Are there any advantages to loading 38 or 44 special vs light magnums?

[Rule3]

In my loading for my 686 and 629 I have always used magnum brass.
Are there any advantages to loading 38 special or 44 special vs light 357 or 44 mag loads?
This would just be for the most accurate target loads.
Thanks

 

[Rule3]

In my loading for my 686 and 629 I have always used magnum brass.
Are there any advantages to loading 38 special or 44 special vs light 357 or 44 mag loads?
This would just be for the most accurate target loads.
Thanks

 

[Ron H.]

Sir, it takes less powder. If you already have the special brass, that'll save you a bit of money. If you don't already have the special brass, it would probably cost more to get it than you'd save via smaller powder charges.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

 

[Win]

Whenever possible, use the right brass ment for the gun.

 

[Hoptob]

Are there any advantages...

Not really but it's a lot of fun

Mike

P.S. Comes handy though if you have one of the older steel revolvers that can handle light magnum pressures. E.g. M36 or Detective Special.

 

[Rule3]

I have lots of 38 special but few 44. Just wondering if a light 38 special load would be more accurate than a proportionaly light 357 load. As you say, maybe a little less powder which would be good, as I am cheap, I mean frugal

I have a M60 but it is not fun to shoot with magnums and I only have +P SD ammo in the 642.

 

[musicmanbass]

I prefer loading light loads in mag cases over loading specials. Specials leave the infamous crud ring in the cylinder which should (read MUST) be cleaned before shooting mags again. As for accuracy, the case can be made that mag cases may be better as the bullet has less "empty" chamber space to traverse than being loaded in the special case.

 

[pbslinger]

I rarely shoot a cartridge that a gun isn't chambered for, mainly because of crud rings.

I did shoot some 38 Special wadcutters in my Dan Wesson 357 Supermag and it was very accurate.

 

[Rule3]

Originally posted by musicmanbass:
I prefer loading light loads in mag cases over loading specials. Specials leave the infamous crud ring in the cylinder which should (read MUST) be cleaned before shooting mags again. As for accuracy, the case can be made that mag cases may be better as the bullet has less "empty" chamber space to traverse than being loaded in the special case.

Pretty much what got me thinking about the whole deal.
Anyway I just loaded 100, 38 special 158gr lswc with 3.6 HP38 (231). Will see how the "puff" rounds go.