.38 Special in a .357

[Pisgah]

Clean regularly and you can shoot .38s forever with no problems switching to .357 whenever you want.

 

[chief38]

Once in a blue moon when I am in the mood to make noise, I will pop off a few 357's but the vast majority of loads that go through my Revolver's chambered in 357 are actually 38 specials.

I do load 357's in a revolver when walking in the woods but thankfully I've had the good fortune to never have to actually shoot them at anything.

 

[gwpercle]

As long as you clean / scrub the chambers clean with a brass brush wrapped with 0000 steel wool (or a special sized chamber cleaning brush) and bore solvent (your choice) after every shooting session ...

No Problems ! I've been doing this since 1971 and my Ruger Blackhawk and Model 19 S&W in 357 magnum are just fine ... no built up "ring around the chamber"

Get Lazy and fail to clean your guns chambers and yeah ... you will get a build up that prevents 357 ammo from chambering properly .

Cleaning a gun after shooting it isn't hard ... you take a bath after a hard day's work right ... you do at least bath once a week !
Guns are like guys ... clean them and they work better !
Gary

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Just to add what I already said in this thread...

If you're afraid of the carbon ring I have a simple solution I have been talking about for many years. Take a .357 Magnum case and use your deburr tool to actually sharpen the mouth of the case. The outside diameter remains the same but the material removed on the inside makes the top sharp. Just tap it into each charge hole if you have carbon and the case will cut it right out. It can be done anywhere, even at the range. Problem solved. (if you feel it's a problem) Like said a lot here, cleaning after each range trip will eliminate and chance of a buildup.

 

[Model19man]

I bought a Model 19-5 new around 1987. I proceeded to shoot thousands of hand loaded 357 Magnums in it with full house loads of 2400 behind a 110 grain or 115 grain JHP. Then I got old it seems.

I still have the Model 19 but nowdays I tend to shoot more 38 Specials through it loaded with a hollow base wadcutter. Those make nice clean holes in the target. Sometimes I shoot some full house 357 Magnums through it. It likes both but I like the 38 Special better.

 

[D Brown]

Just a general question since it showed up in this thread and has also appeared in other threads from time to time. Does anyone actually clean their revolvers with brass brushes? All my gun cleaning brushes are bronze, and in my experience, brass will deposit itself on blued gun metal.

I'm not picking on anyone, just truly want to know if this is a common practice.

 

[Paul in Nevada]

I never had a problem with the carbon ring buildup until I bought a Taurus. For whatever reason it accumulates carbon more than my GP100. It's made me rethink the wisdom of shooting 38's in a 357 if you also use that firearm for self defense. Simply put, I would clean after every range trip if this firearm is also used for self defense. The sharpened case trick above is novel. I will have to try that. My current method is to chuck a 40 cal nylon brush into a cordless drill and hog out each cylinder with solvent.

 

[reddogs]

Just a general question since it showed up in this thread and has also appeared in other threads from time to time. Does anyone actually clean their revolvers with brass brushes? All my gun cleaning brushes are bronze, and in my experience, brass will deposit itself on blued gun metal.

I'm not picking on anyone, just truly want to know if this is a common practice.

Brass core with bronze bristles on a stainless cleaning rod.

 

[smithra_66]

Any issues shooting a steady diet of .38 Special loads in a .357 magnum revolver over a long period of time ?

Not as long as you keep the chambers clean if you want to then shoot 357s.

 

[djohns6]

Is there anyone left that hasn't repeated the cleaning thing ?

 

[STORMINORMAN]

I'll opine that many don't actually make any distinction between bronze & brass brushes...?

There's nylon, the "golden-colored" ones (brass or bronze) and stainless steel.

Cheers!

P.S. And don't forget a bit of Chore Boy (copper), either!

 

[reddogs]

Proshot does on benchrest brushes advertised phosphor bronze 90% copper 10% tin. They work and last but i don't really have carbon or lead problems.

 

[OKFC05]

Hoppes unique spiral wound "Tornado" Gunsmith's brushes are particularly effective and quick in removing lead rings from chambers. Shot a truck load of .38s in model 66s and 686 in competition.

 

[desmobob]

Is it worth loading .38 Special type loads in .357 brass? (Are there any good .38 Special load recipes using .357 brass?)

 

[Model19man]

Is it worth loading .38 Special type loads in .357 brass? (Are there any good .38 Special load recipes using .357 brass?)

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.

 

[Shooter-2]

No problem with 38's. The occasional 357 hot stuff(only a few) when I want to make a friend or fellow shooter say HOLY COW!!

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Is there anyone left that hasn't repeated the cleaning thing ?

I think revolver owners need to be reminded to clean the cylinder's chambers. New comers to revolvers really don't get the cleaning like how they taught old timers in the Police Academy 50 years ago.

I see it frequently in the Consignment/Used Gun Cabinet at the LGS. 357 Magnums with dirty cylinder chambers.

 

[Dave Lively]

Is it worth loading .38 Special type loads in .357 brass?

Most people that reload just use 38 Special data in a 357 case. The 38 Special case is pretty long so the extra .1 inch doesn't make a lot of difference in powder selection.

I do know some people that load 38s in 38 cases though. The most common reasons are:

1. They have a bunch of 38 brass and not much 357 brass.
2. It is a good way to prevent accidentally loading full power 357s when you want to shoot 38s.
3. The rules at the club I shoot at don't allow shooting magnums at steel. Not really an issue since the range officer can tell when someone is shooting magnums by the noise but using 38 brass make it obvious you aren't if asked.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Have shot thousands of 38s in a number of different 357s.
Including some fairly hot Handloads.

 

[Doris J]

Me too. Have a 100 rnd box of .357 brass that I load only with 38spl equivalent loads for gentle shooting. DJ