STOP Shooting 38's in your 357's!!

I don't like cleaning the ring out the cylinder either. I reload most of my ammo now, so if I am going to do all that work, I'm going to use the correct brass. One of the big benefits of reloading is the ability to customize the ammo for your needs. .38 level loads in .357 brass is a good example of this.
 
The only difference between shooting .38 specials in a .357 Magnum cylinder is the location of the powder ring in the cylinder. And both locations in the cylinder need to be cleaned after shooting.

Last week I shot my .44 magnum, 50 cast bullets loaded in .44 special cases and 50 jacketed bullets in .44 magnum cases. I had no leading or problems loading the magnum cases. A little soak time with Kroil and a copper bore brush and the cylinders came clean.

Your over thinking a problem that doesn't exist with normal cleaning methods.

Again, you will get a ring with "any length case" and have to clean the cylinder so it doesn't matter as long as "YOU" do a good job cleaning when your done shooting.

As a side note don't bring this subject up in a Taurus Judge or S&W Governor forum, you will be shot with .410 buckshot and then finished off with a .45 ACP or .45 Colt with a dirty cylinder. :rolleyes:
 
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You can't shoot 38s in a 357 and expect to be proficient shooting warm 357s out ot them. You do whatever trips your triggers. I didn't pay for your guns so it's really none of my dang business anyhow. You can take this to the bank guys. If you expect to be any good shooting magnum loads out of that shooting stick using 38 ammo you're kidding yourselves I'm outa' here. Sorry guys. Good Night!
 
One more time. No one has answered my question. I am not knocking 38spls OK? My question is now like it has always been why in the sam hill would someone buy a 357 so they can shoot 38s' out of it?? Why the heck don't you just go buy a 38 to start with.? I'm crazy I'm sure but I've had a thing about 357 loads since the first time I ever shot one out of a Marlin lever action and later the handguns years ago probably before some of you were born.. To me it is a unique load in itself and I just get a little bent when folks want to take this fine weapon and turn it into a BB gun. Sorry! That's just my take on it.
 
Dang it, been doing it wrong all these years.

Of course, I was taught to keep my weapons clean and I never had any problem mixing 38 and 357 so I guess I must have been taught good shooting practices, too.

So tell me again what I'm doing wrong?
 
Nearly every used weapon I have purchased has been in DESPERATE need of cleaning. Some even required the use of a dental pick to get them back down to actual gun metal in some places. Shoooting 38 in a 357 is not the issue, lack of cleaning however is...
 
I don't know if the model makes any difference but my 686 is a pain to clean and polish after shooting 38's out of it and very easy after shooting 357's. I don't want any sign of that ring when I finish cleaning. Might be the taper in the cylinder or something else but I don't shoot 38's in it anymore!!
I like the 38 round so I just got a M67 for them.
 
Hill country you aren't doing anything wrong and my apollagies ( however you spell it) to the range fellows. I'm fortunate to get to shoot at home and wasn't aware of the issues you guys have at some of the ranges . I wasn't aware of the issues you face at various ranges trying to shoot your magnums. Sorry, Popper
 
POPPER said:
You can't shoot 38s in a 357 and expect to be proficient shooting warm 357s out ot them. You do whatever trips your triggers. I didn't pay for your guns so it's really none of my dang business anyhow. You can take this to the bank guys. If you expect to be any good shooting magnum loads out of that shooting stick using 38 ammo you're kidding yourselves I'm outa' here. Sorry guys. Good Night!
Click to expand...

You must of missed the part in the movie where Dirty Harry said he shot Special loads in his .44 magnum for better control.

I mean why would any sane person shoot 296 powder in a 5 inch barrel 44 magnum except at night on the Forth of July.

(you only burn 72% of the 296 powder in a 5 inch barrel) :eek:

fastpowder_zpsa12b107f.jpg


29-5classic_zps0cc3cd4f.jpg


And what is you definition of "proficient" with a .40 S&W. :rolleyes:

40SampW001_zps562459ff.jpg
 
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Man... I seem to have touched a sore spot. Anyway, I do like that I 'can' shoot specials in my magnum, and I do understand that the ring can be cleaned out. But, seeing as 357 cases can easily be loaded to 38 specs, and seeing as this is the reloading section, I just don't see the point in shooting 38's in a 357. Why make cleaning harder than it needs to be?

This gun I was just handed down has obviously seen a ton of special loads put through it with only a percursory cleaning. So, to 'edit' my original post, "If you must shoot specials through your magnum, please meticulous in cleaning it afterwards."

I for one, prefer to keep two boxes of 357's loaded. One with 6 grains of Unique and a standard primer (for my dad and wife) and one with 12 grains of AA#9 and a magnum primer.

Edit to add: I keep them separated by using a round nose for the powder puff loads and a SWC for my magnums. The round nose is also a softer alloy for better obrutration at the lower pressures.
 
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tappedandtagged said:
Man... I seem to have touched a sore spot. Anyway, I do like that I 'can' shoot specials in my magnum, and I do understand that the ring can be cleaned out. But, seeing as 357 cases can easily be loaded to 38 specs, and seeing as this is the reloading section, I just don't see the point in shooting 38's in a 357. Why make cleaning harder than it needs to be?

This gun I was just handed down has obviously seen a ton of special loads put through it with only a percursory cleaning. So, to 'edit' my original post, "If you must shoot specials through your magnum, please meticulous in cleaning it afterwards."

I for one, prefer to keep two boxes of 357's loaded. One with 6 grains of Unique and a standard primer (for my dad and wife) and one with 12 grains of AA#9 and a magnum primer.

Edit to add: I keep them separated by using a round nose for the powder puff loads and a SWC for my magnums. The round nose is also a softer alloy for better obrutration at the lower pressures.
Click to expand...
I understand what you are saying. I know some people don't clean their guns like they should. I wouldn't care to download 357 cases but I only have a few hundred while I have over 1000 38 special cases. 38 cases are easier to come by.
 
bigedp51 said:
Your going to have to clean your handgun "NO MATTER WHERE" the ring is located. So its a moot point, you have a solution for a problem that doesn't exist.
Click to expand...

Seeing that the 38 case is 0.135" shorter than the 357 case, that puts the crud ring from a 38 case right at the end of the 357 case. When the 357 case expands upon firing, the bras is pushed into this ring of carbon. In my experience in my orginal post, this pretty much fused tow cases into the gun. Had the gun been cleaned appropriately, it wouldn't have occurred, but it wasn't. Now, lets take a gun that has been fed a steady diet of 357's and left neglected as my gun was before I took possession of it. The ring would have been farther forward and would not have acted upon the expanded case when fired as it would be just in front of the expanded case rim.

Again, I am expressing my OPINION on this subject and thank you for expressing yours. And rest assured, now that I own this mdl 28, it will be cleaned appropriately.
 
Fredo Batali said:
Don't burn regular unleaded gasoline in your car, I might buy it one day... I only burn premium unleaded gasoline in my cars.

De Oppresso Liber
Click to expand...

You're taking my frustrated rant too seriously. I was venting after spending two hours of time cleaning a gun that had been shot with a steady diet of 38's and then had the cylinder neglected.
 
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