Can you shoot .357 out of a .38 special only J frame?

Stopsign32v · Dec 10, 2016

Hear me out...

What I'm talking about is the 360J which is actually a magnum frame with a .38 special cylinder. It even has the flame cut shield like the M&P .357.

So with that said, what would happen shooting a .38 special casing loaded to .357 magnum charge? I'm curious

linde · Dec 10, 2016

Stopsign32v said:
. . . what would happen shooting a .38 special casing loaded to .357 magnum charge? I'm curious

I'm neither curious nor foolish enough to want to find out.

Re-chambering a .38 Special cylinder to .357 Magnum is one thing . . . not recommended but has been done successfully in a .38/44 N-frame.

Loading a .38 Special casing to .357 magnum charge is irresponsible to even consider. You obviously haven't considered the chamber pressure that such a loading would create in a reduced volume casing.

Russ

Peak53 · Dec 10, 2016

What part of 38 Special only is unclear?

Jingles · Dec 10, 2016

Make sure to post your test on Youtube so we can see how that works out for you.

Precede test by saying, "Here, hold my beer and watch this...."

jringo8769 · Dec 10, 2016

Well i have been around fireams all my life and seen a few people who tried some things they shouldn't
If u value your life and hands
I would strongly not recommend this
If u are looking for a 38 spec with some more punch
I am sure u can find some hotter 38 loads
Dont take your safety and life just to try something
God Bless,John
I owned a 340 and i have handled the 360 i would never try a real hot load in thise lightweight frames
I carry a old detective special and would not attempt a hot load in a solid frame either

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Mark IV · Dec 10, 2016

Relax ladies, it sounds like the OP is merely asking a rhetorical question just for curiosity's sake and informational purposes.
Obviously it ain't a great idea, but is there any chance anyone has an authoritative,detailed answer to the question?

Stopsign32v · Dec 10, 2016

Mark IV said:
Relax ladies, it sounds like the OP is merely asking a rhetorical question just for curiosity's sake and informational purposes.
Obviously it ain't a great idea, but is there any chance anyone has an authoritative,detailed answer to the question?

I'm glad someone else said it.

Instead of flinging poo does anyone have a reason it wouldn't work?

Stopsign32v · Dec 10, 2016

linde said:
You obviously haven't considered the chamber pressure that such a loading would create in a reduced volume casing.

Russ

So what was the .38/44? Plus couldn't you just take the percentage of powder away to compensate for the shorter cartridge to equal out to the same pressure?

colt_saa · Dec 10, 2016

All Scandium framed Smith and Wesson revolvers come with the blast shield installed (except the 315NG). It does not matter what caliber they are chambered for, even the low pressure ones

You are suggesting three things that offer the possibility of catastrophic failure:

1) Placing a 357 charge into a 38 special case will significantly INCREASE the pressure ABOVE 357 Magnum levels due to the smaller case capacity.

2) 38 Special brass may or may not be strong enough to contain the pressures generated by a 357 Magnum level loading. Every brand is different

3) The cylinder supplied with the 360J may or may not have the same heat treating process as a 357 Magnum cylinder. Two different cylinders have been supplied over the years

All that being said, many conversions of the 360J to higher pressure cartridges have occurred. I have a extra 357 Magnum cylinder that I plan on chambering for 38 Super. However I am starting with a cylinder known to be strong enough.

A cylinder change would be the way to go if you wanted the option of 357 Magnum power

MCorps0311 · Dec 10, 2016

Jingles said:
Make sure to post your test on Youtube so we can see how that works out for you.

Precede test by saying, "Here, hold my beer and watch this...."

I'd like to see it on Youtube too.Praying everything goes well!

alwaysoutdoors · Dec 10, 2016

Stopsign32v said:
Hear me out...

What I'm talking about is the 360J which is actually a magnum frame with a .38 special cylinder. It even has the flame cut shield like the M&P .357.

So with that said, what would happen shooting a .38 special casing loaded to .357 magnum charge? I'm curious

You just keep amazing us.

Stopsign32v · Dec 10, 2016

colt_saa said:
All Scandium framed Smith and Wesson revolvers come with the blast shield installed (except the 315NG). It does not matter what caliber they are chambered for, even the low pressure ones

You are suggesting three things that offer the possibility of catastrophic failure:

1) Placing a 357 charge into a 38 special case will significantly INCREASE the pressure ABOVE 357 Magnum levels due to the smaller case capacity.

2) 38 Special brass may or may not be strong enough to contain the pressures generated by a 357 Magnum level loading. Every brand is different

3) The cylinder supplied with the 360J may or may not have the same heat treating process as a 357 Magnum cylinder. Two different cylinders have been supplied over the years

All that being said, many conversions of the 360J to higher pressure cartridges have occurred. I have a extra 357 Magnum cylinder that I plan on chambering for 38 Super. However I am starting with a cylinder known to be strong enough.

A cylinder change would be the way to go if you wanted the option of 357 Magnum power

See the post above yours.

The cylinder question IS the concern I would have. However if a .38 special cylinder can have a 9mm conversion done safely...

old bear · Dec 10, 2016

Can you shoot .357 out of a .38 special only J frame?[/QUOT

Please think about this, SAAMI 38 special +P max pressure is 18,500 CUP. SAAMI .357 Magnum max pressure is 40,000 CUP. Is this reason enough not to try and overload a 38 special case?

Sebring Pop · Dec 10, 2016

Well it doesn't work in a Ruger

BC38 · Dec 10, 2016

Stopsign32v said:
So what was the .38/44? Plus couldn't you just take the percentage of powder away to compensate for the shorter cartridge to equal out to the same pressure?

A 38/44 is an N-frame chambered for 38 special. Basically the same thing as a Model 28 (a.ka. Highway Patrolman) or Model 27 with the cylinder chambers reamed for the shorter 38 specials instead of the longer 357 cartridges.

Take a look at this cylinder photo of my Highway Patrolman and compare the thickness of the chamber walls to the cylinder of your 360j and you'll see why people could get away with reaming the 38/44 to accept 357 magnum cartridges - and why trying the same thing with your j-frame isn't the best of ideas.

And in answer to your second question, yes, you could load ~15% less powder into the 38 special case to keep the pressure roughly equal to the standard 357 magnum pressures. BUT that doesn't change the fact that maximum 357 magnum pressures are still more than twice the maximum 38 special pressures that your 360j is rated for.

This is just a bad idea all around. The frame may be the same, but the cylinder is not guaranteed to be. It may in fact be the same, but how are you going to know - other than by doing destructive testing on one? If the test is to be done with a 357 round it is not a test I would personally want to be involved with - not one I would recommend you getting involved with either.

Arik · Dec 10, 2016

Stopsign32v said:
So what was the .38/44? Plus couldn't you just take the percentage of powder away to compensate for the shorter cartridge to equal out to the same pressure?

It was 38spl loaded hotter in a N frame revolver

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

AlHunt · Dec 10, 2016

Stopsign32v said:
I'm glad someone else said it.

Instead of flinging poo does anyone have a reason it wouldn't work?

The case wasn't designed to handle magnum pressures. The cylinder wasn't designed or tested to handle magnum pressures.

It's just an all around bad idea.

Stopsign32v · Dec 10, 2016

Can anyone show information on this?

.38 Special brass isn't as strong as .357 Magnum brass

.38 Special J frame carbon steel cylinder is weaker than .357 Magnum J frame carbon steel cylinder

These see to be the two main claims that are popping up as to why it would result in failure.

BC38 · Dec 10, 2016

You asked a question, and you're not getting the answer you wanted, so you don't seem willing to accept it.

Tell you what, you don't like the answer you're getting here, then ask Smith & Wesson. Better yet, get a 38 special cylinder and a 357 cylinder and have them subjected to destructive testing and analyzed.

Or do your own redneck destructive testing - ruin your 360j by having the cylinder reamed to chamber 357s, and start shooting 357 rounds in it - and see how long it lasts.

Then come back here and tell us we're all wrong. Assuming you still have fingers to type with and both eyes to see the computer screen...

rwsmith · Dec 10, 2016

They are the same cartridge....

Stopsign32v said:
Can anyone show information on this?

.38 Special brass isn't as strong as .357 Magnum brass

@@@ The only difference is the length. .357s parent was the .38

.38 Special J frame carbon steel cylinder is weaker than .357 Magnum J frame carbon steel cylinder

Any cylinder on a .38 special gun is weaker than a .357 cylinder by definition. Maybe somebody makes an extra beefy .38 cylinder but I don't know who they are and I would still shoot .38 if it said .38.

These see to be the two main claims that are popping up as to why it would result in failure.

When Elmer Keith and others developed the .357, he blew up several .38 specials because he wanted to find the potential of the CARTRIDGE. After they found what the cartridge could do they produced guns in .357 magnum.

.38 started as a black powder cartridge. When smokeless came about, you could get more pressure with less powder, leaving an abundance of space inside the cartridge that could be utilized IF the gun were strong enough.

The extra length of the .357 cartridge is there ONLY to prevent .357 cartridges from going into .38 guns.

Can you shoot .357 out of a .38 special only J frame?

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