STOP Shooting 38's in your 357's!!

[S&W1006]

One more time. No one has answered my question. I am not knocking 38spls OK? My question is now like it has always been why in the sam hill would someone buy a 357 so they can shoot 38s' out of it?? Why the heck don't you just go buy a 38 to start with.? I'm crazy I'm sure but I've had a thing about 357 loads since the first time I ever shot one out of a Marlin lever action and later the handguns years ago probably before some of you were born.. To me it is a unique load in itself and I just get a little bent when folks want to take this fine weapon and turn it into a BB gun. Sorry! That's just my take on it.

To answer your question as to why I bought a 357 and shoot mostly 38's in it. I own 4 357 magnums and I carry a snubby 357 for a CCW. I practice more with 38's because I have lots of brass for 38's not so much for 357. Loading the 38 to lower velocity I get much longer case life. My warm to hot 357 brass does not last anywhere near as long. I load the 38's with lead the 357's only get jacketed so the bullet cost more than double. I shoot my revolvers in competition and if I had a 38 revolver it would work just fine for shooting plates but I happen to have 357's. Plus 357's are very hard on the plates. I used to shoot plates with 10mm and we have had to stop the match to fix the broken plates 357 magnums are just as hard on them. I like to have the ability to use 1 gun for 2 purposes. I can take the same gun and shoot plates with 38's or bowling pins with 357's. It's like having 2 guns in one. The snubby I carry is pretty unpleasant with full power 357's and I don't know how much full power 357's it would take before it rattled apart. Not to mention I have carpal tunnel syndrome and if I shoot 100 38's followed by 20-30 full power 357's I hurt some but if I shoot even 50-100 357 magnums through my snubby I ache for 2 days afterwards. I love to shoot and I used to shoot a lot more higher power ammo but my work has taken a toll on my hands and wrists so a compromise of a lighter practice load works well for me. But I am very proficient with the high power stuff but why beat my wrists any more than I have too.

 

[alwslate]

One more time. No one has answered my question. I am not knocking 38spls OK? My question is now like it has always been why in the sam hill would someone buy a 357 so they can shoot 38s' out of it?? Why the heck don't you just go buy a 38 to start with.? I'm crazy I'm sure but I've had a thing about 357 loads since the first time I ever shot one out of a Marlin lever action and later the handguns years ago probably before some of you were born.. To me it is a unique load in itself and I just get a little bent when folks want to take this fine weapon and turn it into a BB gun. Sorry! That's just my take on it.

There's a very simple answer to your question. I own several
357 mag revolvers. I also own several 38 spl revolvers. It has
nothing to do with turning a 357 "fine weapon" into a BB gun.
It's that I can load 38 spl plinking loads in quantity and shoot
them in any one of my 38 or 357 revolvers. Shooting 38 spl
loads in one of my N frame 357s is a pleasure. The N frames
don't mind. They know the're still bad a.. magnums.
To the OP. Taking a new to you revolver to the range without
even looking in the bore or chambers first? Can't even imagine
doing that.

 

[Old Seabee]

Carbon

Is there not a reamer that S&W uses to repair tight or out of round cyls that could be used for the problem ? I like others shoot 38 in my N frames due to lots of 38 brass Tkanks Old Seabee

 

[FloridaFlier]

As to why people shoot .38 Specials out of .357's, my belief (or maybe it was just internet rumor) was that some guns, such as the Model 66 were specifically made to practice with Specials, and carried with Magnums.

The other 'why' for me is that I'm a reloader. I have been for 10+ years now, and have never double charged a round, but am not so arrogant as to believe that it is not possible. I'd rather have a the stronger revolver in my hand should I ever accidentally pop off a doubly charged .38 special.

Also, some of S&W's guns are only made in the Mag, such as my M&P 340, but are brutal on the hand, but it is a perfect carry piece with .38 Special+P.

By the way, I clean my guns after every use. Switching back and forth has never been an issue for me.

 

[mikld]

Wow, now they tell me! Guess Ive been real lucky nothing has happened in the last 30 years/15,000 rounds of 38's out of my 357s.

Wow! me too. My first 357 came to me in 1980 and I only had 50, 357 Mag cases, but several hundred .38 Specials. I learned to clean my guns after each shooting session...

I think this topic/thread is a non issue. Cleaning guns is kinds like wiping yer butt, ya don't have to do it each time, but yer way better off if you do...

 

[Gunz50]

I guess you don't need another "Clean Your Guns" post.
By now we all know a clean gun is a good gun.

 

[moosedog]

I fire a couple jacketed 38's after shooting 38spl in one of my 357s.
Then a normal cleaning. Never had a problems as I load all my own ammo and use hard cast bullets.

 

[SMSgt]

One more time. No one has answered my question. I am not knocking 38spls OK? My question is now like it has always been why in the sam hill would someone buy a 357 so they can shoot 38s' out of it??

I shot .38 Spec wadcutters out of my .357 Blackhawk all the time. Why? 1. because I didn't always want the magnum blast, and 2. I had buckets of .38 empties from my AF qualification training that didn't need to go to waste. It was never a problem, but then, I always cleaned my gun afterwards.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I've been doing it for years with no problem. I won't even admit to being super fussy about cleaning, but maybe I don't shoot enough.

Let me respond to one remark that got my attention - and remember, FWIW, I do collect .38s and .357s, although not nearly to the extent of some of some folks:

...I've asked in the past why would someone purchase a 357 to shoot 38s' out of it. I just don't get it. Sorry. If your bent on doing this and you reload just use 357 brass and castr--- the load...

It's really very simple.

The short answer is, because I can. Done and done.

The next answer is because I don't particularly care for beating up K frame .357s plus, IMHO, the recoil of a full house .357 Magnum in a K-frame is marginally unpleasant after awhile. It's not awful, admittedly, and I'm sort of recoil impervious (I'm one of those recoil is your friend kind of guys) but a box load of .357s in a K-frame is definitely wearisome.

Now, for L frame and N frames I don't have that excuse. Especially N frames. So I'm back to answer number one,

because I can

, and because it's cheaper to throw 100 rounds of .38 Special down range.

Now, however, for a practical response beyond the foregoing. I keep a 686+ loaded as my bedside gun. I stoke it with high quality .38 Special and maybe toss in a couple of high quality, self defense +P rounds. Sometimes I do; sometimes I don't. But for home defense I personally frown on Magnum rounds. If I have to fire that gun at a home invader I prefer that all that my neighbors know about it is that they heard a gun go off somewhere, not that a bullet came through their window. I'm totally content with .38 Special for self defense in and outside my home, for that reason among others - they are totally up to the task.

Now, when I travel to my friends' home in bear country, I promise to bring an N frame and load it with high quality/defensive .357 Magnum rounds, but that's a whole other story. (We can discuss why not a .44 another time.)

***GRJ***

 

[Jswiney9]

If i tell my wife she can no longer shoot .38 special out of my SP-101, she may kick my behind since it is the only gun she will shoot and YOU will be responsible sir.

 

[tappedandtagged]

I put this thread up in good fun and thinking it would be well recieved in the reloading section. Especially after I've read countless posts on this forum where many people tell new reloaders to if at all possible to just down load 357 cases instead of using 38 cases in the magnum TO AVOID THE CARBON RING. Now that I post a thread saying the same thing in a light hearted rant brought about out of frustration, I'm getting the feeling that everyone here has reversed their opinion on the matter.

And to answer alwslate, I checked the gun over well. The only thing I neglected to do was shine a flashlight in the chambers. Had I have done this, I would still likely not have noticed the thousandth of an inch of carbon build up in the leading edge of the chamber. Either way, I was not hasty in shooting it nor did I neglect to follow propper saftey measures for shooting a used gun.

 

[Andy Griffith]

Aww, don't let folks bend you, or anybody else out of the frame over a difference of opinion.
If either of us don't like the other's opinion, we'll do somethin' else.

I just clean chambers when I think they need it, which may be hundreds or more of rounds of any variety of .38's (specials, longs or short Colts).

After years of cleaning after every time out, I gave it up, and now only as needed.

Blackpowder guns, I wait a month or two or three after shoot'n.

This would be a good time to start an experiement of how many thousands of rounds it'd take to either get a revolver that is not cleaned to bind up, or create enough crud in there that a round wouldn't chamber, which I don't think would happen unless shooting blackpowder.

 

[DWalt]

I shot far more .38 Specials in my .357 (and far more .44 Specials in my .44 Mag) than the counterpart magnum loads, with no problems. But I always swab out the chambers using a brass brush after a shooting session.

 

[Rule3]

The carbon ring is almost in the same league as "dirty powder.

The OP mentioned the solution in the 1st post.

Take a slight over flared 357 mag case and tap it in each cylinder. Take a over size brush with solvent and it's gone.

Watch out for those 44 specials also.

Now anyone have some nice plinking loads for a 500SW Mag

I do agree that it probably better to shoot reduced target loads of 357 caliber but this whole 38 spl started with non reloaders. They can get 38 special for less money and the 357 factory loads are a bit stout for most shooter not used to them. Heck most no reloaders probably use 38 +P in their guns 38 or 357Mag.

 

[Rule3]

This would be a good time to start an experiement of how many thousands of rounds it'd take to either get a revolver that is not cleaned to bind up, or create enough crud in there that a round wouldn't chamber, which I don't think would happen unless shooting blackpowder.

A Glock torture test for revolvers!. I like it. lets use yours

 

[rwsmith]

Same here

My wife loves to shoot.38 target loads out of my 686. I may work her up to something warmer but for now, that's what she'll shoot.

 

[Andy Griffith]

Soon as I get the donation of powder and primers.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

One more time. No one has answered my question. I am not knocking 38spls OK? My question is now like it has always been why in the sam hill would someone buy a 357 so they can shoot 38s' out of it?? Why the heck don't you just go buy a 38 to start with.?

Versatility, my friend, versatility. I can use the same gun woods walking with .38 Special "bunny poppers," as I use for concealed or open carry with .357 Magnum defensive loads. I can also train others using one gun starting with mouse-fart loads and going up in power to thunderboomers in stages.

On the other hand, my wife likes her four inch S&W Model 681 but not the recoil of magnums. Since we don't use reloads for defensive purposes, her .357 Magnum revolver is loaded with .38 Special +P ammo. Why we didn't buy a .38 Special L-frame should be readily apparent to someone who has priced them.

Finally, those of us who occasionally suffer from bouts of arthritis/bursitis sometimes need to load down our defensive guns to get through those bouts without changing guns.

So, there you have it. Someone answered your questions.

ECS

 

[Riverbear]

The question: Why shoot 38 Special out of my 357?
That leads to the question: Why drive my 4 x 4 pickup in two wheel drive.
The answer to both: 'cause I can

 

[old&slow]

Man... I seem to have touched a sore spot. Anyway, I do like that I 'can' shoot specials in my magnum, and I do understand that the ring can be cleaned out. But, seeing as 357 cases can easily be loaded to 38 specs, and seeing as this is the reloading section, I just don't see the point in shooting 38's in a 357. Why make cleaning harder than it needs to be?

This gun I was just handed down has obviously seen a ton of special loads put through it with only a percursory cleaning. So, to 'edit' my original post, "If you must shoot specials through your magnum, please meticulous in cleaning it afterwards."

I for one, prefer to keep two boxes of 357's loaded. One with 6 grains of Unique and a standard primer (for my dad and wife) and one with 12 grains of AA#9 and a magnum primer.

Edit to add: I keep them separated by using a round nose for the powder puff loads and a SWC for my magnums. The round nose is also a softer alloy for better obrutration at the lower pressures.

WOW ,, tapp , you got them all fired up..
Back in my younger years, I use to load 38's & .357's . But , didn't like readjusting the dies back and forth. I changed to just loading .357's brass in mild and wild. ( different type bullets also)
Shot a lot more mild rounds. Don't need the wear and tear on the firearm or me , and some ranges don't care for full blown magnum stuff.
As far as practice,, I have a J frame S&W 2" m-60 that I carry. About two cylinders of full blown .357's and you don't want to play anymore. But you can practice all day long with .357 brass loaded to 38 spl. +P levels.

And Yes I tell everyone if you shoot 38's in a .357 make sure you clean the cylinder good ( of course you should anyway)
Hoppe's #9 or Kroil and a brass brush usually takes care of it.

I understand the rant. So, go ahead and rant on about not cleaning their 38 /357 chamber