Shooting .38spl in a .357 revolver

The place to discuss your favorite centerfire pistols.

Moderators: Bullseye, Moderators

derree
New member
New member
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2009 4:54 pm
Location: crocker,missouri

Shooting .38spl in a .357 revolver

Post by derree » Fri Feb 25, 2011 5:47 pm

I have been shooting .38 spl ammo in my Ruger Blackhawk .357 for over five years and was told recently by a gun salesman that it wasn't very good for the gun. Is there any truth to this?

User avatar
Bullseye
Site Admin/Host
Site Admin/Host
Posts: 6382
Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2005 12:23 pm
Location: USA

Post by Bullseye » Fri Feb 25, 2011 6:43 pm

You can shoot .357 or 38 special ammo out of your Blackhawk without any real issues. Just keep your cylinders clean and free of leading and you shouldn't have any problems.

R,
Bullseye
Image

greener

Post by greener » Fri Feb 25, 2011 7:54 pm

If you shoot .38 special in a .357 you get a bathtub ring in the cylinders that gets sticky. As Bullseye said, you need to clean that regularly. I've read that .357 does more damage because of the hotter gasses eroding metal. My guess is you have to shoot a lot of full-house .357 loads to see much damage.

If you are punching holes in paper, the .38 special round is a joy to shoot. A mid-range load doesn't have a lot of recoil or noise and is darned accurate. Of course, throwing a few .357's in and making the guy in the next lane twitch when it goes off is always fun.

99/100
Regular contributor
Regular contributor
Posts: 101
Joined: Sun Apr 12, 2009 12:52 pm
Contact:

Post by 99/100 » Fri Feb 25, 2011 8:46 pm

greener wrote: If you are punching holes in paper, the .38 special round is a joy to shoot. A mid-range load doesn't have a lot of recoil or noise and is darned accurate. Of course, throwing a few .357's in and making the guy in the next lane twitch when it goes off is always fun.
Were you in the lane next to me? I've been told the same thing a number of times and my 25 year old S&W doesn't seem to have suffered.

ronn
New member
New member
Posts: 38
Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2010 3:31 pm

Re: Shooting .38spl in a .357 revolver

Post by ronn » Fri Feb 25, 2011 9:32 pm

Only difference is 1/10 of an inch on the case and .357 are loaded heavier. I have had a S&W 686 that has shot thousands of rounds, and never saw a .357. just 38 Specials

Tbag
Regular contributor
Regular contributor
Posts: 214
Joined: Wed Feb 07, 2007 2:28 pm
Location: FL

Post by Tbag » Sat Feb 26, 2011 6:44 am

True fun as stated, pop-pop-pop-pop-pop-BANG! Watch a big group open up next you, lol.

User avatar
bearandoldman
Ye Loquacious Olde Pharte
Ye Loquacious Olde Pharte
Posts: 4194
Joined: Tue Aug 16, 2005 10:30 am
Location: Mid Michigan

Post by bearandoldman » Sat Feb 26, 2011 8:00 am

Tbag wrote:True fun as stated, pop-pop-pop-pop-pop-BANG! Watch a big group open up next you, lol.
Have a 50th Anniversary Blackhawk and a Marlin 1894C both chambered in .38/.357 and all I shoot is medium load or factory .38's. Mostly my SWC handloads as they are only used for paper punching, I really do not need any .357 mags, plus I don't care for the extra noise either and neither does Bear.
You have great day and shoot straight and may the Good Lord smile on you.
Image

99/100
Regular contributor
Regular contributor
Posts: 101
Joined: Sun Apr 12, 2009 12:52 pm
Contact:

Re: Shooting .38spl in a .357 revolver

Post by 99/100 » Sat Feb 26, 2011 1:26 pm

ronn wrote:Only difference is 1/10 of an inch on the case and .357 are loaded heavier. I have had a S&W 686 that has shot thousands of rounds, and never saw a .357. just 38 Specials
Pretty doggone good pistol out of the box isn't it?

User avatar
Hakaman
Master contributor
Master contributor
Posts: 1940
Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2009 8:51 pm
Location: detroit, michigan

Post by Hakaman » Sun Feb 27, 2011 12:23 pm

Of course, throwing a few .357's in and making the guy in the next lane twitch when it goes off is always fun.
I shoot 98% 38's thru my S&W 6866", but when I shoot the 2% 357mags,
it's always nice to feel that power! You feel that concussion hitting you like a stiff wind.
Makes the neighbors twitch.
Just keep your cylinders clean and free of leading and you shouldn't have any problems.
Good point. A cleaning solution that works for me is a 50/50 mix of peroxide and Isopropyl alcohol.
I soak my cylinder in it for 10 minutes and the residue comes out like liquid mush.
I also use it for the barrel(20 mins), because it dissolves lead as well.
I am hesitant on using it with my blued ruger, but I do, making sure it only contacts
the inside of the barrel. I don't know, but I don't think it would hurt the bluing either.
Haka

User avatar
Baldy
Advanced contributor
Advanced contributor
Posts: 340
Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2010 1:55 am
Location: Port St.John, Fl.

Post by Baldy » Tue Mar 01, 2011 8:46 pm

I shoot some hot .38+p loads once in a while but have given up on full house .357's as I don't hunt anymore. 8)

greener

Post by greener » Tue Mar 01, 2011 10:40 pm

Hakaman wrote:
Of course, throwing a few .357's in and making the guy in the next lane twitch when it goes off is always fun.
I shoot 98% 38's thru my S&W 6866", but when I shoot the 2% 357mags,
it's always nice to feel that power! You feel that concussion hitting you like a stiff wind.
Makes the neighbors twitch.
Just keep your cylinders clean and free of leading and you shouldn't have any problems.
Good point. A cleaning solution that works for me is a 50/50 mix of peroxide and Isopropyl alcohol.
I soak my cylinder in it for 10 minutes and the residue comes out like liquid mush.
I also use it for the barrel(20 mins), because it dissolves lead as well.
I am hesitant on using it with my blued ruger, but I do, making sure it only contacts
the inside of the barrel. I don't know, but I don't think it would hurt the bluing either.
Haka
Don't let it stay to long before you rinse it out

http://www.ozoneservices.com/articles/004.htm

User avatar
Hakaman
Master contributor
Master contributor
Posts: 1940
Joined: Thu Jan 15, 2009 8:51 pm
Location: detroit, michigan

Post by Hakaman » Tue Mar 01, 2011 11:30 pm

*****Deleted*****

thanks Coach, you're right !
Haka
Last edited by Hakaman on Wed Mar 02, 2011 5:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
Bullseye
Site Admin/Host
Site Admin/Host
Posts: 6382
Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2005 12:23 pm
Location: USA

Post by Bullseye » Wed Mar 02, 2011 12:32 am

5" at 1000 yards is very impressive with a pistol; perhaps a typo?

R,
Bullseye
Image

User avatar
Coach1
Regular contributor
Regular contributor
Posts: 210
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2010 3:09 pm
Location: Apex North Carolina

misplaced

Post by Coach1 » Wed Mar 02, 2011 11:35 am

I think Haka posted that to the wrong thread. It seems to belong to the Misc thread about sharp shooting.. 84 year old Marine.. black hat recipient.. put 3 rounds downrange at 1000 yards.. in a 5 inch group. - all head shots. And I agree.. very impressive at any age.
"You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need." The Rolling Stones

greener

Post by greener » Wed Mar 02, 2011 6:51 pm

Bullseye wrote:5" at 1000 yards is very impressive with a pistol; perhaps a typo?

R,
Bullseye
I don't like to brag, but...

Post Reply