357 Mag

[jon308]

Hey All, new to 357M, Can you load 38 spl velocities in a Magnum case, If not and I have to load 2 different cases the what do I use for dies 38/357 or if I can reduce Mag cases to 38 velocities should I then buy 357 dies
Is unique a good powder for 357 trying to make powder do double duty 357 and 40

 

[Lapua40X]

http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=357%20Magnum&Weight=All&type=Handgun

 

[Witchhunter]

You can use 38 dies to load 357 but not the other way around....357 dies are too long to use for 38. Most of us use 357 for hot loads and 38 for plinkers. easy to tell them apart, no wear and tear on your magnum brass. 38 brass is everywhere. A good roll crimp and you are in like Flynn.

 

[357Mag]

Jon -

Howdy !

THought you were writing ME, for a minute there !

Most die makers have their dies set-up so that you can do both .38Spl and .357Mag... using the same die set.

I know that Skeeter Skelton figured prominently, in this whole " Magnum loads " in .38Spl brass thang'.

IMHO -
The the use of very stiff loads in .38Spl brass is a throw-back to the days when the S & W ".38-44 Outdoorsman" revolvers were more common.
When the no-kiddin' .357Mag "N"-frames showed up, the practice began to wain.

I've shot a whole bunch of .357Mag ( and some 'Spls, too ). I myself have not felt compelled to shoot " Skelton-type " Spl's in my .357Mag
" N-frames ". Even after reading Skeeter's commentary on the practice, I myself don't see any pressing need.
Speaking for myself... even were I to have a zillion .38Spl cases, I'd still be using dedicated .357Mag brass in my .357Mag revolvers.
Now... if one absolutely/positively can NOT get any " Mag " brass, well......

As regards " Unique "-
I'm not a big fan of this powder in the .357Mag. I much prefer IMR4756, which can be impressed into dual-role' service.


For a real fer sher .357Mag load, my all-time favorite is: 14.5Gr WW296 ( H110 same stuff ) and SP Mag primer, under any Lyman lead SWC
of 158 -172 gr. These don't have to be " gas checked ". This was also a great load in my M1894SC.
Other's 158 SWC designs also work quite well w/ this powder/charge.


For a more ecomonomy ( .357Mag ) load, try 7.0gr IMR 4756 and SP primer, under the same lead SWC's; as above. This load is a tad more
sooty, but shoots superbly ( my loads, my guns ).


With regards,
357Mag

 

[bheadboy]

a big problem using 38sp brass in 357 pistol

the shorter case causes the bullet to have to jump to the throat of the cylinder thus there is a possible pressure drop and second there is the problem of bullet not being held as completely by the case so it may enter the throat minutely off, a lead or brass build up results and the pressure when you shoot 357 as the case then encounters the build up.

always use 357 brass for 357 chambers, if you load reduced loads ( easily done) for simulation of 38 recoil, etc. then just do one of two things, use different make of brass, different bullets, or even cast for one of the two.

you can also use a "sharpe" to mark the base of the case to indicate 38. I don't own a 38 but load a ton of 2.8 bull with wadcutters to simulate 38 and 2.7gr and shoot them in my 357m pistols.

Bob

 

[CatShooter]

Hey All, new to 357M, Can you load 38 spl velocities in a Magnum case, If not and I have to load 2 different cases the what do I use for dies 38/357 or if I can reduce Mag cases to 38 velocities should I then buy 357 dies
Is unique a good powder for 357 trying to make powder do double duty 357 and 40

You can load light 38 loads in 357 cases with no problems... in fact it is better to shoot the full length cases than to mix case lengths in the same gun.

There are no 357 dies - all of the dies made are both 38 AND 357 so you do not have to make a choice between one set of dies or the other.

Do yourself a BIG favor and get a carbide die set.

 

[bigedp51]

a big problem using 38sp brass in 357 pistol

the shorter case causes the bullet to have to jump to the throat of the cylinder thus there is a possible pressure drop and second there is the problem of bullet not being held as completely by the case so it may enter the throat minutely off, a lead or brass build up results and the pressure when you shoot 357 as the case then encounters the build up.
Bob

Skeeter Skelton didn't have a problem using .38 cases in his .357, he simply seated his cast bullets to .357 length and crimped lower on the bullet. He did this because he got his empty .38 case for free. And I never met anyone who likes scrubbing the .38 ring in their .357 cylinders.

To the OP, yes you can shoot reduced loads in .357 cases, a good example is in the Speer #14 manual and their short barrel loading data and for the LSWC loading data.

 

[CatShooter]

a big problem using 38sp brass in 357 pistol

the shorter case causes the bullet to have to jump to the throat of the cylinder thus there is a possible pressure drop and second there is the problem of bullet not being held as completely by the case so it may enter the throat minutely off, a lead or brass build up results and the pressure when you shoot 357 as the case then encounters the build up.
Bob

Skeeter Skelton didn't have a problem using .38 cases in his .357, he simply seated his cast bullets to .357 length and crimped lower on the bullet. He did this because he got his empty .38 case for free. And I never met anyone who likes scrubbing the .38 ring in their .357 cylinders.

To the OP, yes you can shoot reduced loads in .357 cases, a good example is in the Speer #14 manual and their short barrel loading data and for the LSWC loading data.

Skeeter Skelton? SKEETER SKELTON???

Jeeze, you must be almost as old as me

... and my 22 yo son says "... an' that's reeeal ooold!"

 

[bheadboy]

Catshooter,

you are just a kid, try 1934 for a start.

Bob

 

[bigedp51]

Skeeter Skelton? SKEETER SKELTON???

Jeeze, you must be almost as old as me

... and my 22 yo son says "... an' that's reeeal ooold!"

And where were you when Jack O'Connor said the .270 Winchester was the worlds best non-belted magnum?

I think I can say that without breaking any copyright laws. :

And my youngest son is 33 and talked me into "updating" my firearms and now I have firearms that throws perfectly good brass away. Does your son yell at you if you take too long looking for that last lost case hiding in the grass? :'( :'(

 

[bigedp51]

Catshooter,

you are just a kid, try 1934 for a start.

Bob

Now we know what happened to Amelia Earhart, you gave her directions on her last flight.

 

[bheadboy]

my 55 year od son can beat up your 22 year old son.

my 23 year old grand son --- hummmm even worse

Amelia just would not listen!

Bob

 

[bheadboy]

uh oh!

Bob

 

[jon308]

I don't care who beats who up I just want to know about reducing 357 loads to slow them down a little you guys are showing your age did you forget the question already.

 

[CatShooter]

I don't care who beats who up I just want to know about reducing 357 loads to slow them down a little you guys are showing your age did you forget the question already.

What question... there was a question???

 

[bheadboy]

you yougsters need to learn to read --half way down on this post I gave suggestions of

2.8 bull and wadcutters in 357 brass to have light loads,
mind your manners
Bob

 

[K22]

a big problem using 38sp brass in 357 pistol

the shorter case causes the bullet to have to jump to the throat of the cylinder thus there is a possible pressure drop and second there is the problem of bullet not being held as completely by the case so it may enter the throat minutely off, a lead or brass build up results and the pressure when you shoot 357 as the case then encounters the build up.

always use 357 brass for 357 chambers, if you load reduced loads ( easily done) for simulation of 38 recoil, etc. then just do one of two things, use different make of brass, different bullets, or even cast for one of the two.

you can also use a "sharpe" to mark the base of the case to indicate 38. I don't own a 38 but load a ton of 2.8 bull with wadcutters to simulate 38 and 2.7gr and shoot them in my 357m pistols.

Bob

I've been shooting 357 magnum and 38 special revolvers since the late 60's had have literally shot and reloaded thousands of rounds for each and I have never encountered any difficulty at all in shooting 38 special reloads (38 cases) out a 357 magnum revolvers i.e. S&W Model 19's, Model 27's, Models 586, 686's.

I've shot all manner of bullets, hollow base swaged wadcutters, cast bullets, jacketed bullets and I never encountered the problems stated above.

This has never been a "big problem" for me either in terms of accuracy or performance.

 

[bheadboy]

pronuc what,, sentences who knows that stuff, on the dirt floor school, we just looked at the black board.

say it again?

Bob

 

[chuckbuster243]

a big problem using 38sp brass in 357 pistol

the shorter case causes the bullet to have to jump to the throat of the cylinder thus there is a possible pressure drop and second there is the problem of bullet not being held as completely by the case so it may enter the throat minutely off, a lead or brass build up results and the pressure when you shoot 357 as the case then encounters the build up.

always use 357 brass for 357 chambers, if you load reduced loads ( easily done) for simulation of 38 recoil, etc. then just do one of two things, use different make of brass, different bullets, or even cast for one of the two.

you can also use a "sharpe" to mark the base of the case to indicate 38. I don't own a 38 but load a ton of 2.8 bull with wadcutters to simulate 38 and 2.7gr and shoot them in my 357m pistols.

Bob

I've been shooting 357 magnum and 38 special revolvers since the late 60's had have literally shot and reloaded thousands of rounds for each and I have never encountered any difficulty at all in shooting 38 special reloads (38 cases) out a 357 magnum revolvers i.e. S&W Model 19's, Model 27's, Models 586, 686's.

I've shot all manner of bullets, hollow base swaged wadcutters, cast bullets, jacketed bullets and I never encountered the problems stated above.

This has never been a "big problem" for me either in terms of accuracy or performance.

+1

I shoot uspsa and ppc with my 357 and never shoot 357 cases except when I am hunting with it. I own a brush and don't care about a little buildup. Comes out easy when its warm. I load bunny fart loads in 38 and mags in the mags. Go to hodgedon website find the components you have and load away. Nothing tough about loading this caliber. Matt

 

[bheadboy]

" I own a brush and don't care about a little buildup. Comes out easy"

that is what I was talking about, you check some may not know to check and clear, thus a problem

Bob