So I have a friend that is telling me that if you take a .38 Special cartridge and fire it from a .38 Special revolver, it will have more power coming out than if you take that same cartridge and fire it out of a 357 Magnum revolver. Any truth to that?
.38 Special - Fired from a 357 vs a .38
- Thread starter imbezol
- Start date
Accuracy trumps power. Your friend has got not only the wrong end of the stick, but a completely different stick, from a different species of tree, with traces of woodworm in it.
My 357 target loads are barely hotter than hot 38 special.
My 357 target loads are barely hotter than hot 38 special.
Found - would love to if I had both of them. 
I have an opportunity to pick up a .38 Special that's about 30 years old but I'm wondering if I should save my money for a 357 instead that can shoot both calibres. That's when the argument started about whether the power was any different between the two guns when shooting the same ammo.
I have an opportunity to pick up a .38 Special that's about 30 years old but I'm wondering if I should save my money for a 357 instead that can shoot both calibres. That's when the argument started about whether the power was any different between the two guns when shooting the same ammo.
At the conception of the .357 Rem mag cartridge, a designated .38 became redundant. Save your coin and get a GP100 and don't look back.
*edit* GP100 or a 5/686 Smith and Wesson. (they're nice too)
*edit* GP100 or a 5/686 Smith and Wesson.
(they're nice too)
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Found - would love to if I had both of them.
In theory, a 357 with a 5" barrel will give a bit more velocity than a 38Spl with a 5" barrel, because the extra length of the 357 cyclinder. In practice, the size of the culynder gap will make more difference.
Nothing wrong with a 30 year old 38 revolver. If it has adjustable sights, go for it.
I have quite a few 357s and 38s. 99% of the shots fired are 38 match loads.
If I was going to buy a new gun and it was to be the only one, I would buy a 357.
He misspelled Smith and Wesson 686 lol
Years ago my Dad had a Ruger Blackhawk with a 9mm cylinder so we could shoot 38 Special, 357 Magnum and 9mm from the same frame. There was plenty of surplus 9mm (designed for the Sterling sub machine gun and Browning Hi Power) It had lots of jam for the blow back smg - a poor man's magnum round - and we shot loads of it!
Back to the first question before the idea got side lined by the run away train wreck.......
The only difference that you have is that the bullet has to travel along an unsupported gap of roughly 0.1" before it reaches the throat in the chambers on the .357 gun. So technically there's some room for a possible drop in gas pressure compared to shooting the same round from a dedicated .38Spl revolver.
But the difference is going to be so minor that any variation from the one gun to the other will be related more to the cylinder gap and the bullet to barrel fit.
The only difference that you have is that the bullet has to travel along an unsupported gap of roughly 0.1" before it reaches the throat in the chambers on the .357 gun. So technically there's some room for a possible drop in gas pressure compared to shooting the same round from a dedicated .38Spl revolver.
But the difference is going to be so minor that any variation from the one gun to the other will be related more to the cylinder gap and the bullet to barrel fit.
My delightful to shoot Models 10 and 15 S&W's would beg to differ with this opinion. There's plenty of life left in the good ol' .38Spl cartridge and the guns specifically chambered for them for the sort of shooting we do here in Canada.
357, then you can buy a rifle to match it later. My GP 100 mostly shoots reduced 357 158 grain loads. Very accurate, by my magnum load is very good as well, nice to have options. The extra weight of the mag frame makes the recoil of reduced loads as week as a popcorn fart!!
It IS nice to have options.... which would be where the Model 28 Highway Patrolman comes in.... .
Seriously, how can you guys live with just ONE revolver? I'd break out in a cold sweat and full body stress hives at the thought ! ! ! ! ! !
Seriously, how can you guys live with just ONE revolver? I'd break out in a cold sweat and full body stress hives at the thought ! ! ! ! ! !
greywolf67nt
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Stony Plain, AB
I have a GP100 and a friend has the S&W686 and for the price difference it is all about which brand you prefer.
I like the way they both shoot.
I like the way they both shoot.
It IS nice to have options.... which would be where the Model 28 Highway Patrolman comes in.... .
Seriously, how can you guys live with just ONE revolver? I'd break out in a cold sweat and full body stress hives at the thought ! ! ! ! ! !
BC, I just don't have the funds right now, maybe others are in the same boat. I would however have a room full of them if things were different.
Travis Bickle
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Upper Lower Middle Alberta
I shoot .38 SPL out of my Pietta SAA Clone.
7.5" Barrel.
It is extremely accurate. I don't notice any diffrence between the groups of .357 and .38.
Just a very slight POI change obviously that is barely measureable at 20 meters.
The "power" of the cartridges will remain the same. I think you're meaning to ask if the .38 Spl fired out of a gun chambered for BOTH cartridges will lose some of its velocity if it is put in a longer chambered pistol cylinder that can fire both?
7.5" Barrel.
It is extremely accurate. I don't notice any diffrence between the groups of .357 and .38.
Just a very slight POI change obviously that is barely measureable at 20 meters.
The "power" of the cartridges will remain the same. I think you're meaning to ask if the .38 Spl fired out of a gun chambered for BOTH cartridges will lose some of its velocity if it is put in a longer chambered pistol cylinder that can fire both?
