dies...Ever tried looking for jsomekthing you haven't used in 25 years? Nah, probably not. Most on here ain't even been in the world 25 years.

 

[fredj338]

On thurs I got a new revolver. It's a pre-lock 586 4" S&W. The cool part is it isn't blue nor stainless. It's flat black. There weren't too many made with that finish. A coworker just inherited it from his dad and knew I liked guns so offered it to me. It's in excellent condition, super tight still. I gave him $450 for it.

I'll post pics when I pick it up from the shop.

Very nice, love the prelock 586/686 & a matt blue as well, good deal for $450. None of my 357mags get 38sp anymore, just load them up in 357mag cases & then avoid die changes, sorting brass, extra cleaning, blah, blah. It's one reason we handload, so we aren't limited.:dunno:

 

[GioaJack]

I just bought a SP101 today and plan on shooting +P loads in it quite a bit...it'll probably be 75-25 +P to 357 loads. I had a Highway Patrolman(M28) back in the late '70's and no one ever shot anything but 357's in a 357 revolver then that I knew of. to my knowledge, there were no +P loads back then-least as I recall. Now, if I can just find my dies...Ever tried looking for jsomekthing you haven't used in 25 years? Nah, probably not. Most on here ain't even been in the world 25 years.

We started carrying .38 +P as duty ammo back in '75. As far as folks shooting .38's in .357's in NRA bullseye competition along with Smith model 52's the next most common competition guns for centerfire revolver class were Smith K-38's and model 19's, (.357's) all of which competed with .38 LWC's.

I have tens upon tens of thousands of .38's through my original model 19 competition gun as well of tens of thousands of .38's through my duty Smith model 66 as well as all of my other Smith .357's with absolutely no ill-effect.

If you have a good supply of .357 brass, fine, load it reduced to .38 levels. If you don't have the brass load your .38 brass, shoot it out of your magnums and have a ball.


Jack

 

[ColCol]

If you have a good supply of .357 brass, fine, load it reduced to .38 levels. If you don't have the brass load your .38 brass, shoot it out of your magnums and have a ball.

No brass as yet in 357 or 38. That'll come with time I'm sure. I'm going to use the left over brass from the ammo just bought along with some "store bought" brass...probably Winchester or Starline. What's a good powder for the 357 and 125-158 gr jacketed bullets to load down? Powders like 2400, H110 and 296 are the traditional 357 powders but, I have Unique, Power Pistol, HS-6, U. Clays and AA#5 on hand at the moment. I don't think you can download the first three powders.

 

[GioaJack]

Hey, I'm still old school, I'm a firm believer that you can go through your entire handgun loading career with three powders on your bench; Bullseye, Unique and 2400.

Yes, yes, I know, there are lots of powders out there and some might have advantages over others but you can still live quite nicely with those three.

If I was going to load reduced .357's in the .38 range I'd load 3.6 to 3.8 of Bullseye under a 158 grain lead.

If I wanted mid-range .357's I'd use Unique and if I wanted to watch my wrist snap I'd go with 2400. (I assume you don't share the same physical infirmities so you probably don't have to worry about snapping bones.)

Others will have different powder choices. (I use Power Pistol in some of my .45's and I have a lot of fun with that but haven't tried it in .38's or .357's but I don't really see any reason why it wouldn't work.)


Jack

 

[ColCol]

Hey, I'm still old school, I'm a firm believer that you can go through your entire handgun loading career with three powders on your bench; Bullseye, Unique and 2400.

I'll agree with that...maybe add AA#5. I like it in 45 ACP-does well. Unique is always a good stand by as is(IMHO) U. Clays and HS-6. Power Pistol makes a good flame thrower.