Can you shoot .357 out of a .38 special only J frame?

[BC38]

I asked a question in hopes of answers, not opinions and criticization as to why you think it isn't a good idea.

You got answers - but you've basically decided to argue with them instead of listening.

Dude, do what you want. You've obviously made up your mind that what you want to do is OK, no matter how many people you have telling you why it isn't a good idea.

So why bother to ask?

 

[Muss Muggins]

I asked a question in hopes of answers, not opinions and criticization as to why you think it isn't a good idea.

I think "Don't do it . . . " is an answer. Did you ever decide about your other question, loading .38 S&W Special cases to .357 Magnum pressures . . . ?

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

I for one, do not want to see the results on You Tube. Missing fingers and blood make me want to throw up.

Leon

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

I asked a question in hopes of answers, not opinions and criticization as to why you think it isn't a good idea.

Does anyone here get some kind of a feeling that there is a little more thinking in WC145's lengthy post than in the original post?

OP: YOU have the unorthodox opinion. Why someone else thinks it isn't a good idea IS an answer. You don't have to agree with it. You are free to "prove" it wrong. You are also free to blow your ****ing hand off, and you are sort of free to injure those near you when it happens, although you may be required to pay for the results. However, you shouldn't feel entitled to agreement from folks who are a little more careful than you.

BTW, my own UNeducated opinion is that, if you actually reload and actually follow reliable books, you will probably get away with it, except for maybe minor (or major?) discomfort to your hand.

But what do I know? Maybe even less than you.

 

[Stopsign32v]

Mods just go ahead and lock this

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Actually, you have received several answers, including the ones you object to. Also, Forrest Gump answered your question.

 

[BC38]

Mods just go ahead and lock this

Yeah, probably for the best.
You probably aren't going to get the "Yes, it is a GREAT idea" answer you are looking for - no matter how long the thread goes.

Sorry.

 

[Stopsign32v]

I did get my answers:

S&W has stated the steel cylinder of the J frame 38 specials and 357 magnum are the same other than the length

38 special and 357 magnum brass are the same strength wise only difference is length

You can use math to keep the pressure the same between the two cartridges

Aftermarket companies have been converting 38 special cylinders to accept 9mm and 38 super for many years, both which have very high pressure

 

[BC38]

I did get my answers:

S&W has stated the steel cylinder of the J frame 38 specials and 357 magnum are the same other than the length

38 special and 357 magnum brass are the same strength wise only difference is length

You can use math to keep the pressure the same between the two cartridges

Aftermarket companies have been converting 38 special cylinders to accept 9mm and 38 super for many years, both which have very high pressure

Be sure to post the video.

 

[Stopsign32v]

Be sure to post the video.

I never said I planned to do it, nor do I plan to. 357 magnum out of a 2" barrel is pointless IMO. I was simply asking a question.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

You can use math to keep the pressure the same between the two cartridges

Somebody can, but YOU can't. You don't know ANY of the pressures involved.

 

[WC145]

IMO, the issue is trying to load .38spl brass to .357mag pressures. Brass is made to be strong enough for the loads it's meant to contain, and different brands of brass may be stronger/thicker or weaker/thinner in different areas than others. In the case of .38spl, the SAAMI max pressure is 17K PSI, compared to .357mag which has a SAAMI max pressure of 35K PSI. Even if an ammunition company proofed it's brass to SAAMI max + 50% (which is probably way more than we can reasonably ask for) that would mean the best .38spl brass might be good to a max of 25.5K PSI, still 10K PSI under the 35K PSI max for .357mag. So, even hypothetically, the best .38spl brass isn't going to hold up to .357mag pressures. In addition, if you chose to cut .357mag brass down to .38spl length you would probably have to exceed the SAAMI max pressure for that brass to attain the same ballistics as the .357mag load you're trying to reproduce.

I don't see any safe way to get .357mag performance using .38spl brass, you simply cannot expect the cases to hold up. In fact, you should expect them to fail, and that's pretty dangerous stuff to be messing with.

 

[SLT223]

StopSign, I think the tall order in the scenario you described is reliably and safely achieving .357 velocity in the smaller volume .38 special case. If a full power .357 can develop 36kpsi, then the same load in a smaller case would be higher pressure. Would it still be safe? Dunno, but the pressure increase would be the problem regardless of whether or not the metallurgy can withstand .357 Mag stress...because now we are talking about even higher pressure. Even if the gun survives, you would likely need a hammer and dowel to eject the empties.

 

[LDM]

Sounds like a good way to get nominated for a Darwin award.

 

[Stopsign32v]

StopSign, I think the tall order in the scenario you described is reliably and safely achieving .357 velocity in the smaller volume .38 special case. If a full power .357 can develop 36kpsi, then the same load in a smaller case would be higher pressure. Would it still be safe? Dunno, but the pressure increase would be the problem regardless of whether or not the metallurgy can withstand .357 Mag stress...because now we are talking about even higher pressure. Even if the gun survives, you would likely need a hammer and dowel to eject the empties.

Good points right there. If you took away the charge to keep the pressure the same, in turn would you still have equal velocity?

 

[BC38]

Good points right there. If you took away the charge to keep the pressure the same, in turn would you still have equal velocity?

Same pressure + same bullet + same gun = same velocity.
Change any of those variables and the velocity changes. This is basic cartridge theory 101.

Is this all just a learning exercise on your part?

If so, may I suggest reading a few good books on reloading and ballistics, instead of starting threads theorizing about unsafe reloading ideas?

You will probably learn a lot more in a shorter time, and you won't get a large group of people so worked up and concerned that you are proposing doing something dangerous.

This isn't like hacking a computer or cell phone where the worst thing that can happen is you "brick" your device and it quits working. Reloading ammunition and shooting it in handguns aren't things to be trifled with. It is serious business with serious consequences for getting it wrong.

 

[SLT223]

Good points right there. If you took away the charge to keep the pressure the same, in turn would you still have equal velocity?

To achieve lower pressure and the same velocity you are talking about going to a slower powder. You may run out of cartridge case capacity before getting to the velocity you desire. Check out the charge weights of the slowest pistol powders in .357. You would need even more of a slower powder.

Now lets say the charge could fit. Beyound H110, which is a fast rifle powder, youre getting into medium burn rate rifles powders. These need pressure to burn, which you wouldn't be achieving in a handgun...especially one with a barrel to cylinder gap. If you got this to work, the muzzle blast would be like a stun grenade I would think.

 

[diyj98]

Years ago a friend of mine loaded up some 38 special loads with 3.5 grains of Bullseye. We fired a few through his Colt Detective Special and found not only did they kick like a mule, but they they were showing excessive pressure signs. We quit after just a a few shots and went back to his loading room. My friend who's very gun savy and normally diligent with his reloading had suffered a brain lapse and loaded not 3.5 grains, but 3 plus 5 grains for a total of 8 grains of bullseye. A 357 magnum load. Luckily the gun nor the shooters were damaged, but a lesson was learned by him about keeping your mind on what your doing, and me about shooting someone else's reloads!

 

[one eye joe]

Can you shoot .357 out of a .38 special only J frame?[/QUOT

Please think about this, SAAMI 38 special +P max pressure is 18,500 CUP. SAAMI .357 Magnum max pressure is 40,000 CUP. Is this reason enough not to try and overload a 38 special case?

HOW'S THAT FOR SOME SCIENCE--NO CONJECTURE. 'NUFF SAID ! ! !

 

[rwsmith]

Good Lord.......

The 360PD has a scandium alloy frame . . .

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcJARlwII90[/ame]

Who in the world shoots one of these? Hogue monogrip and padded gloves might keep it from breaking your hand.