Is it safe to fire .38 rounds out of a .357, or will it damage the revolver?

[magnum0710]

Elegance.

View attachment 46999

(no, the frame is not scratched)

My 1950 Smith & Wesson Military & Police .38 Special ("pre model 10")

Ok fair enough,
I was more or less referring to current offerings, 38 special SP101s, Taurus 85/856, if you're going to get a new off the shelf 38 why not just go for the 357 and have the option of using both?
I look at these things from a prepper standpoint, accounting for ammo shortages, etc. I just like the idea of basically doubling my ammo options for the same gun.
Even in a smaller gun there's always the toned down 357 loads like the Golden Saber or PDX1.
Then again, I guess there are folks who don't know the relationship between 38 special and 357 magnum.
That is a very nice M&P! Something like that is whole different story. I would love to get a 38-44 HD or Outdoorsman and work up some 38-44 loads.

 

[GasGuzzler]

Ask the manufacturer or read the owner manual. Don't ask the internet. The answer is probably yes.

 

[Pál_K]

Ok fair enough,
I was more or less referring to current offerings, 38 special SP101s, Taurus 85/856, if you're going to get a new off the shelf 38 why not just go for the 357 and have the option of using both?
I look at these things from a prepper standpoint, accounting for ammo shortages, etc. I just like the idea of basically doubling my ammo options for the same gun.

Sure. All those reasons are valid and sensible. Some people like me do buy the dedicated .38 Special for nostalgia reasons.

That said, after 35+ years, that is my one and only .38 Special revolver. Prior to getting that, just a few months ago, I've been shooting both .357 and .38 in three other revolvers, including a small S&W M60. The J-frame M60 is heavy enough that 125gr .357 magnum loads are actually pleasant.

 

[Johnnu2]

I'd say "yes".
J.

 

[magnum0710]

Sure. All those reasons are valid and sensible. Some people like me do buy the dedicated .38 Special for nostalgia reasons.

That said, after 35+ years, that is my one and only .38 Special revolver. Prior to getting that, just a few months ago, I've been shooting both .357 and .38 in three other revolvers, including a small S&W M60. The J-frame M60 is heavy enough that 125gr .357 magnum loads are actually pleasant.

I almost got a model 60 not too long ago, still wouldn't mind one. If I thought I could pocket carry a 60 I'd probably go for it.
I did see an old 3 inch model 36 locally a few months back, I thought that was really interesting.

 

[vlavalle]

I have been a .357 Mag owner for almost 60 years, and it is my opinion that ALL .357 Mag revolvers can shoot 'any' .38 Spec ammo. I say 'any' because I suppose that it may be possible to overload a .38 Spec casing when doing you own reloads, such that it might injur the user and possibly the gun as well, but this would have to be a very serious overload! Here are the bsllistics: a very powerfull .38 Spec +P devolvers about 350 ft. lbs., but the max .357 Mag load is 907 ft. lbs. Also, as far as the cartridges goes, the .38 spec is a bit shorter, and thus it will fit into any .357 Mag chamber/cylinder. This may be different for those very few pistols than can shoot .357 Mag cartridges.

 

[DBnoise]

I have a 3" and a 4" GP100s. I a 38spl +p pistol also. Shot alot of 38s in my 357 with no problem. Just make sure your cylinder is cleaned well when switching from 38s to 357s so you don't run into build up at the case mouth. I reload and keep my hot loads in the 357. I was using alot of 38s in my 357s but brass is back so I keep them in same chambers as designed.

 

[PapaBear]

As stated in a few of the above post. The the "burn ring" in the cylinder of a 357 revolver using a 38SP ammo will be shorter and should be cleaned before shooting the longer 357mag. ammo.

 

[vlavalle]

As stated in a few of the above post. The the "burn ring" in the cylinder of a 357 revolver using a 38SP ammo will be shorter and should be cleaned before shooting the longer 357mag. ammo.

Utter BS!!! I have had a Ruger .357 Mag Blackhawk for almost 60 years and a DA Ruger GP100 for 10 years, and I shoot .38 Spec before shooting the Mag rounds, and there never is any issue! Then I go back to shooting the .38 Spec rounds with no issue at all either.

 

[DBnoise]

I have shot many 38spl in my 357mag revolvers in Smith&Wessons and GP100s. I have never had an issue and that reason is I keep my chambers clean. It is my preference to shoot 38spl in a 38spl chambered pistol of a +p design and 357s in 357 chambered pistols. I do get better accuracy. The main issue is when 38spl is fired in a 357mag chamber there is build up in the gap between the space left in a 38spl case and the longer chamber of the 357mag. If you cram a 357mag cartridge in a fouled chamber you may have a problem with excessive pressure the same as if you never trimmed your case to length and the case mouth hits the end of the chamber.
As far as maintenance goes, only you can prevent a catastrophe. Even with rifles I cringe at those who say " I never clean my rifle and it shoots fine" If you want to be lazy that is your prerogative. You are lucky and I don't run my life on luck. I look at it this way. Just because someone lived when they jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge doesn't mean everyone is going to live that jumps. I may piss off a few but to each there own. I was taught there is a right way and wrong ay way to do things and it is your choice AS LONG AS YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE THAT SUFFERS THAT CONSEQUENCE! If you want to be a dumbass then that is your prerogative.

 

[Chief]

Wow! Get up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?

 

[DBnoise]

Wow! Get up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?

Got up on the right side of the bed and made a mistake, LISTENED TO THE NEWS! I had my second cup of coffee so I am okay know.. thanks for checking... lol

 

[Chief]

I'

Got up on the right side of the bed and made a mistake, LISTENED TO THE NEWS! I had my second cup of coffee so I am okay know.. thanks for checking... lol

I've done that! Glad to see you have recovered.

 

[The Norseman]

I reload for all my Guns. So if the Revolver or
Rifle barrel says 357 Magnum on it, that's all I
shoot in it. If a Revolver or Rifle says 44
Mag on it that's what it gets. Also I definitely
don't shoot 410 bore shot shell in the
45-70Govt Rifle.

What I would suggest for the person that has
to shoot the alternative cartridge in 357 or 44
they need to be vigilant and clean the heck
out of the Chambers after the shoot session.

To clean use a quality solvent and the brass
bristled bore brush wrapped with Chore Boy
brass only strips. Don't use the imitation
Pot scrubber pad strips, their plated brass.

The Best to you and your Endeavors.

 

[Pál_K]

... The main issue is when 38spl is fired in a 357mag chamber there is build up in the gap between the space left in a 38spl case and the longer chamber of the 357mag

Right. That is why the cylinder chambers should always be cleaned and brushed out.

If you cram a 357mag cartridge in a fouled chamber you may have a problem with excessive pressure the same as if you never trimmed your case to length and the case mouth hits the end of the chamber.

Usually when is too much fouling, the longer .357 case fails to fully seat forward in the chamber and you can't close the cylinder. This is because the fouling buildup in the chamber has slightly reduced the chamber diameter at that point which prevents the crimped part of the case mouth from moving forward.

If somehow you are able to jam the .357 case fully forward, it would apply a tighter hold around the crimp and because of that pressure could be too high if you're at a maximum load.

All this can be prevented by cleaning and brushing the cylinder chambers, especially after shooting .38 Special.

 

[bobski]

shoot it all you want with 38's.

 

[deac45]

I have seen only one revolver with crud rings so bad it would not chamber a 357 round. It was a friends S&W M19 he picked up at a pawn shop. It would chamber and fire 38's okay but accuracy wasn't good. Magnum rounds would not chamber at all. It must not have ever had a magnum round fired in it...or a good cleaning. The barrel looked bad also. He finally got the cylinder and barrel cleaned up and it turned out to be a good shooter.

 

[CHEVYINLINE6]

Stirring the pot. 9mm in a 38 Special or 357 Magnum revolver. I just fitted a 9mm cylinder to my Ruger New model 357 Magnum Blackhawk. Hope to get out tomorrow and shoot it. 0.007 barrel / cylinder gap. I did this so I can shoot cheap 9mm ammo that costs less $13.00 a box.

CHEVYINLINE6.

 

[eveled]

Oh, I did make a chamber reamer to cut out any residue after firing .38 Specials in a .357 Magnum. But other than that, just reload them.

Bob Wright

I stumbled on this in another thread. Maybe Bob can share how he made his tool with us? Sounds handy.

 

[Pál_K]

An ordinary bronze cleaning brush should be fine for cleaning the cylinder chambers after every 50 to 100 rounds of .38 in a .357 mag and that will prevent future problems.

Those that shoot maybe 500+ rounds of .38 in a .357 mag without cleaning the cylinder chambers might start to have problems trying to insert a .357 mag case afterwards.