357 mag loads in 38 special cases?

[Johnn Peterson]

Had an L frame S&W in .357....... decades ago and for a decade or so I fired thousands of lite to medium .357 loads in various different .38 spl.cases, (courtesy of my former employer) with nary a glitch...........all were however cast bullets.

This was with bullets seated out further than normal for .38spl and crimped in one of the grease grooves closer to the base.............

This is not "something new" and you have the support of one of the best handgun hunters/gunwriters/of the 1970's/80's ( SHOOTING TIMES magazine).....Mr Skeeter Skelton....

Mr. Skelton shot the majority of his lite to medium .357 loads in .38 spl. cases because he too realized that if the lead bullet is seated out further ,that of course pressures also remain lower ......he only used "cast " in his data.

................... MEDIUM loads..

"Lyman 158 gr.# 358156.... 13.5 gr 2400.......1200 fps
Lyman 150 gr. 358156 H.P. 13.5 gr 2400....1250 fps
Lyman 170 gr. #358429......6.0 gr. unique......1150 fps "

His lite loads were still at 950 fps +/- also.......


Don't have the 357 anymore.....but this same system works good for me using
same perameters of .38spl or 357 cases in my .357 Maximum T/Contender...

Did a google search......."my friend the .357". came up......you will arrive at ww.handloads........and you will find an article dated 1988 by Mr. Skelton that has the a/n loads and more information which was originially in shooting times mag. in the late 1970's.........

Mr. Skelton died a while back........but not from his .357 going kaboom!!

If this practice offends you or you feel it is unsafe........don't use it!!

hs 4570......your mileage may vary

One of Skeeter's predecessors and

 

[Johnn Peterson]

Had an L frame S&W in .357....... decades ago and for a decade or so I fired thousands of lite to medium .357 loads in various different .38 spl.cases, (courtesy of my former employer) with nary a glitch...........all were however cast bullets.

This was with bullets seated out further than normal for .38spl and crimped in one of the grease grooves closer to the base.............

This is not "something new" and you have the support of one of the best handgun hunters/gunwriters/of the 1970's/80's ( SHOOTING TIMES magazine).....Mr Skeeter Skelton....

Mr. Skelton shot the majority of his lite to medium .357 loads in .38 spl. cases because he too realized that if the lead bullet is seated out further ,that of course pressures also remain lower ......he only used "cast " in his data.

................... MEDIUM loads..

"Lyman 158 gr.# 358156.... 13.5 gr 2400.......1200 fps
Lyman 150 gr. 358156 H.P. 13.5 gr 2400....1250 fps
Lyman 170 gr. #358429......6.0 gr. unique......1150 fps "

His lite loads were still at 950 fps +/- also.......


Don't have the 357 anymore.....but this same system works good for me using
same perameters of .38spl or 357 cases in my .357 Maximum T/Contender...

Did a google search......."my friend the .357". came up......you will arrive at ww.handloads........and you will find an article dated 1988 by Mr. Skelton that has the a/n loads and more information which was originially in shooting times mag. in the late 1970's.........

Mr. Skelton died a while back........but not from his .357 going kaboom!!

If this practice offends you or you feel it is unsafe........don't use it!!

hs 4570......your mileage may vary

One of Skeeter's predecessors and colleagues, Elmer Keith, experienced many of the same results & came to similar conclusions. I believe Elmer was of the 'pre' contender era and most of his testing & development was done N-frane S&W's, a smattering of Colts as well as a number of Rugers. I may be wrong but I don't believe he advocated using his hot 38 SPL loads in anything other than .357 Mag reted handguns. My preference is to use .357 cases however, one of my favorite hot 38 SPL loads remains his 173gr cast semi WC, 13.5 grs of 2400 in 38 SPL cases.