357 same size as 38 Spl?

BCRider

BCRider

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Hi, I've been reading the forums for a couple of weeks now picking up on lots of ideas. I'll be getting my RPAL soon and getting an IPSC semi pretty quick.

But my mind is also wandering to thoughts of a revolver and I'm seeing references to 357 Magnum/38 Super as though they are the same physical size or at least compatible. Am I getting this right or is this a mistake and it's an "either/or" deal?

Or do the 357's just rattle down the barrel.... :D

I gather that if these are compatible in one gun then it has to be made for the loads of the 357 Magnum and then the 38 Spl is just a reduced lower priced option?

I looked around for an ammo size chart or something that supports this idea but didn't have much luck. Not sure if I used the wrong keywords or what.
 
38Super and 38Special aren't the same cartridge and use different sized projectiles. (.357" vs .355")

.357Mag and .38Special use the same projectile (.357"), the 357Mag case is a little longer and stronger than the .38Special case, more powder, greater pressure.

So, .38Special ammo can be fired in .357Mag revolvers, but not the other way around.

Good luck with your RPAL and IPSC. Welcome to the sport.
 
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If memory serves me correctly. The .357/.38spl are the same. The .357 is basically a heavier load then the .38spl. I do know that you can shoot a .38spl in a .357, but not a .357 in a .38spl

as for the .38 Super......that is a heavier load .38ACP. Nowhere near the same as the above
 
Names are confusing. You need to read a loading manual to see what is what.

Neither a 38 Spl or a 38 S&W is .38" They are .357" and .361"

A 30-30 shoots a .308" A 303 Brit shoots a .312"

a 218 Bee, a 221 Fireball, a 222 Rem, a 223 rem, a 225 Win all shoot .224" bullets...

And don't forget that 7mm Remington Express and 280 Remington are the same thing.
 
Here is a pic of a 38spl. case (left) beside a 357Mag case (right).
DSC02464.jpg
 
"...357 Mag case is a little longer..." But otherwise the same.
You can use .357 cases loaded to .38 Special velocities with no fuss. You cannot use .38 Special cases loaded to .357 velocities though. They use the same diameter bullet.
A .38 Super has nothing in common with either a .38 Special or .357 Mag.
A .357 Maximum is a .300" longer .357 Mag case. It can't be used in a .357 revolver. There are few firearms made for it and ammo isn't easy to find.
 
Thanks all. And yeah a manual would help. I'll likely end up with one at some point.

As it turned out I found out the difference of Wiki today at lunch. I was Googleing for "357 revolver" and the ammo reference came up in a Wiki link. You'd think something so easy to find on Wiki by accident would come right up when you do a specific search..... <sigh>

Anyhow I've got the 357/38Spl deal all straight now. If/when I go for a revolver I'm thinking get a nice 357 magnum so I can go with the cheap(er) ammo for playing and the odd box of magnums for a special treat now and then.

I know reloading is the answer but my shooting will only be one of far too many hobbies and they all scream at me for attention. Adding reloading onto the list would be too much so I'll be relying on commercial ammo. So that's why the advantage of using the relatively inexpensive 38 Spl.

I've been out to the DVC indoor range a few times now and I'm getting more and more hooked each time out. Going to attend a local club IPSC event this weekend as a spectator or possibly lend a hand to see a match in action.

It's also interesting to see that there's at least a couple of other size cartridges out there that are designed around these platforms. How do you all keep it straight?
 
Oh, I see that my fingers typed "super" in the original post while my mind is pretty sure it was sending "Special".

I guess that makes me a little "Special" too, eh? :D
 
joe-nwt said:
You will learn we need very little prompting around here........:D
Click to expand...

I expected no less and I see the seed is growing like a weed. I don't think I'd like getting in with a group that can't laugh at itself a little. That's why I gave up competition stamp collecting and the Pro tiddlywinks circuit......
 
kokanee king said:
pro tiddlywinks. Now there is something we all almost had to join, but im sure the LIEberals would have banned those plastic discs to :D
Click to expand...

Yeah, talk about getting interested in the "wrong" sport at the "wrong" time.... :D

Its funny because I've generally been a liberal voting sort of guy. But this time around SD was enough to turn me off even without the anti sport gun policy. Toss that one is and the choice certainly became a no brainer.

Speaking of which I need to send some emails to the winning Conservative in my area as well as the looser Liberal explaining what I think of the proposed overbearing policy aimed directly at a sporting group rather than dealing with the real issue of the growing use of guns in crimes in Canada.

OK, so this is getting off an a tangent now. Can we all go back to my being "Special" and move on? :D
 
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