Is .357 Magnum Loads in 38 Special brass, being fired out of a .357 revolver safe???

C

Crosshair

New member
I am thinking about buying a Ruger GP100 (A present for me when I turn 21 :D ) and Cabelas has really cheap once fired 38 Special brass, but no .357 brass. Is it safe to load 357 loads into the 38 Special case, assuming it will be fired out of a 357 revolver? I'm just wondering if it is safe, if not I'll just load 38 Special +P loads and save the "expensive" .357 brass for the full power loads.
 
You can load pretty hot .38 Special ammo, but the .38 case is not as strong as the .357 case so I wouldn't recommend trying any full house 125gr. loads with it.
 
One word.

NO.

Spend a few bucks, get yourself some good .357 cases. Starline Brass has them at good prices. Save the .38's for target and midrange loads.
 
CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The firingline, nor the staff of TFL assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.
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SURE you can load 357 LEVEL loads in a 38 spec case, that is where the 357 started from as the 38/44 load. But do not use that same powder levels as a 357 because of the smaller case. Back off frm the stated loads in books and work up to what you want.


The problem is when you decide to get a 38 spec, like a nice 1905 4th change with a 5" pencil barrel and you drop in one of these hot 38/44 loads at 357 pressures in a sweet little 38 spec and KABOOM





The problem is not if you can do this but is it wise
 
Dude, i was at cabelas the other weekend, i think i paid like 10$ for brand new 357 brass. 100 count. see if you can scratch up the 10$.
 
We have a local place called Blue Star Cartridge & Brass,
Great prices on unfired brass from the area Remington plant and once fired brass of all makes.
Address: 914 E. Lincoln, Searcy, AR 72143
Phone: 501-268-6443

and NO I don't work there or anything like that, just shop there when I need brass or bullets.
 
I can't remember the exact load but for years I primarily shot an olod Skeeter Skelton hot .38 in my .357's. It's been a few yeas since I loaded. Maybe someone else lnows the load?
 
The main reasion for not loading 357 mag loads in 38's is

BOOM instead of bang.
I really dont know if 38 casses can take 357 mag pressures but thats not the point.
One of the main reasions that this in not a good idea is the ammount of powder your trying to shove into a 38 case, one thing I do know, is if you compress some powders, say like H110 your making a bomb.
Most magnum powders do not like to be compressed, it makes them burn WAY to fast causing much higher pressure curve for a shorter time period.
Where as the same ammount of powder in a 357 mag case is safe, the same ammount of powder in a 38 can have much higher pressure.
 
Why load .38 +P even if all you're going is punching paper? Some light .38 148 wadcutters are cheap to make and cheap to shoot all afternoon. That IS the point of reloading, no? And your expensive .357 brass will last quite some time, as I don't know about your experience, but I can't remember the last time I lost a piece of brass from a revolver. (Split a case here or there after loading it too many times, but not lost.)

BTW, nice choice on 21st birthday present. I was thinking of one of those in 4" last month (for my 21st) when a nice, gently appreciated 6" Smith and Wesson 629 .44 Magnum showed up for a fair price. Well, you can guess what I did! :p
 
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