357 38 SPEC
Can ALL 357's (revolvers) shoot 38 Spec.?
0
-
there's no reason why you can't seeing as how the 38 special and the 357mag both shoot the same dia. bullet , the 38 has a little shorter case and is a lower power round , if you shoot a lot of 38's in a 357mag you might build a crud ring inside the chamber but that is pretty easy to clean out
of course i've been told that i'm NOT an expert on gun related things according to some here on these forums so you had better wait for the real deal to come along and answer your question0 -
Well, with over 5,000 posts you must know something about everything. Thanks for the information. 0 -
glynnm45,
Shooting a 38 Special in a 357 Magnum, is no different than shooting a 22 short in a 22 LR chamber. Actually, it can be some of the most informative fun you can have. It helps one get used to the action, and sights on the revolver, without all the recoil, and blast. The 38 Special, is also one of the most accurate revolver/pistol rounds out there.
Best0 -
Yep. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by glynnm45
Can ALL 357's (revolvers) shoot 38 Spec.?
Yes.
Any revolver chambered in .357 magnum should safely handle .38 special or .38+P special ammo in unlimited quantity.
The .357 magnum round itself was designed as a high-powered .38 special. The main difference is just a slightly longer case on the .357 cartridges so high power .357s can't be chambered into weaker .38 special guns and cause them to explode.
The more interesting question is "can all .357s fire .357s?"!
Its sort of a "trick" question. Of course guns designed to fire .357s should be able to actually fire them, but the point is that there are some nominal ".357" guns that really aren't all that strong and will wear out relatively quickly if fed lots of full power .357 rounds.
Because of its high operating pressures, and inefficient use of powder the .357 cartridge itself is somewhat of a gun-wrecker. The guns tend to make big fireballs from unburned powder burning outside the gun, and the high flame can erode the topstrap of the gun above the barrel/cylinder gap, a process called "flame cutting".
This is one reason, for example, why Smith and Wesson stopped making K-frame guns in .357 magnum. The medium K-frame was originally intended for lower power .38s and the like, and lots of full power .357s could cause problems.0 -
[Its sort of a "trick" question. Of course guns designed to fire .357s should be able to actually fire them, but the point is that there are some nominal ".357" guns that really aren't all that strong and will wear out relatively quickly if fed lots of full power .357 rounds./quote]
What is your learned opinion on a sp 101 Ruger snubbie in .357? Strong, nominal, and using +P in this .357?
Thanks0 -
OK wood man - which ones are weak and what evidence do you have that they are weak? You made a statement of "fact", what's your backup? 0 -
quote:Originally posted by mbsams
OK wood man - which ones are weak and what evidence do you have that they are weak? You made a statement of "fact", what's your backup?
He took that quote from Beantownshootah. I believe that he is referring to the J, and K frame S&W's. It is a known fact that the Model 19's, and 66's will loosen up, and sometimes stretch if fed an unjudicious diet of full house 357's.
Best0 -
Ruger tends to over build their guns, so 357 use should have no impact on the gun. Now your hand is another matter all together. 0 -
Responding to the above:
The Ruger SP101 is built like a brick and you should be able to fire all the .38+Ps you like through one. So long as you like the gun, I wouldn't hesitate to buy or carry one.
It will probably hold up to tens of thousands of full power .357s, though in practice most individuals rarely put that many full power .357s through small frame snubnose guns.
In terms of which .357s are "weak", I've already given the explicit example of the Smith and Wesson model 19. That gun is well-documented to potentially develop problems with lots of full power .357s, including forcing cone splits, end-shake and timing issues. The same is true of the other K-frame .357s.
Note that I'm not "bashing" the model 19. . .I wouldn't own as many of them as I do if I didn't like them, and the one I keep for that "bump in the night" is stoked with 125 grain Federal .357s. I just know there are potential problems here with volume shooting of .357s, and that's why Smith came up with the "L" frame design.
Other guns I'd consider "suspect" in terms of not being able to handle large volumes of full power .357s include the Brazillian and Spanish made revolvers, particularly the older ones. And no, I can't prove it, nor I am interested in trying.
If you want to regale me with stories about the thousands of full power .357s you've put through your Llama Commanche revolver go right ahead. [;)]0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
10 comments