.38 Special in a .357

[.38SuperMan]

You would think if it was a problem I would have noticed it in the past 40 years. I have noticed zero problems. I clean the revolver with Hoppe's #9 and a stainless bore brush. Then I go over the entire revolver with Hoppe's and a toothbrush. Last thing I spray the outside and inside with Gun Scrubber. Then put a couple drops of oil in the hammer and trigger.

I don’t open the side up each time but follow a similar regiment. I remove the cylinder every time to make it easier to clean and use an oversized bronze brush in the chambers. I use a 45 cal bronze brush in the chambers of a 38 after throughly soaking them with a patch saturated with Hoppes or CLP depending on the finish of the gun. I repeatedly scrub the chambers until patches saturated with cleaner come out clean and there’s nothing visible internally. It sounds like a lot of work but doesn’t take much time. I also have found a patch saturated with carburetor cleaner or gun scrubber works well on getting that last bit of carbon out. I do this with all of my revolvers no matter the caliber.

 

[e3mrk]

The only problem I ever had was due to the 38 spcl.case being shorter than the 357 magnum case after a while a carbon ring would build up in the space in the cylinder making it difficult to insert a 357 bullet, A quick cleaning solves the problem.

 

[Model19man]

I use a 45 cal bronze brush in the chambers of a 38 after throughly soaking them with a patch saturated with Hoppes or CLP depending on the finish of the gun.

Really? What sort of finish would not be OK with Hoppes?

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

Really? What sort of finish would not be OK with Hoppes?

Nickel plating. If Hoppes…or any solvent containing ammonia gets under the plating it can start to lift off or peel.

 

[chief38]

My 357 Magnum Revolvers get shot with 38 special ammo 98% of the time. After thousands and thousands of rounds no harm has ever been done. Wear is slower, accuracy better, way less recoil and of course less expensive to reload or purchase.

 

[Thuer]

I do shoot only .38 special in my 686. Prefomance is great. I do use a copperbrush to clean out the cilinder. I have had never any problems with it for many years.

 

[gwpercle]

I've been shooting 38's in my Ruger Blackhawk 357 magnum since 1971.

The secrete is simple ... after each range session scrub the chambers with a brass brush (a size that fills the chamber) and a bore solvent (I use Ed's Red Bore Solvent) ... soak the cylinder a few minutes then scrub them chambers untill all clean and shine ...
That is all you have to do ! Easy as Pie !
Gary

 

[gwpercle]

The only problem I ever had was due to the 38 spcl.case being shorter than the 357 magnum case after a while a carbon ring would build up in the space in the cylinder making it difficult to insert a 357 bullet, A quick cleaning solves the problem.

If a ring builds up ... you aren't cleaning your chambers properly!
A brass brush and solvent ... be generous with it's use ...
... Get the ring around the chamber out , not hard .
Gary

 

[Old Corp]

Guess my practice the last several years is that if I'm shooting something that's a K or J frame, it sees plenty of .38's and just some .357's.
My N frames, with the exception of a c.1954 .38 HD, see mostly .357's.

As mentioned here and a million times in other places, a decent cleaning with quality cleaning products will alleviate any concerns about chamber fouling with the shorter .38 case.

 

[shown50]

I’ve always shot .38 special through my .357s since I normally stock .38. My dad was the same way he only kept .357 for self defense rounds, we always cleaned our guns after every range trip. Most of those were model 65s, 19-3/4 can’t remember, and a 28 never noticed any issues with a drop in accuracy or problems cleaning them. The 65s are still around and get shot probably once a year now and it’s still .38 special whatever I can find in stock.