.38+P's in .357 Revolvers. Question(s)

[twyacht]

Thank you. I like the staggered round loading. I utilize it in my Remington 870, in what my friend calls a "spray & wash".

3 rds. of No. 2 Tactical BuckShot, 2 rds. of 00Buck, and 2 rds. of slugs.

If it gets to the slug level, I am already working on getting more firepower from the strongbox.

Thanks again. got a large range trip this Sun. (including Tannerite  ) and enjoying letting some rds. get down range.

I will get some .38 +P rds. in the .357, and follow up.

[ericire12]

Thank you. I like the staggered round loading. I utilize it in my Remington 870, in what my friend calls a "spray & wash".

3 rds. of No. 2 Tactical BuckShot, 2 rds. of 00Buck, and 2 rds. of slugs.

If it gets to the slug level, I am already working on getting more firepower from the strongbox.

Thanks again. got a large range trip this Sun. (including Tannerite  ) and enjoying letting some rds. get down range.

I will get some .38 +P rds. in the .357, and follow up.

Glock!







*Where is that Chipper Jones shaking his head pic?

[TAB]

the only prob with loading 38s into a 357 is...



you will have a carbon ring at the end of the cylinder, which is a pita to clean off and may not let you load 357s into the gun, untill its clean.

[twyacht]

Thanks TAB. I'll check case length, and carbon/fouling,. Never a real issue with standard .38's, but I'll certainly check.

OK, OK, I'll keep the "G" in the second drawer of the nightstand. with 10 rds. of Federal HST's.....

[Timothy]

Tom,

I've never had a problem loading .357 after shooting several hundred .38's in my Ruger but they might get a bit gummed up when you go to eject the empties.

Cleaning guns is either a PITA or a not....  I don't love it, but I don't hate it either...I enjoy taking stuff apart.  I should look into some gunsmith courses at S&W...only about 45 minutes away..

[Sponsor]

[blackwolfe]

the only prob with loading 38s into a 357 is...



you will have a carbon ring at the end of the cylinder, which is a pita to clean off and may not let you load 357s into the gun, untill its clean.

If you reload, couldn't you just download .357 cases to .38+P levels and not have to worry about the carbon ring?

[billt]

If you reload, couldn't you just download .357 cases to .38+P levels and not have to worry about the carbon ring?

That is exactly what I do. I always keep my .38 Special brass separate from my .357 brass. I treat them as if they were non interchangeable. This eliminates any "carbon ring" forming in the chambers of the cylinder, and more importantly prevents me accidently grabbing the wrong ammunition when I head out to the range.   Bill T.

[Hazcat]

Isn't .357 brass longer than .38+P?  If so wouldn't the added volume in the .357 brass change pressures if loaded with a .38+P charge?

I am NOT an expert (or even beginner really) on reloading but I believe I have read that loading any brass with the wrong charge (even if it is under charge) has the potential to be dangerous.  That the extra case volume could even allow an 'under' charge to build dangerous levels of pressure in the case.

As stated "not an expert".

[billt]

Isn't .357 brass longer than .38+P?  If so wouldn't the added volume in the .357 brass change pressures if loaded with a .38+P charge?

Theoretically yes. However most pistol powders are not slow enough to get the reloader into trouble in that regard. Case volume does come into play when downloading large, belted Magnum rifle cartridges with slow burning powder. Most of these calibers have a footnote in reloading manuals not to deviate from the minimum charge listed. It's something that cannot be duplicated in the lab with any regularity, but a type of detonation can take place under certain conditions.

In the opposite condition, a bullet pushed farther down in the case will decrease case volume enough to cause problems. That is the reason you will see a cannelure on the outside of the case, about midway down on most factory .45 ACP ammo.   Bill T.

[m25operator]

Original question, 38+p or+p+, does not equal .357 full house SD, loads, for my money, it is full house all the way, with the exception of very lightweight guns, and even then, practice at full speed at 7 yard targets, if you can't hit, then back down. When it is time to rock, bear down hard, I don't think the flash and recoil will overcome your attention to the threat, just like hunting with a .300 mag, the recoil is not noticed when it is pointed and fired at the intended game, but off the bench, will make you take  notice. Now a 100lb spouse, who does not shoot that much, may well benefit from the lighter caliber.