How much 38 do you shoot through your 357?

[Model19man]

Before there was an internet I shot only 357 Magnums in my Model 19. Most of the ones I shot were either 110 grain JHP's or 115 grain JHP's behind a maximum load of W296. Loud report and fireballs every time one went off. Must have shot thousands of those. Burned up a couple pounds of W296 whatever that number is.

Lately I prefer a lighter load but still the Model 19 gets mostly 357 ammo. These days it is mostly 158 grain PCLSWC over 4227.

I bought the revolver new in 1981. It still looks pretty good.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

While I do like shooting full power 357 ammo through my 686 most of my shooting is with 38 these days. Probably about 95%.

It used to be more 357 ...

Dave, great question and I was thinking about the same thing the other day at the reloading bench.

I reload and I use the proper tool for the job at hand. Besides what I carried as a cop when I was home on a Horse Ranch I carried a S&W Model 29 .44 Magnum so I didn't bother with .357 Magnum.

Now I see a Rheumatologist every six months for Arthritis. So the .44 Magnum is retired and my 686+ is in the nightstand with .357 Magnum Hornady 158 grain XTPs. I shoot monthly and annually its 20 to 25% .357 Magnum according to my Handloading Logbook.

 

[smoothshooter]

I never shoot .357 Magnum loads in my .357’s. I do not like it as a handgun cartridge, and I used to shoot them by the hundreds in steel target silhouette matches out to 200 yards. Medium-powered .44 Magnum or .45 Long Colt loads are more effective with a little less blast and not much in the way of fireballs.
If I am going to have to put up with a lot of muzzle blast and concussion, I might as well be shooting a larger caliber.
Even the larger calibers can be more pleasant than .357 out of a revolver.
Now, .357 Magnum out of a rifle is a whole different game.
Easier on the ears and more generally useful while generating greatly improved ballistics.

 

[smoothshooter]

I never shoot .357 Magnum loads in my .357’s. I do not like it as a handgun cartridge, and I used to shoot them by the hundreds in steel target silhouette matches out to 200 yards. Medium-powered .44 Magnum or .45 Long Colt loads are more effective with a little less blast and not much in the way of fireballs.
If I am going to have to put up with a lot of muzzle blast and concussion, I might as well be shooting a larger caliber.
Even the larger calibers can be more pleasant than .357 out of a revolver.
Now, .357 Magnum out of a rifle is a whole different game.
Easier on the ears and more generally useful while generating greatly improved ballistics.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

NONE.........I have a sack full of .38's.........And a sack full of 357's........So WHY BOTHER.

 

[M29since14]

I too tend to use reduced loads in the larger calibers more than full-blown .357 Magnums, but I still shoot them and certainly prefer them these days to full-blown .44 Magnums, which rarely get fired anymore.

My typical .357s are (1) target loads of 160s at 900-1000 FPS, which would be a pretty sturdy .38 Special , and (2) the “magnums” are scaled back to about 1200-1250 FPS (6-inch barrel). Both are loaded in magnum cases. I went 75-25, but it might be closer to 50-50.

Since my “magnums” for .357 are on the mild side, I use more of those, comparatively, than I do similar magnum loads for .44 Magnum. 1200-1250 with a 250 or a bit heavier in a Model 29 is more horsepower than I care to use a lot of these days.

 

[Yendor357]

No .38s.
The CZ Shadow 2 SA in 9M shoots as well as, or better than 98% of revolvers. I see no point in messing with the 38.

Full power 357s with a 158 is still pretty mild recoiling in a 4/inch M27, or a 4 inch 686, or a four inch Python. In an 1894 Marlin, it’s a kitty cat.

 

[kaaskop49]

100% .357. Never could clean the .38 crud completely from the chambers. Gave up trying. Please, no helpful hints. Been there, done that.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[mtgianni]

I have 2 357 rifles and two revolvers, but I also have a 14, 15 and a 36. They each get the ammo they are intended for. i do handload so not all my loads are max.

 

[CH4]

I probably shoot 95% 38 out of my 357s. Since I clean my guns immediately after each range session, I’ve never had an issue with carbon rings in the chambers.

 

[cjcutter1]

I don’t reload so it’s purely cost related and what I have more of stacked.

 

[Green Frog]

When I had a 357, a Model 66ND, I could probably count the 357s it got in the fingers of both hands (that’s cylinders full). Now it’s become a 327 Fed Mag, and guess what? It still shoots a lot of 32 S&W Longs and H&Rs. Just because I can shoot magnums doesn’t mean I have to shoot them!
Froggie

 

[muddocktor]

I probably shoot around 90% 357 Mags out of my N frames. Of course, that big old N frame takes a lot of sting out of full power loads anyways and I reload my own, so I don't try to load max loads for range fodder. But they are hotter than mid-range loadings for sure. Now with 44 Mag I tend to load on the milder side, but you are talking about a lot more recoil to deal with in 44 Mag. I don't own any J frames, K frames or L frames.

 

[One Holer]

I don't know about you guys, but anymore I get bored pretty quick shooting light target .38 spl loads and quickly bust out the .357 Magnums. That always puts a big smile on my face. Same thing when I'm shooting 200 gr RNFPs in my .44 spl. After a few cylinders I step it up to the Skeeter load. However, I prefer a lighter .44 mag load, like 10.0 grains of Unique under a 240 to 250 grn SWC.

 

[colt_saa]

Dave,
I have been shooting for about 5 decades and I do not recall a time when I shot any of the various shorter cartridges in my 357 Magnum firearms, at least not more than few rounds

I have been a handloader for almost as long as I have been a shooter, so I do often shoot 357 Magnum ammunition that is loaded to 38 Special power levels.

Those reduced loads perhaps account for 10%-15% of the ammunition that I fire in revolvers, or single shots firearms

My lever guns and pump rifles see reduced power ammunition perhaps 5% of the time

My semi auto firearms chambered in 357 Magnum never see reduced power ammunition

BTW, while my motivation to handload began as a cost cutting measure, it quickly evolved into an enjoyable and relaxing hobby by itself

I enjoy the ability to create loads that do not exist commercially. I own more than a dozen molds for projectiles that are not commercially offered.

I enjoy doing load development

 

[STORMINORMAN]

Frankly I was blown away (pun intended) that the lowest percentage of poll responses was 50/50!

Maybe I just typically take my J-frames & K-frames to the range together? Always looking to see what seems to shoot more accurately for me...

Cheers!

 

[rwsmith]

Any more....

...I just shoot some .357s for fun. Most of my pistol shooting at the ranges I shoot are well handled by .38s. Mostly targets and some plinking. If I go to the outdoor range I might try some .357 shots at 100 yards, but that's not very often nowadays. Even with my rifles I'm shooting at shorter distances. My 9mm carbines are a stretch at 75 yards, I shoot them mostly up to 50 yds. I only have one 4x magnified scope on my 30-06. Everything else has iron sights and my AR has a red dot.

I'm turning into a 'closer-in' specialist. But I'm not getting rid of my 686. No sir-ree!

PS: Reloading nowadays I just do lower powered .357 for most of my shooting.

 

[hardluk1]

Zero is how many 38sp brass ammo I shot thru my 357mags . I can load lite 125gr 700fps loads in 357mag brass up to a 180gr at 1400fps but I started rolling my own loads back in '76.

 

[glenwolde]

I will say that my range guns are one thing. They get a steady diet of .38's. I don't care about a carbon ring. They're never going to get anything else from me. I've worn out a few just shooting .38's, and that will likely be the case for the current ones. Except the Blackhawk. I don't think you can wear one of those out.

I do have a relatively new-to-me SP 101. It's a secondary house gun. I've started loading +P .38 loads or minimum .357 loads for it in .357 brass. That's one I don't want a carbon ring in for some reason. It kicks like a government mule with .357 loads. I can handle it but the wife would never.

 

[BillBro]

Wow, me and another 11 weirdos shoot mostly 357 in our 357's. I guess thats why my chambers are so clean. Of course my 357's are L and N frames, might be different if I shot J's.