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**Mike Irwin** · March 9, 2012, 02:55 PM

No, you cannot.

.38 Special cases have significantly less case capacity, which will serve to drive pressures on .357 spec. loads up, possibly past the point at which damage or injury could occur.

There are some high-end .38 Special loads (+P) that overlap with low-end .357 Magnum loads in some manuals. Those can go in either case because they are identical.

But, once you get solely into the realm of the .357 Magnum, you MUST use the proper components.

March 9, 2012, 02:55 PM	#3
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	No, you cannot. .38 Special cases have significantly less case capacity, which will serve to drive pressures on .357 spec. loads up, possibly past the point at which damage or injury could occur. There are some high-end .38 Special loads (+P) that overlap with low-end .357 Magnum loads in some manuals. Those can go in either case because they are identical. But, once you get solely into the realm of the .357 Magnum, you MUST use the proper components. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.