38spl loaded to 357mag....possible???

[pmgnicol]

Hi there. I have a S&W686-6 with a 6inch barrel and currently shoot 158gn rn projectiles and 5.5gns of AP70 powder. This is good enough for me to meet minor power factor for IPSC comps. What I want to know is...is it possible to load 38spl cases to 357mag loads. Having checked to ADi website for 357mag cases I would need 6.3gns of AP70 to meet power factor for major. The 38spl cases still have loads of room in them to accommodate 6.3gns. Its less than a grain higher than what I am shooting now and I am seeing no adverse effects on the cases, primers etc at present. It would be amazing to be able to up my powder charge in 38spl to major power factor. Any thoughts........

 

[muddocktor]

Can you? Well, yes you could. Modern 38 Special brass should be strong enough to load to pressures that a low end 357 Mag load to. Should you? In my opinion, heck no!!! Those 38 Specials loaded to 357 magnum pressures could very well blow up a 38 Special gun that some unsuspecting person accidentally loads them into. If you can guaranty that they won't be shot in anything but a 357 Mag pistol you can do it though. The 357 Magnum was developed by people experimenting with high powered 38 Special rounds in N frame 38's if I am not mistaken. Be aware that the charge weight in a 38 Special case won't be the same as in a 357 Mag case. The shorter case means less volume for powder, which will change the pressures involved (higher) for a given powder charge.

 

[Nevada Ed]

When I pick up a 38 special case..........

I want to know that it "IS" a 38 loading.

That is why it is marked 38 spl on the head's case...........

 

[Walkingwolf]

When I pick up a 38 special case..........

I want to know that it "IS" a 38 loading.

That is why it is marked 38 spl on the head's case...........

A lot of loaders of hot ammo use colored powder coating to indicate the loads, also colored lacquer paint on the primers. One should not shoot others reloads, no matter how they have been reloaded. The onus is on the person who loads them as to what they load. It all falls under liberty.