38 Special +P Brass?

[Jeff.L]

Was wondering if the 38 Sp+P Brass is made to handle more pressure
or the same as other 38 Sp brass just with a +P head stamp?

Thanks Jeff

[Echd]

I have heard certain brands are different.

I've never seen anything to actually support that. I've sectioned a few +Ps out of curiosity and they looked the same as their regular counterparts (I assumed if there was a difference it would be around the rim or base)

[Char-Gar]

It is just the headstamp. Ammo makers use it so their fierce loads can be identified and not placed into a weaker revolver. It is a liability thing.

[AricTheRed]

Starline indicates same brass different headstamp only. same thing on their 44 spl, and magnum, except those obviously the length is different.

[pull the trigger]

Has anyone sectioned a 357 mag brass to compare with the 38 special brass? What do they look like?

[383]

The only different type of .38spl brass I've heard of is brass intended to be loaded with factory wadcutters. Supposedly it's a little thinner so as to avoid case bulging.

[Hardcast416taylor]

I only know that back in my pistol target shooting days with 148 gr. FNHB wadcutters I always seemed to have a minor problem seating the boolet in +P cases due to a slight thickening of the casewall.Robert

[BAGTIC]

According to the Quickload software a .38 Special has a net case capacity increase of 1.182 grains of H2O when both are loaded with the same bullet seated to the same COL. I don't know on what they base this. One thing to considered is that more than just brass thickness is involved. Much of the strength of the case is derived from work hardening during the manufacturing process. It may be that some .357 cases are intentionally worked more than the .38 Special cases to increases the strength.

Personally I would love to know that I could load .357 pressures in .38 Special cases as they would be perfect for a load in my Marlin carbines. The .357 case is too long and hangs way over the long ogive. Unfortunately, for me, case trimming is the part of reloading that I dislike the most.