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KCSO
07-28-2006, 09:56 AM
I picked up an older N/A Yellow Boy and it was marked Cal 38. The 38 specials seemed awfully short in the carrier so I did a cast and the gun is chambered for 357. Now I know a brass framed gun isn't any good for that high of a pressure load, but a 357 case will hold 25 grains of FFFg and that should put a 158 out the muzzle at over 1200fps. That will duplicate the energy and trajectory of the rimfire 44 and should shoot a little better than the 38 special cases with 21 grains. Now I won't have any use for smokless at all.

Old Ironsights
08-15-2006, 03:11 PM
All ".38s" have a nominal bore of .357.

The ".38" nomenclature came from the cylinder bore size they needed when converting .36 cal C&Bs to a centerfire cartridge.

KCSO
08-15-2006, 10:26 PM
We're not talking diameter here, its the chamber leangth. A 38 Special chamber should be roughly 1/10 inch shorter than a 357 and no way should a 357 chamber in a 38 chamber. Now I have no intentions of firing a 357 in a brass framed gun, but i was interested in what difference the extra 3 grains of powderwould do in the rifle. Using FFFg Swiss i got about 100 fps more in the 24" bbl than the 38 special loads. It will take more testing to see if the accuracy can be improved over the 38 and if there is any real benefit here. Since I use the gun only for knocking down iron targets and plinking I don't think the power wil make a difference, but the extra leangth may help feeding.

454PB
08-16-2006, 12:53 AM
Why not just use .357 brass and .38 Special pressures?

gregg
08-16-2006, 01:32 AM
http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/1873_uberti_winchester.htm

KCSO
08-16-2006, 02:21 PM
Interesting article and I agree with his assessment of the pressures involved. I have shot out one 66 and the brass frame will not hold up to as much as the 73 frame. The brass streaches and the headspace goes. That is why I am so interested in shooting black. With the modern 38 Special case you are limited to 21 grains of powder max and from the 24" bbl this is right at 1100fps. This tends to drop some at 100yards and I was trying to flatten the trajectory just a little. I was surprised that the 357 would even chamber as that seems just a little dangerous to me. It also expalins why the gun wouold only group well with the bullets seated long. I will also not that I will never agan fire any old baloon cases in a 73 or 66. When these cases let go it is right at the weakest point, the base. All the gas comes out the block slot. I have had my hat blown off twice by this method and it is most unpleasant. (See Waksupi I moderated my language)

gregg
08-16-2006, 09:27 PM
Interesting article and I agree with his assessment of the pressures involved. I have shot out one 66 and the brass frame will not hold up to as much as the 73 frame.

What cal. was that Mod. 66? Did you shoot warm loads in it?
I don't see on darn thing wrong with Black in a 357 case.
Nice idea really.

Gregg

KCSO
08-17-2006, 10:26 AM
This one was marked 38 Cal. where as most are marked 38 Special. No I never shot any warm loads as I know what those will do to a brass frame. I still have a little work to do with the black in the 357 as if I can't get as good or better accuracy for 25 shots from 357 compared to 38 special it won't be worth it. Right now my hold up is the bullets, as I ordered a new Lee mould for 158 rnfp and (surprise surprise) the mould casts undersized bullets. I sent it back the other day and have not heard on it yet.