.357's and .38 Specials

Seriously, there's no need for giant, bolt red lettering.

You can't chamber a .357 cartridge in a .38 special chamber. The .357 case is too long to chamber completely, so you can't close the cylinder/action of the .38 special handgun with a .357 mag cartridge in it.

This was done intentionally to prevent such things from happening, since it would very likely blow up most handguns chambered for .38 special.

Daryl
 
like others said, don't try shooting 357magnum out of a .38


however, you can shoot .38's in a 357magum pistol all day long.
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Well, look. I'm not trying to be picky, but perhaps some of us are missing an important distinction.

.357 Mag.s cannot be fired in a gun chambered for the .38 Special.

They're too long and don't fit.

Now, I can't say I disagree with those who advise not to try it, but when you chamber the rounds and find you can't close the cylinder 'cause the dang cases are too long, things will be put in their proper perspective.:D
 
Seriously, there's no need for giant, bolt red lettering.

You can't chamber a .357 cartridge in a .38 special chamber. The .357 case is too long to chamber completely, so you can't close the cylinder/action of the .38 special handgun with a .357 mag cartridge in it.

This was done intentionally to prevent such things from happening, since it would very likely blow up most handguns chambered for .38 special.
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In a gun of newer vintage and of good quality, you're correct. However, there are many older guns and guns of suspect, at best, quality that may chamber longer cartridges than what they can safely handle. A good example of this is the Colt M1892 New Army revolver. This gun is chambered for .38 Long Colt and, unlike many later revolvers, does not have the customary shoulders in chamber but is instead simply bored straight through. As such, a .38 Special, and possibly even a .357 Magnum cartridge would chamber in a Colt M1892 even though it would be extremely dangerous to try firing one so-loaded. The issue wasn't present when this particular revolver was designed because 1892 was before the introduction of the .38 Special or .357 Magnum cartridges.
 
Nnobby45, also bear in mind that some reloaded .38Special cartridges could very easily be loaded to .357 levels. Most reloaders I know won't do this, so they can't screw up and put one into an older .38 revolver.

It's possible to do it because the .38Special case was developed in black powder days, so it has excess case capacity. The .357Magnum brass is longer not because more capacity is required, but to prevent putting .357 cartridges into a .38 (most TFLers know that, but this last bit of info is for the new guys, and the OP).

OP, you asked which bullet works better. The factory cartridges are of different lengths, and loaded to different pressures, but the .357 and .38 use the same bullets. (The .38Special was never actually a .38 caliber, it's .357, and I don't know why they named it a .38.)
 
They're too long and don't fit.

Now, I can't say I disagree with those who advise not to try it, but when you chamber the rounds and find you can't close the cylinder 'cause the dang cases are too long, things will be put in their proper perspective
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negatory ;)

certain 357mag loads will fit in some .38's.
 
How much difference is there between .38 Special and .38 Wadcutters?

I know there is a HUGE difference between the .38 Wadcutters and .357 Magnum, no comparison!

We have not shot true .38 Special through it yet, just wondering if the recoil is similar to the Wadcutters.
 
I don’t use .38s in a .357 because the .38s leave a powder ring in the .357 chamber which has to be cleaned out.

I have .357s around and about but have a .38 by the bed.

A DAO (shrouded hammer) does well when fired from under a blanket, no hammer snag. Take note of where you have your toes.

However, in an emergency I’ll grab the closest one.

Regards,
Four-toed Clay
 
Powder rings from .38's in .357 chambers are only a big deal if you don't clean the gun after shooting it. If I shoot .38's in a .357, I make sure to clean the gun after I get home. Not a problem at all.
 
Wadcutters are .38 Special rounds.

We have not shot true .38 Special through it yet, just wondering if the recoil is similar to the Wadcutters.
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Wadcutters are "true .38 specials",,,
It's just the specialized shape of the bullet that looks different.

Wadcutters make a very clean "cut" hole in a paper target,,,
Many people will use them for self defense rounds,,,
They feel the shape will "cut" a bleeding wound.

In one way their logic is sound,,,
It has been proven that round nose lead rounds,,,
Simply push tissue out of the way and tend not to make a bleeding wound.

I'm not advocating wadcutters as a self defense round,,,
I prefer semi-wad cutter hollow points myself.

Aarond
 
Wadcutters are still .38 Special, but they are often loaded to lower pressures since they are generally intended for punching paper. Not to say one couldn't find or make full-power wadcutters, but most wadcutters are down-loaded for comfort at the range.

Following numbers come from ballistics.com
http://www.ballistics101.com/357_magnum.php#
http://www.ballistics101.com/38_special.php

Looking at MagTech and Remington, their 148gr wadcutters both run at 710fps. (barrel length was not specified, I'm assuming 4" but am not sure). Fiocchi's 148gr wadcutter runs at 730fps.

MagTech's 158gr standard pressure SJHP runs at 830fps, and 158gr+P SJHP at 890fps.

Remington's 158gr standard pressure SWC runs at 755fps, and 158gr+P SWC at 890fps.

So, wadcutters are typically loaded lighter than other ammo in a given caliber.

Now, to compare those to .357 ammo...

MagTech 158gr LSWC at 1235fps.

Remington 158gr SWC at 1235fps.

Figure same weight, at 40%-50% more velocity than the .38, and you can add 40%-50% recoil in a given platform for .357 vs .38 recoil.
 
Thanks 4-toed Clay, guess you didn't move your foot in time........

I will check the chambers, I cleaned the barrel and the top strap, not too sure how closely I looked at the chambers though.

As far as .38 Wadcutters vs. .38 Special: I have never seen a bullet "apart". I kinda figured the Wadcutters had less powder in them because of where they located the projectile. It sits flush with the end of the casing (brass) while a "normal" .38 Special projectile comes out of the casing. Because of this height difference I figured the Wadcutters had less pop to them. Then again, I guess using a different type of powder between the two would change everything anyway.........

My wife really likes the Wadcutters but they aren't cheap. I am thinking of also getting a 9mm for her just for shooting paper since that ammo is cheap and she said the .22 is boring. Maybe a revolver in 9mm....... ;)
 
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