I purchased Winchester .357 SIG,125 Gr. Full Metal Jacket,target/range ammo for my S&W .357 revolver.However, they don't fit in cylinder. :{ Obviously an uneducated purchase. Please Advise.Thank's

I purchased Winchester .357 SIG,125 Gr. Full Metal Jacket,target/range ammo for my S&W .357 revolver.However, they don't fit in cylinder. :{ Obviously an uneducated purchase. Please Advise.Thank's

If you really do mean "cylinder" then you sort of blew it. The .357 SIG is a round for a semi-auto. The case is a .40 cal and it throws a 9mm bullet. What you (presumeably) want is the .357 Magnum or .38 special revolver round.

If you mean "chamber" and not "cylinder" and you are trying to get them into a semi-auto chambered for that round, there is a problem somewhere.

Thank's Robert.I do believe i have it right as for cylinder, for .357 revolver.You answered my question to the tee.I definitly blew it.$ 30.00, down the tubes if i can't find a buyer.All ammo sales final where i bought them.I had a feeling the SIG didn't sound/look right on the box.Lesson learned.So, I should look for .357 Magnum or .38 special on box? Thank's Again.

You might want to try Walmart. Not only did wherever you went to sell you the wrong ammunition, but they gouged you on the price of it by about five dollars. Most Walmarts will let you open the box and look at the ammunition inside to see if it looks right.

Assuming that you have a revolver in good mechanical condition, it should safely fire any ammunition labeled .38 special or .357 magnum. If you see ammunition labeled .38 S&W (not special) that won't fit either. That's another common incorrect purchase.

GatorFarmer,You made me go look at my receipt. I did buy from Walmart,50 cartridges for $24.97 plus Tax, they were $26.47.But it felt like $30.00 worth of pain in the wallet and a little on my pride for making an uneducated purchase.This is my first handgun.I'm learning with help from this site. Thank's to all!!

Try going to a "Real Gun Shop" and it sounds like you should take your handgun in with you. The caliber is "usually marked" somewhere on the barrel.

But, I'll also suggest you fine a good place to take a firearms class and learn a whole lot more about your particular firearm. If you can't find one try contacting the NRA 'on-line' and they should be able to put you in touch with a firearms instructor in your neighborhood.

Stuccoman, ammo terminology is confusing as hell, and none of us were born knowing it all. Ask away before you buy next time. You will probably be able to use your ammo in trade at a gunshow or sell it in the classifieds and get some of your money back.

Don't feel too bad. If you're in N.VA by chance, I'll gladly swap you a box of .357 Magnum or .38 Special shells for the .357 Sig ammo. Otherwise, you should be able to find someone in your area who'll happily make such a swap. There's nothing wrong with buying at Walmart. Just ask to look at the ammunition, they'll usually let you.

Sir, don't feel bad. Recently a buddy of mine bought some ammo for his .38 special revolver and then couldn't figure out why the rounds kept falling out of his speedloaders. Turned out he'd bought .38 Super (auto-pistol) instead of .38 special (revolver).

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

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Thank's for the positive feedback folk's.I'm woking on getting to a gun shop/range here locally to learn more about my revolver.Just gotta make the time.I've had the gun three week's and yet to have the time to go shooting.Also been spending some time here and other gun related sites educating myself of the law's of owning a weapon,{10 commandments}before i shoot.Ya'll been alot of help. Thanks again!

Stuccoman,
Make sure that you check to see what it says on the barrel of your revolver before buying anymore ammo for it. A .357 magnum will handle .357 magnum, .38 special +P, and .38 special. A .38 special +P will handle .38 special +P and .38 special, and a .38 special will only handle .38 special.

If your revolver is a .38 special (or .38 special +P), and you try to put .357 magnums in it, one of two things will happen.

1. The rounds will not fit because the chambers are reamed to a point shorter than the .357 mag. case length. The rds. will stop going in about 1/8" short of flush. This is most often the case.

2. They will fit, and when you fire them, your gun will blow up in your face.

Always make sure that your ammo matches your gun exactly.

What kind of revolver do you have? Make, model, caliber?

Good advice above about seeking an NRA basic pistol course. You will learn a great deal that will help you be a safe and competant shooter.

WG840

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Thanks WG840.Made it today to indoor gun range.They exchanged the SIG's for .357 magnums.I bouhgt some .38 specials, as recommended by range instructor.He inspected my gun and gave it a thumbs up.Got two targets and shot'em up at 7yrds.It was awesome to shoot.Also, signed up for first steps pistol course for Feb.07, 75 bucks. Wish I could do it sooner but i'm tied-up till then on the weekends. Thanks to all you folks out their i'm on the right track. As Gomer Pyle would say "THANK YA, THANK YA ,THANK YA, Corny huh. Oh well.

I can't believe that people are charging that much for basic pistol courses! In any case, I am glad you were able to exchange your ammo, and got to fire your new gun. The .38 specials will keep the cost down for target practice, and for getting you used to handling and shooting this gun safely.

Be safe, and enjoy!

WG840

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I thought you might say that about the price,i'll keep this scheduled unless I find something cheaper.

Good job 840!
Stuccoman,
Even if you don't find a course available cheaper, it may just be the BEST $75.00 you've ever spent! Be careful, take your time and learn much.

I just completed an NRA RSO Training Class and the price tag was $75.00 but then I also got 12 hours of training. Which works out to be $6.25/hour and included 3 Instructors. Not a bad deal in my mind. Most of the NRA Classes all run about the same number of hours and if "stuccoman" only learns how to tell what kind of ammo to buy the next time he purchases a new gun then I figure he's likely to be ahead of the game.

Doing what you do, what would you charge for 12 hours of your time???

Hunter's safety classes usually cover ammunition identification. They're free (or very low cost) in many states.

But, unless they do it very differently from the two States where I've been an Instructor; these Classes wouldn't give him anything relative to his particular firearm except for whether is can be used as a Hunting Firearm. While an NRA Basic Pistol Class will include his particular revolver - or it should; because it is supposed to.

a common mistake stuccoman...glad you caught it and can exchange the ammo....now go have fun!

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