38 Special Less Accurate in 357 Magnum Chambers?

Lots of threads on this very topic. Not trying to be snarky, but you'd likely get more info by using the search function.

(bottom line: no, it's not generally a universal thing)
 
All else being equal (OAL, bullet, powder, primer) it makes no difference in velocity or accuracy regarding cases.

If you are comparing 38 OAL to 357 OAL, or some other non-same parameter, then ask that question instead.
 
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DMW1116 said:
It seems so in my gun, a 357 Mag Blackhawk. Is that a universal thing or just me?
Click to expand...
I surely don't believe it's a "universal thing" because I have 357s that shoot 38 Specials very well. However, I don't know whether or not "it's just" you either.
I do have a couple of questions though: first off, are you talking factory ammo or handloads, and second, if you're talking factory ammo, are you sure the 38 Special ammo has the same bullets, loaded to the same specs (nearly identical powder charges and velocities) as the 357s? Both of those things can make a difference - sometimes a huge difference in accuracy.
Personally, I quit using 38 Special cases in my 357s long ago. Although, most of my 357 loads are more like 38 Special, or 38 Special +P in 357 cases. I don't do that so that I can shoot smaller groups though. To shoot smaller groups with a specific bullet, I adjust powder charges and types of powder, seating depths and crimps, and I might even experiment with different primers. And if I run across bullets that just won't shoot very well (accuracy wise) in one of my 357s no matter what I try, I just designate those bullets to plinking/practice loads. It happens. ;)
 
I’m comparing 38 and 357 cases loaded with HBWC and W231 and CFE Pistol powders over a range of charges from Hornady and Hodgden. CFE Pistol and W231 were tied in 357 cases and both outshot the whole range of charges from 38 cases with W231.
 
Anticipating recoil from the 38 loads? Those are where accuracy was behind.

Shots were fired from a rest on a bench at 25 yards.
 
In my S&W model 19 I think my .38 hand loads group better than my .357 Magnum loads.
In my S&W 327 NG grouping is about equal.
Now in my Ruger GP100 the .357 Magnums group better.
 
Sounds like I have what I have and that’s all I can say. I do plan to get rid of most of my 38 brass. I’ll keep a box or two for research purposes.
 
In better than a half dozen .357's I've had over the years, I can't remember even one that was more accurate with .357 high or target level velocity ammunition. My best loads for accuracy, universally, over the last 40+ years have been with 3.0 to 3.5 grains of Bullseye in .38 Spl. brass, behind any good lead wadcutter. I've personally cast literally tens of thousands of Lyman's BBWC #358091 and it's been hands down the best bullet with the shorter .38 brass, in any .38 Spl or .357 chambered revolver of S&W or Ruger make that I've tried. Too, 0.358" has been universally, the best dia. for sizing.

While using the longer .357 brass makes the clean up after a long afternoon's range session easier, using it, I've never found a load that'll compare with those put up in .38 Spl. brass and brothers....I've tried! The aforementioned Lyman WC, when seated to the crimping groove, allows about 1/8" of full dia. lead to extend beyond the case mouth & should result in better line up with the cylinder throats. less jump donchano. That should, theoretically, result in better accuracy...but it's not worked out that way in my experience.

Another conundrum about accuracy differences, in my experience is that the best .38 Spl. loads are more accurate than any .357 load, target level or full house. I've attributed this to the increased recoil and muzzle blast inherent with the magnum. Those heavy recoiling .357's just make keeping grip continuity from shot to shot much more difficult, than that encountered with the milder .38 Spl...and a uniform grip, shot to shot, is a big part of accuracy, whether off the bags or free hand from a field position. Add to that, the problem of that almost indetectable minute flinch that's tough to eliminate from really stiff loads. It all add's up to better accuracy with .38 Spl. loads over any .357 ammunition.

HTH's Rod
 
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I can't tell the difference in accuracy between shooting 38 Special or 357 Magnum in a 357 Magnum revolver.

I'm sure top bullseyes shooters can.

Even so, I have a number of 38 Special revolvers so I save those cases for those guns. My light 357 Magnum loads are loaded in 357 magnum cases for 357 Magnum revolvers.

Long term, it probably does not make s differesnce for an average shooter.

But, it is a good practice to clean/scour your 357 Magnum chambers after shooting a bunch of 38 Special ammunition. While rare, one can have chambering problems of 357 magnum ammunition in a fouled chambered.
 
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Rodfac said:
In better than a half dozen .357's I've had over the years, I can't remember even one that was more accurate with .357 high or target level velocity ammunition. My best loads for accuracy, universally, over the last 40+ years have been with 3.0 to 3.5 grains of Bullseye in .38 Spl. brass, behind any good lead wadcutter. I've personally cast literally tens of thousands of Lyman's BBWC #358091 and it's been hands down the best bullet with the shorter .38 brass, in any .38 Spl or .357 chambered revolver of S&W or Ruger make that I've tried. Too, 0.358" has been universally, the best dia. for sizing.

While using the longer .357 brass makes the clean up after a long afternoon's range session easier, using it, I've never found a load that'll compare with those put up in .38 Spl. brass and brothers....I've tried! The aforementioned Lyman WC, when seated to the crimping groove, allows about 1/8" of full dia. lead to extend beyond the case mouth & should result in better line up with the cylinder throats. less jump donchano. That should, theoretically, result in better accuracy...but it's not worked out that way in my experience.

Another conundrum about accuracy differences, in my experience is that the best .38 Spl. loads are more accurate than any .357 load, target level or full house. I've attributed this to the increased recoil and muzzle blast inherent with the magnum. Those heavy recoiling .357's just make keeping grip continuity from shot to shot much more difficult, than that encountered with the milder .38 Spl...and a uniform grip, shot to shot, is a big part of accuracy, whether off the bags or free hand from a field position. Add to that, the problem of that almost indetectable minute flinch that's tough to eliminate from really stiff loads. It all add's up to better accuracy with .38 Spl. loads over any .357 ammunition.

HTH's Rod
Click to expand...
This is a very good post^^^. Thanks for the input Rodfac.
 
Some of the best loads I've tried in any handgun have been heavy charges of 2400 with 158 grain bullets, both cast and XTP. Granted I have not put as much effort into exploring 38 Special loads. When I got this revolver I had a flare up of magnumitis. It has since calmed down and I'm shooting more reasonable loads. That said with both MBC 158 Grain SWC and Hornady 158 Grain XTP projectiles, the more 2400 I put in the case, the better the test groups became, until I decided I had enough in terms of recoil or didn't want to push my luck near published maximum charges. With the two loads I tried in 38 Special from the same gun, I was never able to approach the accuracy I got from those full magnum loads. I tried HBWC and 125 grain Gallant RNFP bullets with W231 and Silhouette respectively and neither could keep up with the same bullets loaded in 357 Magnum cases in terms of accuracy. I do need to confirm my MBC load, as I only have test groups to go by.
 
DMW1116 said:
I’m comparing 38 and 357 cases loaded with HBWC and W231 and CFE Pistol powders over a range of charges from Hornady and Hodgden. CFE Pistol and W231 were tied in 357 cases and both outshot the whole range of charges from 38 cases with W231.
Click to expand...
I have shot thousands of 148 gr Dbl. Ended WC in 38sp cases at low end 357 load data.
I seated the bullets long and crimped them it a lube groove that approximated the case capacity of a 357.
When shot out of a 357 Ruger Blackhawk, the bullets entered the chamber throat.
The OAL was such that the bullet would stick out of the chamber of a 38sp revolver, and the cylinder would not turn, somewhat of a safety facter.
Here's a picture of something similar, not mine, so I apologize to whoever's pic it is:
WCSeatedOut.jpg
Probably the most accurate bullets/reloads I ever shot out of that Blackhawk.
so, there's that,
.
 
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FWIW - the loads I use for my .38 Specials and .357s is a near max load (0.5 gr less) with a 158 gr bullet in the appropriate cases. The .38 is an SP-101 2.5" (?) and the .357 is a 4" GP-100. The few times I have shot the .38s out of the GP there hasn't been enough difference to say whether it was the ammo - or me. ;)
 
Different loads for different guns!
I have found that some guns like hot loads while others mild. Some like heavy bullets others light.

Have some fun and test lots of different loads. 357 & 38 👍
 
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