Hello, I know its possible and safe to do so but have one concern. Will the brass be thicker (since the new mouth is part way down the case) to the point of swaging down 148 HBWCs too far and causing leading/accuracy difficulties? These would be for a 38 only gun hence the trimming, I'de deface the headstamp. 38 is scarce and I have a handfull of 357s with nothing to shoot them out of. Not enough to warrent a trade.

I've done just what you have described for many years.

I've not encountered any problems in seating bullets, or chambering rounds, or the posisble leading you mentioned.

I've long suspected that the brass manufacturers simplify their production lines and use the same swage and extruding dies for producing .38 and .357 brass, and vary only in the headstamp bunters and trim lengths.

This was confirmed recently in a batch of .45-90 factory-new cases I obtained. The only difference between the original .45-70 cases and the longer .45-70 cases was the original headstamp of .45-70 and the case length. Apparently the headstamp bunters are used earlier than the final trim-to-length opeation.

I don't know about .38 Spl / .357 Mag, but I have been trimming down .44 Mag cartridge cases to .44 Spl size. It works for me. Loading the .44 Spl cases and the shortened .44 Mag cases with the same bullet and same amount of powder gives the same velocity.

I don't know where you live but around here .38 Special brass is all over the place while .357 Magnum brass is extremely scarce. I'm betting you could trade your .357 Magnum brass with .38 Special brass 2 for 1 if you try.

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SWCA #3437

The development of the .357 magnum cartridge followed years of both handloading .38 Special to increased performance levels, and factory-produced .38 Special high-velocity loads intended for use only in the large-frame revolvers.

The .357 magnum case was intentionally made about 1/8" longer than the .38 Special case, specifically to prevent it from being used in .38 Special firearms (although some revolvers have chambers that will accept the longer cases). I'm not aware of any intentional differences in case wall thickness, case head or web dimensions, etc.

I see no reason why you cannot do as you propose. After trimming to length you will need to chamfer the case mouths anyway, and the cases will be flared prior to seating a bullet. Those steps should remove any concerns about how the bullets will seat into the modified cases.

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Life of the party until 8:00PM

Sounds like a lot of work for easily obtained 38 spl brass? Unless you live outside the US.

If you need some 38's, I am sure I could round up a "handful" for you.

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Still Running Against the Wind

I know where there are literally thoudands of once fired .38 brass. .357's, alot less and much harder to find. Oh, and alot more expensive.

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Vaya con Dios

I have been in this reloading game long enough and I question why you want to spend the time doing this and the labor and wear on your case trimmer. Back in the day (only 25 years ago) I used to know only cheap skates or only frugal shooters that would do this . But mind you after they got through beating up the local kitchen table gun dealer to get the absolute rock bottom price on whatever firearm they wanted I am sure there next stop was to trim cases. Never mind the fact that they usually didnt have families or any other responsibilities so they had the time to waste. Most of them also had better jobs than me but I still bought 38 brass or picked it up off the ground at the range. Do yourself a favor if one of these frugal curmudgeons is planting this sead of cheap in you kill it before it invades the rest of your thinking and ruins the pleasure and enjoyment of the shooting sports. Oh and by the way one of these jackwagons used to have his girlfriend crawl around on her hands and knees looking for 45 acp brass too. What a piece of work. Try midwayusa. com for brass.

I'm with 357.............Life is too short to waste it trimming handgun brass. I'm sure you can get a pile of 38 Special range pick-up brass pretty cheaply on Gunbroker..........or simply trade your 357 for some 38 at your next local gun show.

I already said I'd give him some

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Still Running Against the Wind

I trim 9x19 to 9x18 Mak brass- beats buying 9x18. I'm saving all of 357 brass with split mouths to trim down and get a few more loadings as a 38 Special. Yes, I'm a cheap b*****d, and proud of it.

BTW- I wouldn't consider having my wife or gf crawl around on her hands and knees looking for brass... but I'll doggone sure do it.

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Andy

I trim 9x19 Luger cases to the shorter 9x18 Makarov with no problems. It is tedious though, and if I had a need for a large quantity of brass, I'd certainly place an order with Starr or some other source before trimming a lot of cases. I've probably trimmed 200-250 cases in all, and it's not something I'd like to do again.

OCD, thanks for the offer!

I'm going to wait and see if I ever come across any more that way we can do a trade. As of now its not enough to be worth mailing. I'll keep ya posted

I do not need to trade. If you need some to get you going just pm me your name address(in the USA) and I will mail you some. Mixed head stamps but only once or twice reloaded. 50+ enough ?

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Still Running Against the Wind

I'll send you some for free too if you need more. I got a lot of help when I started reloading and wouldn't mind at all doing the same.

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SWCA #3437

We can make this a Larry, Moe and Curly moment. (OCD1, AA and myself!)

Send me a PM with an address in the states and I will send you 100 free 38spl brass.

Well, Andy, it seems I have taught my middle daughter well. She embarrasses the snot out of her husband when they go to the range. If she sees someone shooting that isn't picking up their brass, she does. The embarrassing part comes when she grabs it in mid air out of the automatics!

LOL!!! Sounds like a heck of a good wife!!! I hope your son-in-law has a proper appreciation for how lucky he is...

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Andy

The 9x18 Markarov case has totally different dimensions than the 9mm Para or Luger. It is not just the length of the cartridge.
Yes, they may fit as some 9x18 have less strict tolerances but it is not the same bullet and not the same dimensions of the brass.

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Still Running Against the Wind

Hey, I want to be Moe!

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Still Running Against the Wind

I have also been to the range and have watched people leave it all over the ground. If they do not police up there area I will ask them if I can have their spent cases. Usually they are more than willing to let you. I shot one day next to an attorney , doctor and an RN that were shooting Sig Sauer 556 rifles and leaving the brass. I did not mind asking and I acquired several hundred once fired 223s. On the subject of having your wife or girlfriend pick up brass by crawling around on their hands and knees that could be a dangerous place to go. They never forget... treat em with respect.

Hey, just call me Curly... (I just love Curly)

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SWCA #3437

Glen,

Brass is on it's way. Clean even.

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Still Running Against the Wind

To me, that idea is rediculas.
I have several thousand .38 Specail cases laying around.

Very good, Sherlock.

Converting Luger cases to Makarov is nothing new. Many cases are converted to something else, called wildcatting, although the wildcat in this case is a commercial case.

Yes, the bullet is different, .365 Mak versus .355 for the Luger, and the cases are a bit smaller in diameter when trimmed. No, one should never attempt to shoot either loaded round in the other caliber. However, after resizing, trimming and firing, the previous Luger case is fireformed to the 9mm Mak chamber dimensions quite nicely. Seeing as the Mak case is shorter but larger than the Luger, the reformed Luger case will fit any 9mm Mak chamber. They do have an odd look to them until fired. Small round peg in a bigger round hole type of thing. They feed and fire in my CZ-82 without a hitch, just as any other "wildcat" cartidge does after being reconfigured to its new shape.

Just saying Watson. Not everyone who reads these posts is a "Wildcatter" like yourself.

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Still Running Against the Wind

Absolutely correct. I should have specified in my post that more steps are necessary than just trimming the cases from 19 mm to 18 mm.

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Andy

I also sent out some .38 Special brass today. You should be fine for a while since .38 Special brass lasts almost forever.

I started loading 1,200 pieces of Rem .38 Special brass almost 6 years ago and all are still in service. (and I shoot at least 300 rounds a week so they have a lot of reloads on them)

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SWCA #3437

Make me look bad! I will send mine out Friday or Saturday! They are talking about us working all weekend and have been putting in long days here!

I wanted a new job, I didn't think I was going to get two for the price of one though!

It could be worse, I could have none for the price of two!

Here, too, Arch. Never heard of .38 Special brass being scarce. Sure isn't in my reloading shop...

That's because we made you LARRY!

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Still Running Against the Wind

Soy-in-lee, that's because you're Larry!! nuck nuck nuck

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SWCA #3437