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.38 Special, .38+P, .357 Magnum ... ammo question

jsergovic
I'm new to revolvers. I have a .357 Ruger. I've put only fifty rounds through it.

My latest batch of ammo came today - 500 rounds of ".38 SPECIAL".

For a moment I thought I ordered the wrong ammo, until I checked the box I bought when I picked up the gun.

I know a .357 will fire .357 and .38, and a .38 will only fire .38.

Is there a .38 revolver cartridrige I can not feed my .357 ?
I don't want to pick up the wrong food by accident; no one wants to return ammo.
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Comments

7 comments

Date Votes
  • trusta45
    As far as I know the ONLY .38 caliber load you can shoot in your .357 is the .38 Smith & Wesson Special.Not .38 Colt or any of the other many rounds in that designated caliber.As long as its .38 Smith & Wesson Special it will handle any of those normal pressure loadings,+p and +p+.

    "A gun is as good or bad as the man using it"
    -Shane-
    "People say money talks but all I ever heard it say was goodbye"
    -A Murder Of Crows-
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  • Contender Man
    Any 38 S&W Special Loading will be fine in the 357 mag.

    38 S&W (sometimes referred to as 38 short) isn't recommended.

    Nor is any of the other old time "38" chamberings.

    Your revolver is built live the proverbial "brick outhouse" but ammo that does not properly fit the cylinder chamber diameter runs the risk of case splitting, etc.

    Dimensionally the only difference between 38 special and 357 is the case length. Being a shorter case the 38 special bullet has to jump the additional gap of the chamber and that generally won't throw off accuracy all that much, but it does or I guess I better say it can cause some fouling of the cylinder chambers resulting in more cleaning work.

    Personally, I load down the 357 cases for practice ammo so I have full cartridge seating in the chambers.


    2470099-S.jpg
    If you only have time to do two things so-so, or one thing well ... do the one thing!
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  • gotstolefrom
    JSER>
    You don't say that you reload - I'm guessing you don't.
    I am also pretty sure you will be within a year. Then you can light load 357 cases (as previously mentioned).

    The 357 and 44 mag revolver owners are most happy when reloading.
    You will find that 'sweet spot load' that is a powerhouse but is more accurate than anything you can buy in a box. Not to mention the cost savings. Even if you do not think you have enough time to re-load, you will, just to find those choice rounds.




    If we do not hang together we will certainly hang separately.
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  • perry shooter
    38 short colt 38 long colt 38special and 357 mag are all based on the same cartridge with base & rim the same only the length changes if you shoot 38 short colt in 357 mag cyl there will be long bullet jump but will cause no harm. hope this helps PERRY SHOOTER
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  • 1KYDSTR
    I tend to agree with almost all I've read fron the austere group answereing your question thus far. I would add that if you shoot alot of 38 S&W Special in a normally chambered .357 Magnum you will have a tendency to build up a ring near the case mouth as it is shorter by a tenth of an inch than the intended .357Mag. case mouth. The gentleman who suggested loading down to 38 S&W Special pressures using .357 Mag. cases is a kndred spirit! I wholeheartedly agree! When I use .38 S&W Special out of my .357's I see less than stellar accuracy. Hope this helps a little.
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  • jsergovic
    Great info, all!

    I've heard about the "ring" from using a lot of .38, but was assured a good cleaning will keep it at bay.

    I'm working at using the DAO 14# trigger without lateral barrel movement, and pretty much found the grip and trigger/finger feel it takes to fire accurately.

    The gun is a keeper, for sure!

    And yes, I'm saving brass.
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  • THINMAN
    38S&W AMMO WILL NOT GO INTO THE CYLINDER IT NOT ONLY A SHORTER
    CASE BUT LARGER IN DIAMETER . MOST 357 MAG. SHOOTERS WILL CHOOSE
    38SP. SEMI OR FULL WADCUTERS FOR PAPER PUNCHING.
    WHEN IT COMES TO DEFENSE LOADS GO TO 357 MAG. J.H.P..
    RECOIL IN THE 357 MAG. WILL BE MUCH GREATER THAN 38SP.
    WADCUTTERS, SO BE SURE TO SHOOT SOME 357 MAG. WHILE
    AT THE RANGE ALSO.

    THINMAN
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