Gunplummer
New member
Anybody ever run .38 S through their .357 lever gun? I always wanted to put something together in .38 for turkey and never got around to it.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
.38 Special
- Thread starter Gunplummer
- Start date
Charlie Fox
New member
I run 125-158 gr 38's through my Marlin 1894 all the time. Almost like shooting a 22. "
bamaranger
New member
yeah
I have single loaded a ton of .38 WC through my early "no safety" Marlin. They would not feed from the mag, but one at a time they were quiet, accurate, much like a big .22.
I also have shot quite a bit of .38 / 110 JHP +P+ thru the little Marlin, and dumped quite a few woodchucks resultant. These rounds, for the most part, would feed from the mag, but once in a while, if run really aggressively, or the rifle not oriented near level, one would fail to feed. But all in all they ran fine.
I also ran a mid range .357 through the carbine for a while, a .357/158 LSWC at about 1000 fps.
I shot up my supply of .38 WC and 110 JHP about 10 yrs ago. The Marlin gets all magnum stuff now.
I have single loaded a ton of .38 WC through my early "no safety" Marlin. They would not feed from the mag, but one at a time they were quiet, accurate, much like a big .22.
I also have shot quite a bit of .38 / 110 JHP +P+ thru the little Marlin, and dumped quite a few woodchucks resultant. These rounds, for the most part, would feed from the mag, but once in a while, if run really aggressively, or the rifle not oriented near level, one would fail to feed. But all in all they ran fine.
I also ran a mid range .357 through the carbine for a while, a .357/158 LSWC at about 1000 fps.
I shot up my supply of .38 WC and 110 JHP about 10 yrs ago. The Marlin gets all magnum stuff now.
110 grain JHPs shoot pretty well from rifles at 1100 to 1200 fps loaded in 38 special cases to 38 special levels but would be destructive on turkey. However if you want just a relatively quiet thumper that will feed fairly well go for a 158 LSWC and they will drill nice holes straight through. While you can load subsonic rounds in 38 special cases I would load faster for a bit flatter trajectory using 357 mag cases. I like 1300fps or so. You can probably load 357 cases down as far as you want and still be fairly consistent. The 357 case is still relatively small so it doesn't become erratic as quickly as 44 mag or 45 LC with low charges of fast powder. 231 or Unique should work well with LSWC bullets. Avoid the traditional magnum powders like 296 and #9. I would not recommend less than 900fps.
Gunplummer
New member
O.K., thanks. Maybe I will keep my eye open for a deal on lever rifle. I use a 70 grain .22 on them now and if you hit them high, where the neck joins the body, damage is not too bad.
I shoot the same 38 spl's and 357s in my Marlin '94 Cowboy Rifle as I do my pistols with zero problems
I don't and wont load separate rounds, hate to get a hot rifle load in my 642.
With the rarity of 22s I can shoot 38s cheaper the 22 Rim Fire, by casting my own bullets.
38s are accurate, lite recoiling and just plain fun to shoot out of my Marlin. Only its like 22s, you seem to go through a lot of them when you dig out your 38/357 rifles.
I don't and wont load separate rounds, hate to get a hot rifle load in my 642.
With the rarity of 22s I can shoot 38s cheaper the 22 Rim Fire, by casting my own bullets.
38s are accurate, lite recoiling and just plain fun to shoot out of my Marlin. Only its like 22s, you seem to go through a lot of them when you dig out your 38/357 rifles.
I must have one of the good Marlin 1894s. Mine will feed .38 special as easily as .357 magnum. It was only till I started playing around on the intertubes that I found out that Marlins had a problem feeding .38 special. Mine will even feed .38 special wadcutter ammo, and I won't let it look at the forums, because it might find out that it's not supposed to do that.
The one problem I've had with my Marlin was, surprisingly, with .357 180 grain ranch dog bullets. I loaded them long enough to fit the cylinder of my Model 66, but they were longer than SAAMI specs and tied up the levergun. To my great surprise, I tried those same loads in my Model 28 and while they fit the cylinder of the Model 66, they were too long for the Model 28 and hit the forcing cone. Who'd of thought that the cylinder on a Model 66 is longer than the cylinder on the Model 28?
But, to answer the original question, I run .38 special through my Marlin 1894 all the time. I do note that the standard target load (2.7 grs Bullseye, 148 grain wadcutter) gets 650 fps from my Model 28, but only 606 from my Marlin barrel. I suspect that the light charge of Bullseye is running out of steam in that longer barrel and bore friction is slowing the bullet before it gets to the muzzle. Standard .38 special loads pick up about 100 fps in the longer tube.
The one problem I've had with my Marlin was, surprisingly, with .357 180 grain ranch dog bullets. I loaded them long enough to fit the cylinder of my Model 66, but they were longer than SAAMI specs and tied up the levergun. To my great surprise, I tried those same loads in my Model 28 and while they fit the cylinder of the Model 66, they were too long for the Model 28 and hit the forcing cone. Who'd of thought that the cylinder on a Model 66 is longer than the cylinder on the Model 28?
But, to answer the original question, I run .38 special through my Marlin 1894 all the time. I do note that the standard target load (2.7 grs Bullseye, 148 grain wadcutter) gets 650 fps from my Model 28, but only 606 from my Marlin barrel. I suspect that the light charge of Bullseye is running out of steam in that longer barrel and bore friction is slowing the bullet before it gets to the muzzle. Standard .38 special loads pick up about 100 fps in the longer tube.