Handload Arena: 38 spcl vs 357 Magnum?

Which 38 is better for handloading?

  • 38 Special

    Votes: 51 57.3%
  • 357 Magnum

    Votes: 38 42.7%

  • Total voters
    89
I chose 357 . I can down load the 357 to shoot like a 38 special but I really don't want to " up load " the 38 special to shoot like a 357 magnum . Just my thoughts , regards Paul
 
You can also load .357 on the .38 special dies by using a couple of large washers as spacers or get one of the custom made adapter rings to use as a spacer

These days they don't sell separate dies for each. One set of dies does both and are marked that way. Its been that way for at least 15 years, maybe more.

I did buy a set of .357 Mag only dies that were on clearance for practically nothing and bought them just so I can mount them on their own turret for time savings. The set of dies I use for the .38 will also do the .357 with the correct adjustments.
 
You might notice that I used the word "may" in my comments about differences in reloading dies. These products have been made by dozens and dozens of companies over the decades and there are vast differences in dimensions.

I stand by my earlier comments as a good general rule. .38 Special dies will work for .357, but .357 dies may or may not function properly for .38 Special, and with a set of .38 Special dies in hand there is no reason to purchase .357 dies.

If all you own is a .38Spl, with no desire to own a .357 Magnum, then sure, just get the .38 Spl dies. If you own both calibers, all the modern die sets for .357M can be adjusted to properly load .38 Spl, so why not just buy one set for both, unless you load hundreds/thousands of both and don't want to have to reset the dies between calibers. That only takes a couple of minutes, though. Same goes for .40S&W/10mm, 9x19/9x21/9x23, or .44Spl./.44M and maybe more. For a newbie reloader, reading the label on the box will tell if the dies are suitable for multiple cartridge types.
 
If all you own is a .38Spl, with no desire to own a .357 Magnum, then sure, just get the .38 Spl dies. If you own both calibers, all the modern die sets for .357M can be adjusted to properly load .38 Spl, so why not just buy one set for both, unless you load hundreds/thousands of both and don't want to have to reset the dies between calibers. That only takes a couple of minutes, though. Same goes for .40S&W/10mm, 9x19/9x21/9x23, or .44Spl./.44M and maybe more. For a newbie reloader, reading the label on the box will tell if the dies are suitable for multiple cartridge types.

That is actually backwards. Dies for the 38 will load 38, 357 and 357 Maximum.
 
There are several points in the .357 Mag's favor:

1) .357 Mag commercial ammo is normally more expensive than commercial .38 Special.

2) You can load .357 Magnum down to .38 Special performance levels more effectively than you can load .38 Special to .357 magnum performance levels.

3) .357 Mag functions slightly better in my lever guns than the shorter .38 Special.

——

On the other hand:

1) it's easier to get maximum accuracy with light weight target loads with .38 Special than with .357 Mag.

2) .38 Special brass is less expensive than .357 Mag.


Still, .357 Mag gives a higher savings ratio than .38 Special.
 
There are several points in the .357 Mag's favor:

1) .357 Mag commercial ammo is normally more expensive than commercial .38 Special.

2) You can load .357 Magnum down to .38 Special performance levels more effectively than you can load .38 Special to .357 magnum performance levels.

3) .357 Mag functions slightly better in my lever guns than the shorter .38 Special.

——

On the other hand:

1) it's easier to get maximum accuracy with light weight target loads with .38 Special than with .357 Mag.

2) .38 Special brass is less expensive than .357 Mag.


Still, .357 Mag gives a higher savings ratio than .38 Special.

Two additional considerations in favor of 357 Magnum IMHO:
1) with 357 cases you don't have to worry about gunk building up in the chambers between the case mouth and the step.
2) downloading 357 Magnum to 38 Special +P is easier and safer (again my opinion) than pushing 38 Special handloads. This is helpful for really short, lightweight revolvers like the M& P 340.
 
Ive found its almost impossible to get my lee dies set for 357 magnum.

It was many years ago and they were selling as a closeout since they were discontinued. You might find them used at a gun show but not new in the store.
 
My 2 cents:

didn't vote for one, I think they are two distinct calibers with purpose and cost/resources to load each. For my work, I use components specific to each in the same way components are specific to any caliber I reload for.
 
I voted for .357 Magnum. Of course, that presupposes you have a .357 to shoot. You can download a .357 to something like a light .38 Spl. +P, but you can't load a .38Spl. into magnum territory, and there's no point anyway because you have the magnum revolver to shoot, so just use the longer brass.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
My reason too and why I own 357 and 44 Magnum revolvers, yet none chambered in 38 Special or 44 Special. The 357 and 44 Magnums offer me more versatility.
 
Yes.
357 Mag is the same case, just a little longer. Allows one to pack in a little more powder. ;)
My Lee dies work fine for both. My RCBS dies came with the washer for use with the longer case with minimal adjusting, as does my RCBS set for the 44 Mag/44Spcl.
FWIW I've loaded 32 H&R Mag with my Lee 32 S&W Long dies without any issues.

John
 
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I voted for the 357 MAgnum simply because you can load so many varieties. For example I have a 2 1/2 inch model 19-3 in rather good condition, the only flaw in the finish is in the removable sideplate due to it's being stuffed in a sock drawer for about 30 years. As has been well documented the forcing cone on these revolvers can split if used too often wtih "hot" 357 Magnums. My solution for this issue is to use hand loads that are closer to a 9mm Parabellum than a 357 Magnum. Push a 158 grain bullet to 900 fps is rather fun load to shoot.

As for cost, I shoot 4 gun Skeet and shoot and load for all 4 calibers. So the lightest load I shoot has 219 grains of shot on board and it all goes up from there. Pricing for commercial 357 Magnum bears some resemblance to the 410, as in a box costs roughly 3 times what it costs to hand load. Think about 12 dollars a box of savings.
 
First handgun for which I ever loaded was a .38 Special. Have been shooting 158 gr. LSWC's over 5.0 gr. of Unique ever since I read Skeeter Skelton's load suggestions in Shooting Times. Have loaded some .38 Specials up to and beyond super doper atomic level. Also went nuclear with some .357 loads. I was young, maybe even dumb. Now, I'm a little bit smarter. I have thousands of .38 Special cases bagged up and read to use. I have not many .357 cases. Never have. So, I load .38 Special from mild to wild. I shoot them in .357 Magnum revolvers with no worries. Now, when it comes to my one and only remaining .38 Special revolver ... a gorgeous four inch nickle 15-2 ... I shoot lighter loads up to the afore mentioned Unique load, but no heavier. If I had more .357cases, I'd likely load more of them, but you work with what you have available. Truthfully, there is very very little that needs shooting that cannot be effectively shot with a .38 Special. JMHO. Sincerely. bruce.
 
Save more money loading full house 357 over factory. But you'll also find I am pretty certain there are more 38s(and 44 sp) shot in the guns than 357(or 44 mag). Oh the dreaded "crud ring" just a bunch of hype...brush on a rod...30 -40 seconds. I probably shot 5000 rounds of 38s in my first year Highway patrolman..never shot one 357 in all that time...no dreaded crud ring to worry over. There was a warning way back about ruining 22 chambers by shooting shorts all the time. An old wives tale now but true when 22s had corrosive priming... back in the 1800s to the mid 1930s. In the 357 just brush the chambers occasionally. Heck even when I load 357s I hardly ever load the hottest loads. same for 327 guns and of course 44s. Have a friend who bought a Ruger DA in 460 Mag. I gave him some factory 460s and some 454s. He mostly shoots Colt level 45 Colts in that gun. I even gave him a box of my loads. Liked 'em so much he started loading the same load. If all you shoot are full bore loads in all your guns.. I would say you are one of the 1% that do. my wife liked shooting her SBH I got her in the late 69-70 time frame with full house loads every time she took it out...but really enjoyed the 44 Sp and 44 Russians I loaded too. She has a BH combo 45 she enjoys shooting the 45 auto in too. Most people enjoy less wear and tear on their guns and themselves
 
Ive found its almost impossible to get my lee dies set for 357 magnum.

The Lee 38 spl instruction manual shows how to adjust for 357. Its as simple as 2 turns. I put a scribe on the top of the die so you can exactly see a turn. I've been loading 38 and 357 on a set of lee 38 dies since 1971. Easy peasy. Match grade ammo.

On another note, I didn't vote because the 3rd option was missing;

3. They are both the same.
 
The Lee 38 spl instruction manual shows how to adjust for 357. Its as simple as 2 turns. I put a scribe on the top of the die so you can exactly see a turn. I've been loading 38 and 357 on a set of lee 38 dies since 1971. Easy peasy. Match grade ammo.

On another note, I didn't vote because the 3rd option was missing;

3. They are both the same.

Already been mentioned here, but...RCBS used to supply a washer with die sets. The washer served as a spacer between a .38 Special die and the press. No die adjustement needed to load .357 with a .38 Special die. I believe the washer measured .102" in thickness. I haven't bought any dies in quite a while; don't know if RCBS still furnishes the washer but this is a real easy way to make things work.
 

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