38 magnum

[Finarfin]

I just got my very first 357. Found a box of high priced 38 special range ammo. Of course I am going to reload these expensive little devils. Data for 38 maxed out at 18k and 357 at 40k, so the gun isn't the limiting factor. Can 38s be loaded hotter than 18k up to 30k or so? Is there data for this or does 38 just have to stay in its designated range? I realize it is shorter so you can't just use 357 load data but am wondering if the brass is weaker or what the holdup is.

[Hickok]

What brand of revolver did you get?

I really don't like loading and shooting alot of .38 specials in my 357 mag revolvers. It really gunks up the chambers, the .38 being shorter. I use .357 mag brass for my light loads as well as magnun loads.

Alot of people use .38's in the .357 mag but I just hate the crud in the cylinders.

[chboats]

The safety issue is not with your 357 revolver. It is what happens if your hot loaded 38 spcl gets into a 38 spcl revolver. There is no way that you can 100% guarantee that it will never happen.

Carl

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I'm with Hickok...and Brass is cheap.
For a 357 revolver, if I want hot loads, I do so.
If I want light loads, I use 357 Mag brass and load to 38 spl data.

If I load for a 38 spl "ONLY" revolver, I stick with the books

[Finarfin]

The safety issue is not with your 357 revolver. It is what happens if your hot loaded 38 spcl gets into a 38 spcl revolver. There is no way that you can 100% guarantee that it will never happen.

Carl
Same thing with ruger/tc only loads.

[Finarfin]

I understand that it would make more sense for a few reasons to use 357 brass for everything, except that I'd have to get 357 brass. It seems harder to get and more expensive. As evidenced by the fact that tomorrow I may have 100 empty 38 brass and 0 357.

[texassako]

I use the 358156 crimped in the lower groove to accomplish a magnum in a .38 case. It is made to do what you want.

[Mal Paso]

I understand that it would make more sense for a few reasons to use 357 brass for everything, except that I'd have to get 357 brass. It seems harder to get and more expensive. As evidenced by the fact that tomorrow I may have 100 empty 38 brass and 0 357.

Check www.Starlinebrass.com every week. If is says you can backorder do so. You should get it sooner than they say.

However good I got with 44 Specials in a Mag, the Magnum brass loads were a bit more accurate.

[Finarfin]

I use the 358156 crimped in the lower groove to accomplish a magnum in a .38 case. It is made to do what you want.

So you basically load the boolit out farther to 357 oal and then use 357 load data?

Is that a generally accepted practice?

[Silvercreek Farmer]

What make and model 357?

[Finarfin]

S&W 65-3. Old prison issue. 4" barrel.

[Blammer]

So you basically load the boolit out farther to 357 oal and then use 357 load data?

Is that a generally accepted practice?

yes I'd say so

[uncle joe]

I have loaded 357 loads in 38 brass but as said above you need to leave the bullet out far enough to make the finished produce as long as the 357 should be so it will not go in a 38. Works fine for plinkers don't know about the accuracy.

[GP100man]

Research "Skeeters Loads" I think it was a dose of 2400 under the 358156 crimped in the lower groove ,but numbers leave me rite now .

You can use mid loads with no problems ,but squeezing the boiler down will make upper limits touchy.

True magnum loads only need approching in magnum cases.

The 66-3 has the notched at the bottom of the barrel if memory serves rite

& I would`nt push it much over 25K psi even in mag cases.

[357maximum]

I have a sleeved H&R in 38 special...I could basically load any 38++P for it I wish, but I also have an old chiefs special model 36 j-frame that lives here too...SO I DON'T. If it is your only 38/357 and you keep the O.A.L the same as a 357MAG AND you are not wanting true top end 357 loads.....you should be ok...just remember you will not live forever and someone may get hold of your ammo someday....they will not know what YOU have done.

[Rex]

Don't overlook the old 38/44 load data. They will do most things that need done with a revolver.

[dverna]

Fin,

I am going to do the same thing. I agree that it is a poor idea if you have a .38 Spl only gun in addition to your .357. Even then, one option would be to coat the .38 Mag loads and use normal lube for .38 Spl.

I will not push to the maximum loads but want more performance than a .38 can deliver. All my pistols and rifles are .357 so I am OK.

Don Verna

[yman]

I reload more 38's than anything, they are fun to shoot and about the cheapest to reload I think. I keep all my 38 loads lite so as to extend the life of the brass. Check the web for once fired brass for your 357 needs. I have had brand new brass split and I have some I have loaded so many times I forgot so i dont have a problem with shooting brass that I didnt buy new. Starline brass seems to be heavier at the web so if you stick with 38 brass for now try to get you hands on some starline. Having said that I have had prob with megtech brass, matter fact i had one batch i just threw away because ever case mouth crushed.

[Jr.]

Just loaded a batch of 357 last night had one 38 brass sneak its way into the mix so I have a 38 the same length as my 357 I'm gonna go ahead and run it through with the rest of them

[bhn22]

357 mag pressures have been downgraded to 35,000 psi. The 38 Super is now rated for higher pressure than the 357.
http://www.lasc.us/SAAMIMaxPressure.htm

[Mal Paso]

Loading 38 brass with the boolit seated to 357 coal won't prevent it from chambering in a 38 unless the boolit is larger than the throat.

[C. Latch]

I haven't looked for .357 brass; the handful I have is sufficient for my needs right now, but I've seen it for sale here, and elsewhere, almost every week. Not in large quantities, but picking up a couple hundred used cases shouldn't be an issue. If I were you - and I am not - I'd load .38s in those .38 cases until could get some proper .357s. YMMV.

[StratsMan]

357 mag pressures have been downgraded to 35,000 psi. The 38 Super is now rated for higher pressure than the 357.
http://www.lasc.us/SAAMIMaxPressure.htm

I'm not a ballisitician, and I don't play one on TV, but I think that higher pressure in the Super is the result of the lower volume case. Velocities for a 124 grain projo in the Super are still slower than a 125 in the Magnum, even at similar pressures (35K psi)... I like the versatility of the Magnum... (velocity range, available in lever actions, mold variety, etc...)

[StratsMan]

I use the 358156 crimped in the lower groove to accomplish a magnum in a .38 case. It is made to do what you want.

GENIUS!!! That never occurred to me... (maybe I'm a little slow)... I have a ton of unloaded 38 brass, and no 357 brass for plinking... Problem Solved!!

[HeavyMetal]

For the OP
the Model 63 is a fixed sight stainless steel pistol if I remember right, I had a model 13 and it's the same gun.
So this was "regulated" for a specific load before it left the factory and, in many cases, it may have been regulated for an issue load for the dept or prison that purchased these as issue weapons.

So your problem is going to be loading a round that shoots to POA most likely a 357 125 grain load but maybe you can find out if you know the original buyer.

Next loading 357 power levels in 38 special is a bad idea don't do it!

I have a 38 special Police positive special and a Contender in 357 mixed and matched ammo in 38 special cases is a real bad idea, Don't do it!

357 cases do show up in the swap and sell section at least 3 times a month buy a couple hundred and do this right and you'll be a lot better off particularly if your gun is regulated for something beside 158 grain RNL loads