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Old 04-04-2018, 10:52 PM
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LoboGunLeather LoboGunLeather is offline
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Way back in time quite a few intrepid shooters and reloaders worked up some wickedly powerful loads in .38 Special cases, mostly for use in heavy duty revolvers like the S&W .38-44 series, Colt New Service, Single Action Army, etc. Inevitably, more than a few folks tried using such loads in any handgun that would accept the cartridge, with predictable results (such as grievous bodily injury, etc).

Despite many warnings and published articles people tried using high-pressure factory loads such as the .38-44, .38 Hi-Speed, and others in guns other than those approved for such ammo, with predictable results (such as grievous bodily injury, etc).

About 1935 the new .357 Magnum cartridge was introduced, along with heavy, large-framed revolvers manufactured with special steel alloys and heat treatment processes so as to allow greatly increased chamber pressures. The .357 magnum cases were intentionally made to be about 1/8" longer in order to prevent Bubba, Joe Bob, and the boys from chambering those cartridges in .38 Special revolvers. That didn't stop the predictable results (such as grievous bodily injury, etc); in fact, there was quite a little cottage industry involving chambering reamers to convert .38 Special revolvers to .357 Magnum revolvers, with predictable results (such as grievous bodily injury, etc).

Thankfully, we now have a veritable army of liability lawyers to represent the interests of those who have been foolish enough to believe that they know more than any of the engineers engaged in the manufacture of firearms (or automobiles, or kitchen appliances, etc). It's all so much better now that anyone can do anything, then turn the case over to the law firm of Dewey, Cheatham, and Howe for a contingency fee lawsuit to correct any idiot's stupid acts by awarding large judgements against those who manufacture products that Bubba and Joe Bob can play with to their little hearts' content.

People keep saying there is no cure for stupid, but I think that removing all the warning labels might be a good start.
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