357 load in 38 case. Is it safe?

[ted_dent]

Pull them and don't wait to do it. All it takes is one wonky weak case, or one cartridge where the bullet is just a tad deeper than the rest, or your powder measure dropped just a little bit more powder......
You could fire one just for fun and if it is okay the rest are too, right? Wrong. There are just too many variables to go wrong. And if you put them away and fire them later and get them mixed up, or given to a friend.......
Pull them, reclaim the primer and the powder and melt the bullets

As much as I hate to agree with hatman1793 he's right. All the people giving you advice about how it's OK to shoot them aren't putting their eyes and other body parts on the line. Compare the inconvenience of pulling 100 bullets with the inconvenience of going the rest of your life missing some fingers or your eyesight. If you're willing to risk that you don't need the gas gauge on your car either. You can just check the fuel level by using a match for illumination. I think you get my point.

 

[John in B.C.]

All of my IDPA ESR loads are in .38Sp cases. This is a common practice in IDPA.

The case is irrelevant. It simply carries the components. 38Sp and .357Mag cases are the same other than length - to prevent loading .357Mag factory ammo into a non-Mag firearm.

The case does not absorb or control the pressure generated at ignition -the cylinder does this.

If you are shooting these rounds in a .357 Mag firearm there is no issue............

John

 

[Andy]

All of my IDPA ESR loads are in .38Sp cases. This is a common practice in IDPA.

The case is irrelevant. It simply carries the components. 38Sp and .357Mag cases are the same other than length - to prevent loading .357Mag factory ammo into a non-Mag firearm.

The case does not absorb or control the pressure generated at ignition -the cylinder does this.

If you are shooting these rounds in a .357 Mag firearm there is no issue............

John

X2 - this is a thinking person's response.

I would never suggest such a thing if I would not do it myself, to risk (the silly phrase) "my own face".

I have a 686 and I'd shoot this same ammo in it (or make up the same) and post on here to prove its safety, but it would be pointless. The "pull it and dump it" "your face and hands", "it would have exploded on the next shot" crowd would refuse to agree that it was safe all along.

 

[John in B.C.]

X2 - this is a thinking person's response.

I would never suggest such a thing if I would not do it myself, to risk (the silly phrase) "my own face".

I have a 686 and I'd shoot this same ammo in it (or make up the same) and post on here to prove its safety, but it would be pointless. The "pull it and dump it" "your face and hands", "it would have exploded on the next shot" crowd would refuse to agree that it was safe all along.

AAAhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..............1958!!!!!!!!!!!!

A lot of intelligent people were born in 1958 !!!!

John

 

[bobjoe]

I'd work up a load using the same bullets and powder starting from published max load up .2gr at a time until i reach the load you have made by mistake or until sign of overpressure arise. The in the first occurence i'd shoot them. Or if the worked up load show sign of overpressure below your current load, i'd pull them all.

If it's to much hassle to test it correctly before firing them. Just pull them.

I took your advice and worked up a load to see if it was safe. It was. no pressure issues no sticky brass ect.

Thanks everyone for the advice.