Alfa Proj Revolvers now in!

I am too, the 38 sp being an underpowered round versus the 357. However every gun manufacturer who has 357 listed has the /38sp after, and the Alfa guys don't. They also have specific 38sp revolvers too.

Alfa makes two series of revolvers, identical in appearance but completely different in strength and price. The older, less expensive guns have alloy frames; the newer designs are all steel. Alfa's steel .357 will handle .38 without problem but the alloy .38 will not hold up under .357-equivalent loads.
 
If I list it as 357 Mag it takes 357/38 Special. If I list it as 38 special it only takes that.

Ryan
 
Alfa makes two series of revolvers, identical in appearance but completely different in strength and price. The older, less expensive guns have alloy frames; the newer designs are all steel. Alfa's steel .357 will handle .38 without problem but the alloy .38 will not hold up under .357-equivalent loads.

You can't fit a .357 in a .38. Too long.
 
If you reload you might consider using some appropriate powder to get the reduced performance you want out of a 38, or reduced cost. Of course these questions on 9 mm and 38 tend to come from people anticipating using the cheaper bulk ammo. The advantage to shooting full length cartridges in the 357 is that they are the correct length for the revolver bullet jump wise, and the cylinder stays cleaner.

As to the length, yes, the "extra" jump the bullet has to make is suboptimal. However, in the real world, it seldom seems to make a difference. Between .38 and .357 or 9mm and .380, the bullet has not even cleared the case mouth before the difference in length is made up.
The most important thing seems to be the fit of the bullet to the bore, and the kind of bullet being used. Soft(er) lead bullets upset very easily, and seal to the bore pretty well. FMJ does not do as well. And the lead bullets commonly used in 9mm ammo is also on the hard side, so often 9mm slugs do not show top grade accuracy when fired down a .357 (.358) barrel.
 
9mm projectiles work absolutely fine in a .357 revolver barrel.

Don't let anybody tell you differently.

The guys who say you shouldn't, are simply the guys who don't.

Anybody who has actually done it, will tell you it works just fine.

For example; Berry's 9mm bullets measure .356, and the 38-special bullets measure .357 in diameter.

Both are cut by the rifling, and fly just fine out of the barrel.
 
Try telling that to any serious Bullseye shooters...

Yeah. If I ever meet anyone who shoots at 200 yards with a 4.2 inch revolver, I'll be sure to ask him all about it.

For regular shooting, it works just fine.
 
Looking forward to delivery of the 22LR 4.5" model! This will be a great tool for teaching my loved ones. I will be interested to learn how you good folks make out with the 357 models...
 
Yeah. If I ever meet anyone who shoots at 200 yards with a 4.2 inch revolver, I'll be sure to ask him all about it.

For regular shooting, it works just fine.

No it doesn't.
I posted results of 9mm bullets shot in 357mag revolver a couple of year ago and 9mm accuracy suffers big time.
Unrelated, my 9mm (Austrian made) semi-auto slugs to 357 bore and I use 358 bullets in it.
 
Out of curiosity, I tried some Cam-Pro 124 grain 9mm bullets in my S&W K-38. Since these bullets have no crimp groove, I crimped lightly into the body of the bullet

There were no keyholes at 25m and only slight loss of accuracy compared to regular .357" 158 grain SWCs.

.357"-358" bullets would be my first choice in the .38 Special, but I would not hesitate to use plated 9mm bullets in a pinch if that was all I could find. They would be good enough for casual plinking or action shooting.
 
Out of curiosity, I tried some Cam-Pro 124 grain 9mm bullets in my S&W K-38. Since these bullets have no crimp groove, I crimped lightly into the body of the bullet

There were no keyholes at 25m and only slight loss of accuracy compared to regular .357" 158 grain SWCs.

.357"-358" bullets would be my first choice in the .38 Special, but I would not hesitate to use plated 9mm bullets in a pinch if that was all I could find. They would be good enough for casual plinking or action shooting.

did you measure the bullets?
I bought some .357-158 Speer JHP bullets and they measure exactly 0.357"
But the 357mag bore is 0.357 on the lands and 0.358 on the grooves.
Unsurprisingly, these Speer bullets yield 200fps less with the same loads than the similar 0.358" bullets yield from an 18.5" barrel.
 
did you measure the bullets?
I bought some .357-158 Speer JHP bullets and they measure exactly 0.357"
But the 357mag bore is 0.357 on the lands and 0.358 on the grooves.
Unsurprisingly, these Speer bullets yield 200fps less with the same loads than the similar 0.358" bullets yield from an 18.5" barrel.

The Cam-Pro plated 124 grain 9mm are .355" and the lead 158 grain SWCs are .357"
 
Hey cool- my .22 is actually a 9 rounder, not 8 as advertised.
Great service as usual, only 5 business days from order to delivery.
Now to get some honey-dos out of the way before range day.
 
Anyone know what the trigger pull is in double action and single action? What kind of accuracy is being realized? My friend has asked me to source a new or used .357 magnum for him. Revolvers are my weak point. His criteria are +/- $550, 6" barrel, blued. Brand and model he is leaving up to me. Just to be used for casual plinking at the range. Should I tell him to get one of these A.Proj pistols NEW or tell him to go used and look for a Ruger GP100 or a security six or similar domestic make. I know I won't find him a S & W for that money but I have seen Rugers for less than 6 bills.
Anyone weigh in on whether I should go with my gut and say get a Used ruger? Or should I tell him to get a new Alfa Proj?
 
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