.357 mag loads in .38 spl brass
- Thread starter Bitumen
- Start date
What does your reloading book tell you?
You are going to load .357 Magnum loads into a shorter case and expect what??
You can shoot .38 Special in a .357 Magnum revolver , but the chance of an oops moment is
just that ...an oops moment.
+P in .38 might be as hot as you can go.
Just my .38 worth this morning.
Rob
You are going to load .357 Magnum loads into a shorter case and expect what??
You can shoot .38 Special in a .357 Magnum revolver , but the chance of an oops moment is
just that ...an oops moment.
+P in .38 might be as hot as you can go.
Just my .38 worth this morning.
Rob
It depends... Putting the same load in a shorter space will generally increase pressures.
However, if you keep the powder space the same (by seating the bullet to the same overall length as the .357 loads), in my experience, they shoot just like the same load in the longer case. Your mileage may vary.
Part of this will depend on the gun you're using. If you've got one of the few Ruger RedHawks that were chambered in .357, you have a bit more leeway than if you are using a 'K' frame S&W.
However, if you keep the powder space the same (by seating the bullet to the same overall length as the .357 loads), in my experience, they shoot just like the same load in the longer case. Your mileage may vary.
Part of this will depend on the gun you're using. If you've got one of the few Ruger RedHawks that were chambered in .357, you have a bit more leeway than if you are using a 'K' frame S&W.
I have shot .38 spl rounds many times in my .357.
I prefer to shoot .357 over .38.
The range I shoot at, there is lots of 1-F .38 spl brass lying around. I was just wondering if I could do .357 loads in this .38 spl brass if I were to pick it up and reload it. If not, I'll just leave the brass there on the ground.
A 686 in good condition is a strong gun. It will chamber and shoot both .38 specials & also .357 magnums.
There are hot .38 specials for strong guns. ( +P ). My experience has been that as far as power
they are about halfway between .38's & .357 magnums.
Can you load hot .38's for your gun. Yes.
Can you load .38's to be as hot as a .357 magnum ? That might be pushing the envelope a little far.
There are hot .38 specials for strong guns. ( +P ). My experience has been that as far as power
they are about halfway between .38's & .357 magnums.
Can you load hot .38's for your gun. Yes.
Can you load .38's to be as hot as a .357 magnum ? That might be pushing the envelope a little far.
saskgunowner101
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- middle of Sask
I've loaded 38 Special cases with 357 Mag loads (not top end though) without peeing my pants.
I don't know if 38 brass is inherently weaker, but if the cartridge overall length is the same, the internal volume of the 38/357 loads would be the same, and the cartridge would be none the wiser. The only thing you'd have to be careful about, is making sure they don't find their way into a 38 Special only revolver.
I don't know if 38 brass is inherently weaker, but if the cartridge overall length is the same, the internal volume of the 38/357 loads would be the same, and the cartridge would be none the wiser. The only thing you'd have to be careful about, is making sure they don't find their way into a 38 Special only revolver.turbo_bird
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Kamloops, BC
The 357 magnum came about because early experimenters were loading some really hot 38 specials and using them in strong revolvers. The case was lengthened to stop people from using the hot 38's in a weaker revolver. If this is all true, then you should be able to do the same thing, as long as you can garantee that they never get fired in anything other than a 357.
Kristian
Kristian
My response was not appreciated?
Bitumen, maybe you should place me on ignore then.
Simply put, you asked a question and my answer was not to belittle you .
But obviously you feel I am not worthy of your time.
ThankYou.
Tight Groups,
Rob
Bitumen, maybe you should place me on ignore then.
Simply put, you asked a question and my answer was not to belittle you .
But obviously you feel I am not worthy of your time.
ThankYou.
Tight Groups,
Rob
Exactly what he said!!! You came here asking and you got a very sensible response, and your reply is you don't appreciate !!!.Maybe don't ask for help then !!!
Hey guys,
dont be so hard on the guy.
I think English is a second language(not judging)
and sometimes my replies are not what one needs or wants to hear.
Tight Groups and reload those 38 special brass to safe spec.
Rob
dont be so hard on the guy.
I think English is a second language(not judging)
and sometimes my replies are not what one needs or wants to hear.
Tight Groups and reload those 38 special brass to safe spec.
Rob
The obvious solution is to just load the 38 special cases with 38 special loads, then shoot them in your 357Mag.
If you are only shooting targets at close range, the extra velocity really isn't much of a benefit anyways.
As for the response by FLHTCUI, I see nothing wrong with his response at all. He merely used common sense to answer a question when the answer should have been quite obvious to most people.
If you are only shooting targets at close range, the extra velocity really isn't much of a benefit anyways.
As for the response by FLHTCUI, I see nothing wrong with his response at all. He merely used common sense to answer a question when the answer should have been quite obvious to most people.
New Camper
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Lurking in the woods near SFRC.
I would recommend considering what he said. Not really sure what you thought sounded obtuse in his post? The potential for a fatal mistake is great: If you dropped a round at the range, despite the fact that someone who finds it shouldn't shoot it, the case would be marked 38 special, but loaded to heavy 357mag standard. Just as valid a concern if you did not shoot all the rounds, or one rolled off unnoticed from the reloading bench and someday found only to be shot in a soon to be scrap metal 38special revolver.
I recognize it is easy to misunderstand words in an online forum without a face and body language to bolster the fact that what is being said not intending to be harsh, may sound like that as no doubt my post will sound. Resisting the natural tendency people have of assuming the worst can only be described as a virtue in online conversations.
The answer to your question is "possibly" but you will never find it published anywhere. There are many factors to consider if you try it but you shouldn't because of the potential for error. Just as a systematic and deliberate approach to handloading procedures is desirable to avoid powder mixing and double charges, for the same reason so is it not desirable to produce a round in a case marked for a revolver incapable of sustaining a discharge of the load.
The case crimp on the bullet delays bullet movement at firing, making for consistent ignition, and accuracy but increased chamber pressure. The 357 case is an 1/8" longer than the 38 special case. The 357mag case is close to 11% large capacity than the 38special case.
I recommend the following: Pick up the once fired 38special brass, sell it (I sell much of my pistol brass back to Wolf through SFRC because I live nearby) and purchase 357 brass or ammo and reload it until it can no longer reloadeable. I have the same revolver as you and shoot mostly 38spec 158gr SWC from Wolf through it as they are cheap and accurate. Not much to pick up at my range, and no 357, but I keep all my 357 for reloading and all 38spec for selling back to Wolf. Or just use 38special load data in the recovered cases.
I've loaded 38 Special cases with 357 Mag loads (not top end though) without peeing my pants.
Thank you for the info. My .357 load is 15 gr of H-110 with a 158 gr bullet. I don't own a .38 spl and have no intentions of ever owning one, so the danger you say of them ending up in a .38 is not an issue.
My only concern with this combination would be in the crimping. If you're seating the bullet farther out to get the same OAL of a .357magnum, you wouldn't be getting the crimp in the cannelure. Wouldn't that result in the bullets being pushed farther into the case(setback?) from the heavy recoil of the magnum loads, leading to higher and possibly dangerous pressures?
saskgunowner101
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- middle of Sask
Garonimus makes a good point, are you using jacketed bullets, or cast bullets with a few lube grooves? As long as the cartridge overall length is the same, and the bullet is crimped into a groove for no set back, you should be alright.
