.357 Magnum versus .38 Special loads

[ovenpaa]

Does anyone have a preference or view on shooting .38 Special versus .357 Magnum in a Gallery Rifle. We have a fair amount of brass for both and it is time to load some more and do I appreciate that the .38 Spec is a shorter case so it may leave a soot ring in the chamber however the rifle is cleaned so does it really matter, plus as we are mostly punching paper at 25m....

Also, any favourite loads for either? I have 158 grain cast and jacketed bullets and lots of N310 and Trailboss.

[1066]

Personally I always load .357 cases if the rifle/pistol is chambered for .357. If you have the cases why not? An extra 10th inch unnecessary leap into free air for the bullet may not actually harm accuracy but it can't really add to anything. If it's a lever action rifle it may cause feeding problems and a miss feed when you're racking hard may well break something expensive or difficult to replace.

Most published .357 loads seem to be aimed at pistols with six inch barrels where a fast powder is needed, but shooting pistol calibres in rifles I think you would be better off with a slower powder - It's a long time since I loaded much with V310 but I think it's about on par with Bullseye for speed. I've been using Unique in .357 with 158 cast bullets which shoots well on paper although it's a bit smoky.

[ukrifleman]

I would say if you have a .357 Lever action then stick to .357 brass for more reliable feeding.

My Rossi mod 92 worked well with 5.8gn of GM3/158gn cast bullet.

ukrifleman.

[Airbrush]

I only shoot .38sp in my 1894 using 3.2 g of Bullseye or Lovex D032, never had problems feeding or malfunctions of any kind.

[dodgyrog]

I only shoot .38sp in my 1894 using 3.2 g of Bullseye or Lovex D032, never had problems feeding or malfunctions of any kind.

Me too, doing well with a semi wadcutter and 3.2gr Zero. 38spl cases are cheap and work well in a Marlin.
They won't feed in a Winchester and will jam the gun!

[PaulR]

Does anyone have a preference or view on shooting .38 Special versus .357 Magnum in a Gallery Rifle.

Definitely .357 cases in a rifle chambered for that case. The soot ring you mentioned can also include shaved lead if you use .38 cases caused by the bullet jump before it engages with the rifling.

You mentioned FMJ, I'm sure that you already know this but in case not, U/L Rifles have to have a flat tip bullet.

[Alpha1]

Iv never shot anything but 38 special in my Winchester and it works flawlessly. 158 grain cast semi wad cutters no gas check 3.6 grains of N310 works for me.

[dodgyrog]

Does anyone have a preference or view on shooting .38 Special versus .357 Magnum in a Gallery Rifle.

Definitely .357 cases in a rifle chambered for that case. The soot ring you mentioned can also include shaved lead if you use .38 cases caused by the bullet jump before it engages with the rifling.

You mentioned FMJ, I'm sure that you already know this but in case not, U/L Rifles have to have a flat tip bullet.

No soot or shaved lead in my set up!

[1066]

I quite agree that you can shoot .38 spec in a .357 but why would you choose to? I know guys who didn't reload, used to shoot .38 spec 148gn wadcutters in .357 revolvers because there was no factory .357 low target loads, but if you're loading your own, why not load .357 cases to the same spec.

If you carried a .38 spec revolver and a .357 rifle you could just carry .38 rounds, it would work ok. If you only had access to .38 cases or .357 cases were very rare or expensive you could make a case for it - but what are the advantages?

I can't see any possible real advantage and several possible disadvantages. You need no more investment in reloading gear, the cases are widely available and cheap, they last for many, many reloads, the primers, powder, bullets cost the same, potentially more accurate, avoids lead/carbon build up at the end of the chamber. Stack of reloading information available etc.

[Whizzbang]

.357mag would be my choice for the reasons already stated.

180gr FN truncated cone have been more accurate than 148gr and 158gr options in my Marlin. Pushed along by 5.0gr VV-N340 or 3.6gr Bullseye. GM3 also a cheap option.