Question re shooting 38 special in 357 lever gun

[cabezaverde]

Does the dreaded chamber crud ring become an issue?

[zarrinvz24]

When you shoot thousands of rounds without thoroughly cleaning the chambers. Get some of brownells chamber brushes and scrub them every time after shooting and it’ll be fine. Like most internet rumors it is purported to be far worse than it really is. Kinda like cast boolits in glocks. An oz of prevention is worth a lb of cure.

[cabezaverde]

I have plenty of 357 brass, just looking to save a little powder.

[Froogal]

Does the dreaded chamber crud ring become an issue?

In a lever gun? No. I have shot more .38 special through my .357 lever gun than actual .357. It is NOT a problem.

[robg]

if you have plenty of 357 brass just down load to the speed you want. my win 94 feeds 357 mag much better than 38 special .

[jeepyj]

In a lever gun? No. I have shot more .38 special through my .357 lever gun than actual .357. It is NOT a problem.

My 77/357 enjoys 38s for some reason. For me I just shoot steel and paper so it works well. That being said every once and while I let her enjoy some warm 357 loads and its never been a problem.

[Winger Ed.]

It'll work the same way as a revolver cylinder.
If you clean it after a range session- no problem.
If you a bunch of .38s with a dirty, high residue powder- then a .357 might be stiff to chamber.

It tell tell you if the crud ring is a problem.

[ReloaderFred]

It's not been a problem in the four Marlin 1894's that my wife and shoot regularly in SASS matches. Our two main guns probably go through a couple thousand rounds each of .38 Special ammunition during the year, and they'll both still chamber .357 Magnums just fine. We each also have a backup rifle, and they get used on occasion, with the same results.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[Mk42gunner]

If you clean the bore regularly I don't believe it will be a problem, if not, then it will.

Also feeding may be an issue. As robg said the Winchester Model 94's really like a longer cartridge than the .38 Special. I can't count the number of loaded .38 Specials that popped out the top of mine. They shot fine, but feeding was an issue.

Robert

[cabezaverde]

If you clean the bore regularly I don't believe it will be a problem, if not, then it will.

Also feeding may be an issue. As robg said the Winchester Model 94's really like a longer cartridge than the .38 Special. I can't count the number of loaded .38 Specials that popped out the top of mine. They shot fine, but feeding was an issue.

Robert

Rossi 92. Feeds 38 specials fine.

[sghart3578]

I have 4 Marlins in 357 magnum. I used to shoot 38's a lot and never had a problem with build up in the chamber.

I quit shooting 38's only because they weren't quite as accurate as the 357's. I know a lot of guys don't see a difference but I did.

So I just started loading 4 gr of Bullseye in a 357 mag case and topped it with Lee 125 RF. Shoots practically into one hole at 50 yards in all 4 rifles. A little over 1000 fps.


Steve in N CA

[Outpost75]

My experience has been that .38 Special loads shorter than 1.40" OAL may double-feed in the .357 levers and jam the lifter.

Also, .357 rounds longer than 1.60" may not permit the lifter to rise and feed the rounds.

With properly sized and lubricated bullets I have not found the dreaded "crud ring" to be an issue firing .38 Special rounds in the .357 levers as long as you cleaned correctly using a brush and solvent after having fired any quantity of .38 Specials in your .357 lever gun.

Commercial hard-cast bullets which tend to run undersized, using hard lubes which cannot provide the necessary boundary layer lubrication, are the worst offenders to produce the dreaded "crud ring." Soft bullets of 10-12 BHN in loads <20,000 PSI with soft lubes such as SPG can be shot in huge quantity, thousands of rounds in your cowboy levergun with no attention beyond normal cleaning and the dreaded "crud ring" is simple fantasy.

[ReloaderFred]

In my experience, I've found the magic OAL for feeding .38's in the Marlin .357 rifles is 1.480". Just ignore the crimping groove and crimp into the side of the lead bullet, as long as it's not in a lube groove.

For 1892 Winchesters and clones, the OAL that works best with .38's in the .357 Magnum rifles is 1.50".

I've yet to find one of the two above mentioned rifles that wouldn't feed RNFP bullets in .38 Spl. cases at those OAL's.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[Froogal]

Rossi 92. Feeds 38 specials fine.

Same here. For cowboy action, the .357 is accepted, but not time period correct. Neither is the .38 special, but it is much closer to being correct.

[Walks]

My Daughter's 35yr old 1894CS will feed .38Spl WC's seated flush with barely a hitch. The Marlin Cowboy We had would still feed .38's, but only if 1.500 or longer. My friends 1894C will not feed .38's unless they are 1.550 or longer.

Each Gun is a Law unto itself.

After EVERY match We ran a chamber brush a few times, nary a problem.

[Slim Chance Pistolero]

wife and i shoot Uberti win 73s in SASS ... use Unique (4.2gr) and 124gr RNFP cast bullets .. about 3,000 a yr .. we have not cleaned our guns in at least the last 5 yrs ... IF action get stiff, just soak the receiver with G96 .. works perty good, she is the 8 yrs in row class winner for the Pa Championship ... as other have said the OAL is the key to working or not

[Pipefitter]

If you are really worried about the "chamber crud ring" ,, after firing 38's in your 357 take a empty 357 case, bell it with a neck expander and chamber it a few times, the belled brass will cut the "crud ring" out without any damage to the chamber.

[dverna]

If you are really worried about the "chamber crud ring" ,, after firing 38's in your 357 take a empty 357 case, bell it with a neck expander and chamber it a few times, the belled brass will cut the "crud ring" out without any damage to the chamber.

That is brilliant

[smkummer]

No problem with 38 special case, 2.8 grs. Bullseye and lee 125 RF in my Marlin 1894C with micro groove. Can’t load shorter though. After a SASS match I just run a wet patch of hoppes 9 and a dry patch. .357 still chamber.

[Ural Driver]

If you are really worried about the "chamber crud ring" ,, after firing 38's in your 357 take a empty 357 case, bell it with a neck expander and chamber it a few times, the belled brass will cut the "crud ring" out without any damage to the chamber.

I was told this years ago when I got into multi caliber capable firearms. It works. 8-)