Whenever you choose to step out of "published loads" ie using 38 special load data in a 357 casing you are going to have to consider what you are doing.
For openers, you will be loading considerably lower than the minimum "published" charge weight. Can this lead to squibs? Yes it can. Can this lead to double charges if you are not careful? Yes. Can this be practically and safely done by an experienced reloader? Yes, it is done all the time for various reasons.
I reload and shoot a Super Redhawk in 454 casull. I use cast lead boolits and "cowboy" loads designed for the 45 Long Colt in the full length Casull casings. This is to avoid a powder ring build up with the shorter Colt .45 cases.
The pistol becomes a soft shooter with these loads and is very accurate within cast boolit ranges. Am I conscious when of watching for squibbs? Yep, but after a few thousand rounds, I am pretty sure of my load. Do I pay attention when reloading that I am not "double charging"? Yes, I promise that double charging with fast pistol powder if VERY BAD.
BOTTOM LINE: In my opinion, you can safely reload .357 brass using 38 Special data. It is also best to use the 357 brass to avoid developing powder rings in your cylinders and minimizing the bullet jump to the pistol throating. Downside is your velocity will be lower than the published 38 special data because of the casing volume.
I am not advocating anyone reloading shells outside of published load data. I am saying that experienced reloaders will sometimes reload to their objectives rather than use the published data. It does violate one of the first and most important reloading rules (especially for new reloaders) which is to ONLY LOAD published data.
v/r arcee
For openers, you will be loading considerably lower than the minimum "published" charge weight. Can this lead to squibs? Yes it can. Can this lead to double charges if you are not careful? Yes. Can this be practically and safely done by an experienced reloader? Yes, it is done all the time for various reasons.
I reload and shoot a Super Redhawk in 454 casull. I use cast lead boolits and "cowboy" loads designed for the 45 Long Colt in the full length Casull casings. This is to avoid a powder ring build up with the shorter Colt .45 cases.
The pistol becomes a soft shooter with these loads and is very accurate within cast boolit ranges. Am I conscious when of watching for squibbs? Yep, but after a few thousand rounds, I am pretty sure of my load. Do I pay attention when reloading that I am not "double charging"? Yes, I promise that double charging with fast pistol powder if VERY BAD.
BOTTOM LINE: In my opinion, you can safely reload .357 brass using 38 Special data. It is also best to use the 357 brass to avoid developing powder rings in your cylinders and minimizing the bullet jump to the pistol throating. Downside is your velocity will be lower than the published 38 special data because of the casing volume.
I am not advocating anyone reloading shells outside of published load data. I am saying that experienced reloaders will sometimes reload to their objectives rather than use the published data. It does violate one of the first and most important reloading rules (especially for new reloaders) which is to ONLY LOAD published data.
v/r arcee