.38 Super in a .357 Magnum gun?

Joined
Jan 24, 2007
Messages
10,358
Reaction score
52,005
Location
Arizona
I don't ever want to be on record as encouraging the use of ammo not specified for a particular chambering, BUT...

I've read that .38 Super ammo may be fired in revolvers chambered for the .357 magnum. There's enough of a semi-rim on the Super round to provide adequate headspacing, and the rounds are similar enough in diameter to safely work in a pinch.

Has anyone tried this trick?
 
Register to hide this ad
I don't think it will work. The 38 Super is a tapered case with a base similar in diameter ti 9x19. It should be too large at the base to fit in a 357 chamber.
 
I heard this years ago, so I gave it a try. The .38 Super cartridge will fit in some .357 Magnum chambers, but not all. The chambers in a Colt Python were a little too tight, but the chambers in Model 19 were just fine. It depends on the gun. The bullets are a little undersized for a .357, so I suspect the accuracy to be somewhat poor.
 
The bullets are a little undersized for a .357, so I suspect the accuracy to be somewhat poor.

Interesting. I have a .357/9mm convertible Ruger old model Blackhawk, and the 9mm rounds shoot surprisingly well out of the .357 barrel. I suspect the effect would be about the same with a .38 Super in a .357.
 
I don't ever want to be on record as encouraging the use of ammo not specified for a particular chambering, BUT...

I've read that .38 Super ammo may be fired in revolvers chambered for the .357 magnum. There's enough of a semi-rim on the Super round to provide adequate headspacing, and the rounds are similar enough in diameter to safely work in a pinch.

Has anyone tried this trick?

Sir, I haven't tried shooting any in a .357, but I do know that .38 Supers will chamber and headspace just fine in a buddy's recent Model 640 (dash 2, maybe?). Seems like Skeeter Skelton also wrote about shooting .38 Supers in a Model 27 as an expedient.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.
 
Yes, it will work, and I have done it. Usually people say it will not work for two reasons: First some will say it is a tapered case, which is incorrect. Second, they will say it is rimless, which is also incorrect. However, all factory 38 Super ammo will not work, and it will not work with many older Smith's (70's era).

The ammo it will work with in many Colt and S&W revolvers is Winchester and Magtech. Other factory ammo I have tried will not work, which includes Remington, PMC, UMC, Federal, Aguila, Armscor, and Fiocchi.

It will work in old and new N frames, newer Model 60's and all the K frame .38 and .357 I have tried. Note - so far I have shot it only from the N frames, but it will easily chamber and extract (with the rim) unfired in all the others mentioned. Also chambers in Pythons. Hope this helps some.
 
They were popular in the 30s for their penetration (of auto bodies and bullet resistant vest of the day).
John Dillinger like them.
 
I just checked and Winchester 38 Super will just barely fit in the chambers of my 340PD and they even extract. I don't think I'll try firing them.
The rim thickness of the 38 Super is only about half what the rim on 38 Special or 357 is.
 
Last edited:
I just checked and Winchester 38 Super will just barely fit in the chambers of my 340PD and they even extract. I don't think I'll try firing them.
The rim thickness of the 38 Super is only about half what the rim on 38 Special or 357 is.

For that I would think it would beat up on the firing pin. It sounded like a possible alternative for a bit.
 
Yes, it will work, and I have done it. Usually people say it will not work for two reasons: First some will say it is a tapered case, which is incorrect. Second, they will say it is rimless, which is also incorrect. However, all factory 38 Super ammo will not work, and it will not work with many older Smith's (70's era).

The ammo it will work with in many Colt and S&W revolvers is Winchester and Magtech. Other factory ammo I have tried will not work, which includes Remington, PMC, UMC, Federal, Aguila, Armscor, and Fiocchi.

It will work in old and new N frames, newer Model 60's and all the K frame .38 and .357 I have tried. Note - so far I have shot it only from the N frames, but it will easily chamber and extract (with the rim) unfired in all the others mentioned. Also chambers in Pythons. Hope this helps some.

Absolutely correct. It will work more often than not. The .38 Super (Correctly Super .38 in original nomenclature) even has a lower MAP than original .357 Magnum loadings. This is exactly the same situation as shooting .32 ACP in a .32 S&WL or .32 H&R Magnum.

And, while we are at it, you can even shoot a .32 ACP in a .32-20! Won't headspace, case really bulges, but if that is all you had it works. Just have to raise the muzzle to get the cartridge against the breech and be careful not to disturb the gun while lowering it to shoot. Won't work shooting downhill, might have to use a rod to knock it out, but it works.
 
"Just have to raise the muzzle to get the cartridge against the breech and be careful not to disturb the gun while lowering it to shoot. Won't work shooting downhill, might have to use a rod to knock it out, but it works."


What, doesn't every MacGyver apprentice/journeyman carry a multipurpose folding knife/pliers set, ballpoint pen and a paper clip?
 
As for bullet size, I've been load my 38super for my EAAWitness with .357 130 JRN (and they are very accurate). Isn't a 38 super supposed to be .356 diameter?, but some places I see it listed at .355 dia?

A .357 case is .379 &.38super is .384 (base & neck dims), .38super rim is .05 x .406dia; .357 rim is .06 x .440dia. Rim should keep it in place without having to rely on gravity.....

So; entirely depends on how your .357 (or .38special) chambers are cut, but should theoretically work (if they are more than .005 big).

Hmm, I can't believe in 20 years of shooting, I've never tried it.
 
The one problem I think might occur is case separation. Since the rim is thinner, the firing pin will drive the case forward, if it goes off the case walls will hold onto the chamber walls and the back of the case will them move back to the breechface. The case may come out of the gun a bit longer than when it went in. It might come out in two pieces.
However if it's the only ammo/gun you have and you need it to go bang it would be worth a try.
 
I have machined a 340PD cylinder for .38/.357 Full Moonclips and then rechambered to .38 Super Full Moonclips. ALL will fire & extract without any problem. This makes it a 2 time winner.
 
I tried firing .38 Super in my .357 Coonan auto once to see if it work and no issues. Felt like it was shooting .38 Specials but I don't remember if I had to work the slide or not.

CD
 
OK, out of curiosity I tried some Winchester 38 Super in my 10-6. They chambered, fired and extracted fine, but seemed to shoot a little low. Kids, don't try this at home and your mileage may vary, etc.

Not something I plan on doing on a regular basis but it's interesting to know. Especially since i thought it would not work.
 
OK, out of curiosity I tried some Winchester 38 Super in my 10-6. They chambered, fired and extracted fine, but seemed to shoot a little low. Kids, don't try this at home and your mileage may vary, etc.

Not something I plan on doing on a regular basis but it's interesting to know. Especially since i thought it would not work.

Wouldn't your 10-6 be a .38 special? And the .38 Super rounds chambered and fired OK in that?
 
Yes, my 10-6 is a 38 Special. Made in the early to mid 60's I've been told, based on the serial number. Given the velocity difference between 38 Super and 38 Special it would have to be a +P+ round and I neither plan on shooting the stuff regularly nor would I recommend anyone else doing so.

However I happen to have a bunch of ammo I loaded up for a Star, which use 38 Super cases loaded to 38 ACP specs. I no longer have the Star and now that I know the cases work in my 10-6 see no reason not to use these lower pressure rounds plinking.
 
Back
Top