.38 Spl loads in .357 brass?

[The Bushmaster]

Oh Dam*!! I just can't leave it alone. The ring seen in the chamber of a .357 magnum, or any other revolver, is caused by the crimp slamming against the chamber wall. If you use .38 special cases in a .357 magnum and shoot enough of them you will eventually have a ring deep enough to jam a .357 magnum case as it expands into the ring.

There. I'm happy now...

 

[Hobie]

How many rounds before I see this Bushmaster? 50,000+? Maybe I should start to be worried...

 

[The Bushmaster]

I don't know how many it will take you Hobie, but I took around 5,000 rounds of .357 magnum in my Colt SAA to realize that I didn't want to use .38 specials in it. My crimp wear ring is very evident. I have no idea how many rounds that I have put through it sense I noticed this, but it's many. The Colt is around 40 years old and still going. But, you just go right ahead.

If you want to shoot .38 specials...Buy a .38 special....I have three .357 magnums and three .38 specials. Works for me. 'course what do I know...

 

[Sleeping Dog]

6.0 grains of unique, 5.0 grains of titegroup, 4.8 grains of 231, all behind a 158 LSWC are my favorite

I got to the range today, tried the 6.0g of unique with 158 lead round-nose. It was pretty accurate, like the store-bought stuff it grouped better than my 1911. No chrony, but it seemed a little hotter than the store-bought 38spl (winchester white box fmj fn).

The Unique powder was from a few cans I "inherited" that may be pretty old. It was packaged under the "Hercules" brand, not Alliant. Maybe there were some corporate mergers etc over the years? Anyway, the powder shot nice and seemed to meter accurately.

I'll try the 231 next, since I have some of that handy. It's newer powder, too, that I bought from a store, not "inherited" from who-knows-where.

Regards.