38 Special in 357 Magnum....

C

ciPeterF

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I'm new to the reloading game, and have a question.... I know that most people use 38 special cartridges for their target loads in their 357's... but... wouldn't it be better to use 357 mag cartridges and move the bullet closer to the end of the cylinder giving it less distance to the forcing cone.. especially for wadcutters ..?? Thks
 
That's been my experience, using a 6" Colt Python. A number of years back, I tested a number of wadcutter loads, some in .38 SPL and some in .357 Mag cases. Repeatedly, my best accuracy came when using the .357 cases.
 
.... In general, that would be a valid observation. However there's a bit of a catch 22 involved in as much as there's regardless, with a revolver a "jump" from the cylinder to the barrel (forcing cone) and the length of the jump that occurred before the barrel has little or no effect.That being said, individual revolvers may have "preferences" ! If one were to use the longer 357 Mag.case, one would have to either use more powder, thus higher velocities and recoil, or use some form of filler. Reduced loads, can, under certain circumstances, produce a dangerous condition, mostly in rifles admittedly. Generalizing, it's seldom that full power loads provide the greatest accuracy, and for target shooting high velocities are not needed for expansion. And of course, 38 Special brass is usually cheaper and more readily available, and the load has been around forever and day, and is very well developed as a target round ! Muzzle blast and recoil is moderate, which adds to the shooters chances of achieving the full potential. ...... I suppose one could write a book on the pros and cons, and certainly there's been a tremendous amount written on both the 38 Spl. and the 357 Mag. and both are fine rounds, with the 357 being developed to address the shortcomings of the 38 Spl for Law Enforcement mostly, in the period when Bonnie and Clyde were outrunning, and outgunning the "Revenuer's " ! ..... David K. ...:canadaFlag:
 
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I shoot 158gr "cast" SWC in .38SPL cases in my Ruger GP100. I can group inside a looney at 15 yards.

You will also change the ballistics for a given load, for example, 3.7gr of Titegroup with a 158gr SWC in a 38SPL case will not have the same velocity as the same charge in a .357 case.

The only issue I have ever come across was that shooting cast bullets in 38SPL could leave lead deposits next to the forcing cone which could make it difficult if you were to try to chamber a 357 without first cleaning the lead accumulation.

I shoot cast and have never had a problem with 357 loads after shooting an afternoon of 38spl.
 
I think shooting .38spl cases in .357 mag really boils down to having a large supply of .38spl cases that are inexpensive vs not having many .357 Mag cases. I prefer to keep my Model 27 fed with .357mag cases even when shooting light loads but don't hold to that rule all the time.

Take Care

Bob
 
when trail boss gets more popular...

Like canuck44 I like 357's in my S+W model 27.

Trail boss powder is yet to be used by many reloaders.
My 3 reloading books, all most recent editions, do not mention it.

I got reloading info from their website.

Working well in my initial loads for my 45 70.
You cannot double charge the 45 70 with the minimum powder drop.
 
There as so many other factor that can effect the accuracy that the longer distance before it hits the rifling becomes less significant.
 
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