How much .357 do you shoot through your .357? - Page 3

Toney · March 23, 2013, 12:31 PM

I shoot mostly mag through my cheap snub, mostly specials through my Smith m66

socalboy · March 23, 2013, 02:20 PM

A couple hundred rounds of 38 thru my sp101s left a carbon ring that wouldn't accept the slightly longer .357. So it'll be .357 from now on.

Old Grump · March 23, 2013, 02:59 PM

For 26 years I only shot magnums then after my 3rd trip to the gun doctor to make my gun right again he said sternly while looking down his nose at me, "You don't HAVE to shoot magnums in this gun you know. Well first year after that I switched to a 44 magnum but still shot my old Dan Wesson but I mixed in a box of 38's, following year half my shooting was with 38's in that gun and now it's about 6 boxes of 38's to every box of magnums. Maybe little more or little less but that's what my empty brass containers tell me. Never worry about the carbon ring because I developed the habit of soaking the cylinder in my cleaning oil solution for a day or three then chucking up a 38 caliber brush in my hand drill to clean the chambers of my cylinder.

hunter52 · March 23, 2013, 03:33 PM

I shoot 357 ammunition in my 357 handguns, with one exception, my S&W model 19-3 2 1/2 in prefers a Nosler 125 JHP over Bluedot at +P .

One way to get rid of the carbon ring left by 38's in a 357 chamber that has worked for me is to flare a 357 case , through trial and error, just enough to scrape the sides of the chamber, then drill out the primer hole to fit on a brush handle and you have a easy to use carbon scraper.

Jo6pak · March 23, 2013, 04:12 PM

Around 1/3 is .357mag. thru my GP100

Nick_C_S · March 23, 2013, 06:30 PM

I have three 357's (and a .38 snubbie I almost never shoot). Two 686's, and one Python. I shoot the 4" 686 the most. I mostly shoot 38's because loading them is dirt cheap (comparatively) and they're plenty fun to shoot.

The reason why I don't have a .38 to shoot 38 ammo is because they tend to be lighter and have a less balanced feel to me.

In the 4" barrel, I find the recoil of full-power 357's to be a bit much after a few dozen rounds. I'm an old guy these days and get plenty of enjoyment out of shooting 38's. No longer do I need to throw a 4-foot flame every time I pull the trigger in order to extract enjoyment. I shoot what I want to shoot - I am not encumbered by expense. I'm just good with the lighter stuff these days. Don't get me wrong, I usually finish my day at the range with a couple cylinders of the hot stuff ;-)

I load the full spectrum of ammo - from very tame wadcutters to top-of-the-scale magnum loads; and everything in between. All are fun in their own way. That's the beauty of .357's - the range of ammo is unmatched. And the loading process is easy, fun, and less persnickity than semi-auto stuff.

If I could own only one gun (heaven forbid!), it would be a .357. Due to ammo versatility.

old bear · March 23, 2013, 07:03 PM

I shoot a majority of hot 38 Special ammo in my S&W K frames, I just don't see any reason to beat the revolver or myself. I do load .357 Magnum ammo for self defense though. In my L and N frames all I shoot is .357 magnum ammo. I really enjoy the snap, and muzzle blast from a full house .357 Magnum round.

BiggDaddyBrown · March 23, 2013, 10:22 PM

Dose any one have an accurate load Data for .357 mag using BlueDot powder loading HSM 158grn HPP bullet, I have 2LBS of BlueDot, and have loaded several loads and still have not found any accuracy at all in this powder, Its a shame that a company pro-moats this powder and it is a flop. What A Disappointment! It would be greatly appreciated if some one dose Thanks. P.S I could Just Make The 2LBS of powder a stump remover

**JohnKSa** · March 23, 2013, 11:04 PM

100%. I got tired of cleaning the rings out of the cylinders and stopped using .38 spl ammo. Gave all my .38spl ammo to relatives who had .38 revolvers or who didn't care about .357Mag performance.

bedbugbilly · March 24, 2013, 12:07 AM

I have three 357 revolvers - a Python, a Ruger LCR and a Riuger New Vaquero . . . all of them have a steady diet of 38 spl. I think I've bought one box of 357s . . . I just much prefer the 38 spl. cartridge -I love the NV but then I've mainly shot SA most of my life. I do have a Colt Army Special in 38 and a S & W M & P Target in 38 - nice vintage 38s that are a joy to shoot.

Yea, yea . . . I know about the "little rings" . . . that's why I clean 'em when I'm done shooting.

Bill56 · March 24, 2013, 03:09 AM

I probably shoot about 2/3 .38 spl. and 1/3 .357 mag in my 4" Model 28. I'm looking for a Model 10 or 15 right now so that ratio may change. The .38's are like powder-puffs in the N frame. For that matter, it eats up the .357 rounds too.

CajunBass · March 24, 2013, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Yea, yea . . . I know about the "little rings" . . . that's why I clean 'em when I'm done shooting.

This is something I wonder about too. How much shooting do you need to do before you see a problem? I don't shoot a lot of 357 ammo, and I make a minimum effort to clean my guns, but when I do load 357's, they drop right in.

Seriously, I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but I've never seen it.

Crankgrinder · March 24, 2013, 10:46 AM

At risk of this thread being moved from revolvers to the reloading forum;How much shooting does one have to do to get carbon rings from 38s that are so hard to get out? because i shoot on average 3 or 4 boxes (150-200 rds) and never have needed a drill or anything besides a bronze brush and a few patches and have yet to experience a problem shooting 357s immediately following the 38s. Could it perhaps be the powder? I use unique for 38s.

Cosmodragoon · March 25, 2013, 10:41 PM

I've been wondering about the rings both in .357 and .327 magnum revolvers. In either, there may be times where someone wants to shoot .38 or .32. If they are anything like me, they don't go out to the range to shoot 6 rounds. I usually blast a few boxes. So, am I really going to crush performance or cause malfunctions by doing that? Will it really but so arduous to remove the rings?

Old Grump · March 26, 2013, 12:58 PM

Quote:

At risk of this thread being moved from revolvers to the reloading forum;How much shooting does one have to do to get carbon rings from 38s that are so hard to get out? because i shoot on average 3 or 4 boxes (150-200 rds) and never have needed a drill or anything besides a bronze brush and a few patches and have yet to experience a problem shooting 357s immediately following the 38s. Could it perhaps be the powder? I use unique for 38s.

I;m thinking I had about 600 rounds of 38 spcl through my gun when I tried to shoot .357 mags and discovered the carbon ring problem. Fixed it with the drill and brass brush combo and now I just do it because its quick and easy to clean my cylinders on all my revolvers that way. Easier for a guy with shoulder problems and arthritis to hit the trigger on his drill then to run the bore brush back and forth with a cleaning rod. I clean more often now so it isn't really a problem.

jackpine · March 26, 2013, 06:36 PM

I only shoot 357 length ammo in my 357's and just load to match the task be it target, IDPA, or hunting

The_Shootist · March 27, 2013, 12:02 AM

I'd shoot more if I could FIND some .357 ammo!

bamacisa · April 11, 2013, 08:56 PM

I reload and mostly shoot steel plates with my 357's. The range is not too keen on shooting the steel plates with 357 rounds, so I usually just shoot 38's. I am retired and I go to the range at least one time every week.

vytoland · April 11, 2013, 10:25 PM

I only fire .357 magnum cartridges in my .357 magnum revolvers.

Dave T · April 12, 2013, 01:39 PM

Since I discovered the old 38/44 loadings of the 38 Special case, the grandfather of the 357 Magnum, I don't shoot Specials or Magnums in my revolvers so chambered. The 38/44 delivers 1100-1150 fps with a 158g bullet from 3" to 4" barrels and that's all I load and shoot. For a factory version of this try Buffalo Bore's Heavy +P 158g SWCHP-GC.

Dave

BigJimP · April 12, 2013, 03:51 PM

I have about a dozen .357 mag ( S&W revolvers ) and one single action ( Freedom Arms) in .357 mag....

I reload ...and I use a 158gr JSP Montana Gold bullet...in either .38 spl or .357 mag....

99% of the time, I shoot .357 Mag myself....in K, L , N frame S&W's or the Freedom Arms..../ I load them up toward upper end - but not at full power. Its the load I like to shoot.

I keep about 10 boxes of .38 spl around - mostly for the grandkids to shoot...

March 23, 2013, 02:59 PM	#53
Old Grump Member in memoriam Join Date: April 9, 2009 Location: Blue River Wisconsin, in Posts: 3,144	For 26 years I only shot magnums then after my 3rd trip to the gun doctor to make my gun right again he said sternly while looking down his nose at me, "You don't HAVE to shoot magnums in this gun you know. Well first year after that I switched to a 44 magnum but still shot my old Dan Wesson but I mixed in a box of 38's, following year half my shooting was with 38's in that gun and now it's about 6 boxes of 38's to every box of magnums. Maybe little more or little less but that's what my empty brass containers tell me. Never worry about the carbon ring because I developed the habit of soaking the cylinder in my cleaning oil solution for a day or three then chucking up a 38 caliber brush in my hand drill to clean the chambers of my cylinder. __________________ Good intentions will always be pleaded for any assumption of power. The Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern will, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters. --Daniel Webster--

March 23, 2013, 10:22 PM	#58
BiggDaddyBrown Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Location: God's Countery Kentucky Posts: 15	.357 Mag Dose any one have an accurate load Data for .357 mag using BlueDot powder loading HSM 158grn HPP bullet, I have 2LBS of BlueDot, and have loaded several loads and still have not found any accuracy at all in this powder, Its a shame that a company pro-moats this powder and it is a flop. What A Disappointment! It would be greatly appreciated if some one dose Thanks. P.S I could Just Make The 2LBS of powder a stump remover

March 23, 2013, 11:04 PM	#59
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 25,492	100%. I got tired of cleaning the rings out of the cylinders and stopped using .38 spl ammo. Gave all my .38spl ammo to relatives who had .38 revolvers or who didn't care about .357Mag performance. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

March 24, 2013, 12:07 AM	#60
bedbugbilly Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Posts: 3,290	I have three 357 revolvers - a Python, a Ruger LCR and a Riuger New Vaquero . . . all of them have a steady diet of 38 spl. I think I've bought one box of 357s . . . I just much prefer the 38 spl. cartridge -I love the NV but then I've mainly shot SA most of my life. I do have a Colt Army Special in 38 and a S & W M & P Target in 38 - nice vintage 38s that are a joy to shoot. Yea, yea . . . I know about the "little rings" . . . that's why I clean 'em when I'm done shooting. __________________ If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

April 12, 2013, 01:39 PM	#70
Dave T Senior Member Join Date: April 17, 2000 Location: Mesa, Arizona Posts: 1,458	Since I discovered the old 38/44 loadings of the 38 Special case, the grandfather of the 357 Magnum, I don't shoot Specials or Magnums in my revolvers so chambered. The 38/44 delivers 1100-1150 fps with a 158g bullet from 3" to 4" barrels and that's all I load and shoot. For a factory version of this try Buffalo Bore's Heavy +P 158g SWCHP-GC. Dave __________________ RSVN '69-'71 PCSD Ret

March 23, 2013, 12:31 PM	#51
Toney Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2005 Location: Stillwater Oklahoma Posts: 790	I shoot mostly mag through my cheap snub, mostly specials through my Smith m66

March 23, 2013, 02:20 PM	#52
socalboy Junior Member Join Date: November 1, 2012 Location: El Monte, CA. Posts: 12	A couple hundred rounds of 38 thru my sp101s left a carbon ring that wouldn't accept the slightly longer .357. So it'll be .357 from now on.

March 23, 2013, 03:33 PM	#54
hunter52 Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2011 Location: Colorado Posts: 101	I shoot 357 ammunition in my 357 handguns, with one exception, my S&W model 19-3 2 1/2 in prefers a Nosler 125 JHP over Bluedot at +P . One way to get rid of the carbon ring left by 38's in a 357 chamber that has worked for me is to flare a 357 case , through trial and error, just enough to scrape the sides of the chamber, then drill out the primer hole to fit on a brush handle and you have a easy to use carbon scraper.

March 23, 2013, 04:12 PM	#55
Jo6pak Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2010 Location: West Coast...of WI Posts: 1,663	Around 1/3 is .357mag. thru my GP100

March 23, 2013, 06:30 PM	#56
Nick_C_S Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2013 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,605	I have three 357's (and a .38 snubbie I almost never shoot). Two 686's, and one Python. I shoot the 4" 686 the most. I mostly shoot 38's because loading them is dirt cheap (comparatively) and they're plenty fun to shoot. The reason why I don't have a .38 to shoot 38 ammo is because they tend to be lighter and have a less balanced feel to me. In the 4" barrel, I find the recoil of full-power 357's to be a bit much after a few dozen rounds. I'm an old guy these days and get plenty of enjoyment out of shooting 38's. No longer do I need to throw a 4-foot flame every time I pull the trigger in order to extract enjoyment. I shoot what I want to shoot - I am not encumbered by expense. I'm just good with the lighter stuff these days. Don't get me wrong, I usually finish my day at the range with a couple cylinders of the hot stuff ;-) I load the full spectrum of ammo - from very tame wadcutters to top-of-the-scale magnum loads; and everything in between. All are fun in their own way. That's the beauty of .357's - the range of ammo is unmatched. And the loading process is easy, fun, and less persnickity than semi-auto stuff. If I could own only one gun (heaven forbid!), it would be a .357. Due to ammo versatility.

March 23, 2013, 07:03 PM	#57
old bear Senior Member Join Date: November 3, 2009 Location: Not close enough to the beach Posts: 1,477	I shoot a majority of hot 38 Special ammo in my S&W K frames, I just don't see any reason to beat the revolver or myself. I do load .357 Magnum ammo for self defense though. In my L and N frames all I shoot is .357 magnum ammo. I really enjoy the snap, and muzzle blast from a full house .357 Magnum round.

March 24, 2013, 03:09 AM	#61
Bill56 Member Join Date: February 15, 2013 Posts: 28	I probably shoot about 2/3 .38 spl. and 1/3 .357 mag in my 4" Model 28. I'm looking for a Model 10 or 15 right now so that ratio may change. The .38's are like powder-puffs in the N frame. For that matter, it eats up the .357 rounds too.

March 24, 2013, 10:46 AM	#63
Crankgrinder Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 917	At risk of this thread being moved from revolvers to the reloading forum;How much shooting does one have to do to get carbon rings from 38s that are so hard to get out? because i shoot on average 3 or 4 boxes (150-200 rds) and never have needed a drill or anything besides a bronze brush and a few patches and have yet to experience a problem shooting 357s immediately following the 38s. Could it perhaps be the powder? I use unique for 38s.

March 25, 2013, 10:41 PM	#64
Cosmodragoon Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2013 Location: Northeastern US Posts: 1,869	I've been wondering about the rings both in .357 and .327 magnum revolvers. In either, there may be times where someone wants to shoot .38 or .32. If they are anything like me, they don't go out to the range to shoot 6 rounds. I usually blast a few boxes. So, am I really going to crush performance or cause malfunctions by doing that? Will it really but so arduous to remove the rings?

March 26, 2013, 06:36 PM	#66
jackpine Senior Member Join Date: November 24, 2010 Posts: 351	I only shoot 357 length ammo in my 357's and just load to match the task be it target, IDPA, or hunting

March 27, 2013, 12:02 AM	#67
The_Shootist Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2004 Posts: 161	I'd shoot more if I could FIND some .357 ammo!

April 11, 2013, 08:56 PM	#68
bamacisa Member Join Date: February 13, 2008 Posts: 50	I reload and mostly shoot steel plates with my 357's. The range is not too keen on shooting the steel plates with 357 rounds, so I usually just shoot 38's. I am retired and I go to the range at least one time every week.

April 11, 2013, 10:25 PM	#69
vytoland Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 614	I only fire .357 magnum cartridges in my .357 magnum revolvers.

April 12, 2013, 03:51 PM	#71
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	I have about a dozen .357 mag ( S&W revolvers ) and one single action ( Freedom Arms) in .357 mag.... I reload ...and I use a 158gr JSP Montana Gold bullet...in either .38 spl or .357 mag.... 99% of the time, I shoot .357 Mag myself....in K, L , N frame S&W's or the Freedom Arms..../ I load them up toward upper end - but not at full power. Its the load I like to shoot. I keep about 10 boxes of .38 spl around - mostly for the grandkids to shoot...

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