.38 or .357

I'd quit constipating your decision. Its not worth the sweat, aggravation or pain. Go with 38 special... easier on wrist and I guess butt...
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It is hardly a no brainer or reason to be impatient with a discussion,, since some of us don't (won't) shoot 38s in a 357 chamber.
 
38 spl sucks

In the 60's I was a cop in Times Square, and was at the Harlem riots also. I have shot people with the .38 spl. One was hit four times and still reached me
with a knife. Two people ran away with the bullet still in them. The .38 spl is no longer used by PD's anywhere. You should consider the .357, or better yet
the new .327 magnum, which has 500 ft.lbs. of energy and will knock down anything. Has half the kick of the .357. Besides, in reality, it will only kick once, and you can tolerate that to save your life.
Jimmy
 
I think a professional's standards need to be higher, but to me, people should be encouraged to carry what they can handle and what they are willing to conceal, dressing accordingly.

My Kimber .45 will always be my favorite and, within my stable of guns, offer the better concealment, I expect...but for someone in his revolver phase, I choose .38 Special or custom .357 reloads out of concern for the report of supersonic full up magnum rounds. I expect to be shooting with no ear protection and no experience (or at least practice) shooting that way.

I do have even larger calibers, but I think the lighter weight, 5 shot revolver is better for concealment. I would be wearing my 5 shot 3" .44 Special but haven't yet got it shooting close enough to POA.
 
Here is my conclusion. I went to the range and shot a .357 snubby and a .38 snubby. The .38 was much manageable. Then I looked at the availability and price of .38 in my area. I sold my revolver chambered in .357 and got a Glock 19. For me, it just made more sense. 9mm is cheaper and more available for me and 15 rounds is better than 6 for me.
 
Real Gun said:
You should seriously edit your question.
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I used to think that posts like that were just a case of someone being lazy, careless, or just very poor at the English language, but these days with the automatic corrections that the Android phones and iPad "help" you with, it's just as likely that they interpreted your fumble fingered typing as something else and "helped" you with the "correct" spelling. Since the touch screen keyboards are so small, it's really easy to be fumble fingered. I've had to go back and edit quite a few of my posts because of this.
 
I say go with the .357 and then load it to whatever power level you feel comfortable with. Being a straight-walled case, the .38 or .357 is an easy round to handload.

I sometimes carry a stainless Taurus 7-shot .357mag (model 617). It's ported and isn't *that* bad even with full power loads.

I was shot once with a .38 snub nose and I didn't even realize that I had been shot. It just hit meat and no vital organs.
 
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I say go with the .357 and then load it to whatever power level you feel comfortable with. Being a straight-walled case, the .38 or .357 is an easy round to handload.
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Loading .357 Mag cases down to .38 levels ...... require bulky powders to keep load densities above 50% .....

And the longer cases are harder to eject than the shorter ones ....

If you want to download, use the shorter cases .....
 
There is very little difference between max OAL in .38 and .357. People just tend to load .38 less than max OAL. I use Alliant Promo and Hodgdon Clays in my powderpuff .38 / .357 loads. I get about 400 fps out of them. I only have one actual .38 special revolver and it was inherited from my grandfather and I never shoot it. All the .38 rounds that I shoot ware shot in one of my .357s, so I can load them up to .357 levels if I so desire.
 
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I shoot 357 in my snubby (Ruger LCR). as others have said, a full power 357 load can be a handful, but recoil is manageable IMO, it's something you are going to want to practice with.

When I practice with mine, I generally shoot stoutly loaded 158 grain SWC rounds, and then finish off with about 20 rounds full tilt .357 SD loads.
 
Loading .357 Mag cases down to .38 levels ...... require bulky powders to keep load densities above 50% .....
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I don't believe that rule would be satisfied with many of the published loads, especially for lead bullets. For example, my 357 Lite load currently is 5.0 gr HP-38,, and formerly 7.0 gr SR4756.

I have heard of pressure spikes and position sensitivity, but no one is waving a red flag over listings of these loads.

Incidentally, Hodgdon is discontinuing some of its lowest density powders in PB, SR4756, SR7625 that would have been natural picks for best case fill.
 
There is very little difference between max OAL in .38 and .357.
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"Little difference" is a relative term- it is SO much easier to eject .38 special cases out of a .357 revolver than the longer .357 cases when in a hurry- the ejector is longer than necessary with the shorter cases- never had one hang up at a pin match...

All the .38 rounds that I shoot ware shot in one of my .357s, so I can load them up to .357 levels if I so desire.
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I'd use +p cases .... the .38 cases are not designed for .357 pressures.

Load cases designed for low pressure rounds for higher pressures and they get sticky .....
 
We have two S&W 66 snubs....we practice with full 357 all the time. Takes ongoing practice to get good unless you can't get past the recoil and some can't. I am not very recoil sensitive to handguns but that said, you won't find me shooting a 338 magnum because of the recoil. Find what you shoot well and practice.
 
The muzzle blast will be spectacular and may be enough to relieve your constipation.
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Ya know, I hate it when people use the stupid LOL acronym, but heck! I've got tears in my eyes!

.357s and .44s are their own justification for getting into reloading. I only shoot .357 mag cases in my .357s, but I load them across the entire power spectrum from light .38s to max .357 magnum. Same thing with my .44s: only shoot .44 mag cases, but loads can vary widely. When you roll your own, you can set performance (and recoil) just where you want it.
 
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