.38SPecia; +P?

[ZVP]

Will you harm a .357 Vaquero by shooting a .38 Special+P in it?
I am worried about the +P with it's different powder and pressuresburning a ring in the cylinder.
I would guess that since the revolver is rated to .357 spec's (35,000 PSI.) that the pressures would be no object.
I have regularilly fired standard .38 Specials in my Vaquero without any harm.
ZVP

 

[jpickar]

38 +P ammo is well below 357 mag pressures.

Shoot them all you want without a problem.

John

 

[ADP3]

The only downside is the chamber ring. It's not erosion in the chamber but accretion in the form of carbon and lead. It takes some scrubbing but it can be removed after a shooting session. I use a .357 Maximum case flared at the case mouth to scrape out the crud and then follow up with a Bronze Bristle Brush and finish with a Lead Wipe-Away Patch on a jag. I'm a bit obsessive about the whole routine. If I ever get my kids graduated I'm going to look for an OM .30 Carbine Cylinder and have it bored to .38 Special so I can have a dedicated .38 Cylinder for the OM Blackhawk. Like I said I'm a bit obsessive.

Best Regards,
ADP3

 

[ZVP]

A dedicated .38Special Cylinder is the real way to go! You're right it the fouling comes off fairly easilly. I have a stiff nylon brush that I fit to my cordless drill and remove/polish the chambers quicklly!
Using lead flat tip reloads, the fouling quicklly returnes t5hough...
ZVP

 

[wwb]

The simple answer, though, is to take up reloading and load everything in .357 cases. You can load everything from "plinker" loads, the equivalent of a .38 Spl, a .38 Spl +P, a .357 light, or a full-house .357.... and it's far cheaper than buying ammo.

 

[ADP3]

I reload between 10 and 15,000 rounds a year so that's not an issue with me. I'm a cheap son of a gun and between cast bullets from wheel weights and Bullseye .38 Special loads I can shoot for about $5 per 100 rounds. I've been able to scrounge up a lot more free .38 brass than .357. I shoot light .38 plinking loads. You can't safely get as light a load using a .357 case and most powders without running the risk of detonation versus combustion of powder. TrailBoss would probably enable you to pull it off but like I said I'm cheap and it's not as cost effective to use.

Best Regards,
ADP3

 

[jpickar]

You can't safely get as light a load using a .357 case and most powders without running the risk of detonation versus combustion of powder. TrailBoss would probably enable you to pull it off but like I said I'm cheap and it's not as cost effective to use.

Best Regards,
ADP3

+1 that is why I use 38 special cases. I just don't see what the problem is with the carbon ring--just clean it out!!

JOhn

 

[ZVP]

OK Thanks guys!
I'm just over-worrying as usual!
I forget how tough Vaqueros are (Rugers in general) and afterall, it's just a carbon and lead ring...
ZVP

 

[GhosT]

ZVP,

Yup,ya got ALOT of good advice here.


WWB, made a ton of sence, if ya handload.

If ya don't handload, scrub the CRAP outta those chambers after a shooting session.

I ,(among countless others) learned 30 or more years ago, what happens if ya fire specials in magnums,and don't clean them out well!

If yer at a target range, the rounds not seating fully pisses ya off.....
Cylinder won't close.
If a Defense gun.....yer last thought..."WHY DID I NOT CLEAN THE GUN BETTER????" LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

 

[Sal1950]

You can't safely get as light a load using a .357 case and most powders without running the risk of detonation versus combustion of powder. TrailBoss would probably enable you to pull it off but like I said I'm cheap and it's not as cost effective to use.

Best Regards,
ADP3

+1 that is why I use 38 special cases. I just don't see what the problem is with the carbon ring--just clean it out!!

JOhn

Not something the average shooter has to worry about but, if you shoot enough 38's in a 357 cylinder flame cutting may eventually burn a permanent hollow in the chamber and cause 357 extraction issues.
Sal

 

[jpickar]

You can't safely get as light a load using a .357 case and most powders without running the risk of detonation versus combustion of powder. TrailBoss would probably enable you to pull it off but like I said I'm cheap and it's not as cost effective to use.

Best Regards,
ADP3

+1 that is why I use 38 special cases. I just don't see what the problem is with the carbon ring--just clean it out!!

JOhn

Not something the average shooter has to worry about but, if you shoot enough 38's in a 357 cylinder flame cutting may eventually burn a permanent hollow in the chamber and cause 357 extraction issues.
Sal

I have never had this problem with any Ruger or Smith that I have owned. What are some of you guys shooting, Black powder and mercuric primers?

John

 

[Sal1950]

I have never had this problem with any Ruger or Smith that I have owned. What are some of you guys shooting, Black powder and mercuric primers?
John

I've been using that new stuff, Kryptonite. :lol:
Sal

 

[jpickar]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Yea that is pretty accurate stuff isn't it?

John :lol:

 

[Meeko]

^ Agree +1000. This whole 38 special carbon ring thing is an old wives tale and someones OCD issue.

 

[jpickar]

Tell it like you see Meeko! :wink:

John :lol:

 

[roaddog28]

Well shooting +P 38 special ammo will not hurt your Vaquero. +P 38 is 19,000 psi and 357 magnum is 35,000 psi. Carbon rings will not develope unless you don't clean your cylinder bores with a good solvent. So, enjoy shooting 38 +P and don't worry.
Howard

 

[ZVP]

I was away from powderburners for a spell, and didn't understasnd the pressures involved till I reserched a bit and also got some GOOD information from you guys!
I won't worry about those loads.
I might even consider them as a back-up "Social" load for home protection, etc. If they were good enough for Law Enforcement, then my 4 5/8" barrel ought to spit them out with some real power!
Thankyou again!
ZVP