Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: splitshot on January 30, 2013, 02:52:56 PM

Title: 38 ammo?
Post by: splitshot on January 30, 2013, 02:52:56 PM: is all 38 ammo the same? will they all shoot in a 357? mike w
Title: Re: 38 ammo?
Post by: ellensburgpo on January 30, 2013, 02:58:43 PM: No
Title: Re: 38 ammo?
Post by: JohnVH on January 30, 2013, 03:24:18 PM: I think you need 38 special
Title: Re: 38 ammo?
Post by: hillbilli on January 31, 2013, 12:35:51 PM: a .357 chanbered revolver will take .38 special ammo. pretty sure you can also shoot the old .38 s&w long, but you rarely see it.. .38 special should be common and easy to find.
Title: Re: 38 ammo?
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on January 31, 2013, 12:54:30 PM: All 357mag revolvers will chamber and fire 38special.

I would not advise chambering and firing 38 S&W Long in a 38special or 357 mag revolver. The bullet is .003" larger in diameter. This might not be a big deal for .357" barrels when shooting soft lead bullets, but shooting jacketed or hard lead bullets would not be good for the forcing cone or barrel from a bullet that only travels some 650fps. The case rim is the same size, but the case base is large enough to cause tight extraction. The Long is also a slightly tapered case unlike the 38spl or 357mag.

-Steve
Title: Re: 38 ammo?
Post by: h20hunter on January 31, 2013, 01:10:24 PM: Didn't see this mentioned..... "+ P" is also a different specification.
Title: Re: 38 ammo?
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on January 31, 2013, 03:56:24 PM: +P is not a dimmension change for the 38special cartridge. The brass may be a tad thicker at the heal, but not outer dimmensions. +p pressures will not excede 357mag pressures in a revolver built for 357 Remington Magnum.

-Steve