Blackwater OPS
New member
I have heard that some revolvers chambered for .38 special +p can fire 357 mag rounds. Is this true and is it only certain models?
.38 Special in a 357 mag?
- Thread starter Blackwater OPS
- Start date
There are no revolvers chambered for .38spl +P. There are only revolvers chambered for .38 spl that can handle +P ammunition.
Generally speaking, .38spl revolvers will not chamber .357Mag ammunition due to the longer case of the .357. But IF you happen to find one that will...
It is never safe to chamber and fire .357Magnum in a pistol that is marked .38Spl.
BTW, the title of your post is asking a different question than the body of your post.
If you're asking if it's ok to chamber .38spl in a .357Magnum, then the answer is yes. The shorter and less powerful .38spl can be safely chambered and fired in a .357Magnum firearm.
Generally speaking, .38spl revolvers will not chamber .357Mag ammunition due to the longer case of the .357. But IF you happen to find one that will...
It is never safe to chamber and fire .357Magnum in a pistol that is marked .38Spl.
BTW, the title of your post is asking a different question than the body of your post.
If you're asking if it's ok to chamber .38spl in a .357Magnum, then the answer is yes. The shorter and less powerful .38spl can be safely chambered and fired in a .357Magnum firearm.
jeff_troop
New member
both ruger and s&w sell revolvers stamped .38 spl +p
Blackwater OPS
New member
as mine is
hehe, John (you old fogey) they gotcha too
. I got nailed on the same thing a couple of years ago.Used to be there weren't. - The newer Smith and Wesson model 10 is actually listed as .38Spl +P. Smith's website only designates .38spl +P for caliber choice. - no .38Spl. You can't select/search for anything else but .38 spl +P if you go to the select a caliber menu.
shoots awe lots
New member
They might be chambered 38 spl+p but they don,t say 357 mag on them. I would,nt try a 30-06 in a 308 even if it is same except for length of brass as is the case 
here.
here.
I didn't say there weren't any revolvers STAMPED .38spl +P, I said there were no revolvers CHAMBERED for .38spl +P.
There is no such thing as a .38spl +P chamber, there are .38spl chambers and there are .357Mag chambers.
There are also guns with .38spl chambers that can tolerate +P ammunition and the manufacturer may stamp them +P to advertise the fact. That is an indication of the strength of the firearm, it is not specifying the type of chamber--other than letting you know that it's a .38spl chamber.
When the .357 was introduced, it was designed longer than a .38 so that it wouldn't be able to be used in a .38 Special revolver. S&W had already made the 38/44 heavy duty on the N-Frame to handle very hot loaded .38 Specials (about equal to .357's). Inevitably, someone put these hotter rounds in the wrong type of revolver. S&W remedied this problem by introducing what would become the Model 27 in .357 Magnum.
Mike Irwin
Staff
"S&W remedied this problem by introducing what would become the Model 27 in .357 Magnum."
Not really.
The heavy-duty N-frame revolvers remained in S&W's line up right through the mid to late 1970s, if not later.
.38-44 Heavy Duty ammo was also loaded through the 1950s and possibly later, well after the .357 hit the market.
The whole time, the heavy ammo was available and could be chambered in K frames, or even J frames.
Not really.
The heavy-duty N-frame revolvers remained in S&W's line up right through the mid to late 1970s, if not later.
.38-44 Heavy Duty ammo was also loaded through the 1950s and possibly later, well after the .357 hit the market.
The whole time, the heavy ammo was available and could be chambered in K frames, or even J frames.