I hope HighValleyRanch will post and expand/explain what he meant in the original post starting the thread What I got out of it was an example of where a certain .38+p load actually delivers higher velocity than some .357 loads, from his gun
44 AMP got the point.
My post does not claim that you can push .38 special +P to equal the hottest .357.
I use examples where the .38 +P overlaps what people consider mid power loads such as magtech and armscor.
The reason for my creating this thread is that people too often generalize .38 special, .38 special +P and .357 magnum without actually discussing what load or actual data is being used.
But there is a good amount of overlap as I presented in my data and chrongraphed loads.
Can a .357 be more powerful than a .38 special +P.....yes
Can a .38 special (+P) be more powerful than what is claimed as a .357 magnum? Yes.
Can that same .38 special +P be as powerful as the hottest .357 loads....NO
I know that some people think just because they are shooting .357 that they are shooting "full house" loads. Maybe they are using the data on the box but don't realize that the company used a 6 inch barrel instead of a 2" barrel.
I've seen threads where the shooting forums recommend that people going into the woods carry a minimum of .357 for big cats and bears. Some poor unknowing individual might believe all the stats on the box and think his "full house" load is adequate where in reality if they had chrongraphed the load they might discover that in reality they are only carrying a .38 special +P load. That is why I encourage the actual testing of the loads so you know what you are actually carrying.
This all came about because I was testing my Buffalobore .38 special +P outdoorsman. I noticed that the recoil felt identical to some .357 ammo I had been shooting. So I did the test and found that they were almost identical with the BB loads a little hotter. In a blind test, my brother could not tell the difference.
I live in the woods and there are plenty of four legged critters for me to want to carry around the ranch for whatever reasons. I prefer to carry my lightweight .38 special LCRX all day working, so want the hottest HC loads it can handle. The BB loads are in the 425 ft pound range with 158 grain hardcast, and although I could be carry my heavier .357 with the 180 grain loads, everything is a balance of compromises. Therefore in this case I carry .38 special over .357. Snake shot on my belt as well. Now when I go up into high country, it wil be the .357 in the 2' Kimber and I know that I have over 600 pounds of ME with 180 grain hardcast.