question on .357magnum rifle/pistol rounds

[brentn]

I'm looking at a taurus model 66, I want a revolver thats inexpensive to shoot and doesnt break the bank. they're coming in at about 500$ up here in canadaland and are rated for

.357 magnum
.38 special
.38 special +P

I'm choosing this model because of the price of the gun, looks and the availability of .38 special and the price of that ammunition.

Looking on winchester's site for ammunition its pretty clear that there are .357 magnum rifle rounds, and pistol, because when you look at both they have different velocities.

Are the velocities different because they are using a different length of barrel for each comparison? or is it because the rounds themselves are different?

If the rounds themselves are different and the rifle rounds are more powerful, is it wise to use them in a revolver, specifically this one?

This is a newer area for me, so forgive me if it seems like a stupid question.

 

[cottonmouth]

Generaly, .357 rifle and revolver rounds are loaded the same. The diffrence is in the barrel length, a rifle has more barrel that allows for more velosity to be generated.

J.B.

 

[rxraptor02]

Like CM said. The 357's for rifle are the same for revolvers. It is the barrel lenght that gives the difference in volicity.

I have a smith and wesson model 66 with a 4 inch barrel chambered in 357's. with cheap 38 spl ammo it is a very fun range gun. Looking at the T66 it seems to be about the same size so you should enjoy it.

 

[brentn]

lmao, thats what I initially thought when I made this post after thinking about it for a while. I was told by a friend who is huge on firearms, and who has been reloading for quite a while that they are different cartridges. I think I misunderstood him and he was meaning that rifle rounds have a greater velocity because of the difference in barrel lengths.

eh, thanks for clearing that up.

Any comments on the taurus model 66?

 

[Ben Shepherd]

The quick 'n dirty on this issue:

1. The rifle has no cylinder gap to bleed pressure out from behind the bullet.

2. With pistol rounds an inch of barrel means roughly 50 fps. So a 20 inch barrel with no cylinder gap will shoot A LOT faster than a 6 inch revolver.

Proven over many chronos, many times. Make sense?

 

[brentn]

yea I completley understand what you're saying ben, and I already knew that
I had however thought that you could buy .357 mag rifle rounds that were loaded with more powder made only for rifle. thats what I was confused about.

I wonder how much loss in FPS is attained when using a revolver in 9mm with moon clips and a 5" barrel versus a semi auto with a 5" barrel...

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

Any comments on the taurus model 66?

My first firearm, lo these many years past, was a Taurus 66 (4" blued), and I have never regretted it.

 

[Seafarer12]

If you reload you can use uber slow powders to take advantage of the barrel length of a rifle but factory loaded stuff is all the same barrel length and no gap are the reason for much higher velocities. Taurus makes a decent Smith copy. I owned one it was ok fit and finish were lacking but it functioned fine. Personally I would look for a used Smith. You can find model 19's resonably priced. Resale on Taurus' isn't very good. Personally my favorite pistol is my old model Blackhawk but thats a single action pistol.

 

[Starter52]

For $500 I would rather own an older S&W Model 28 than a new Taurus 66.

Used M28s are selling for about $400-$450 down here. They are very tough revolvers and are a good investment for the future.

That said, the Taurus model 66 is a solid gun that will serve you well.

 

[rcmodel]

I wonder how much loss in FPS is attained when using a revolver in 9mm with moon clips and a 5" barrel versus a semi auto with a 5" barrel...

None.

Tests I have seen in guns of equal barrel length show velocity loss in revolvers is almost non-existant. Sometimes the revolver is slightly faster!

In a 4" auto, the chamber is part of the 4 inch barrel.

In a revolver, the barrel is 4 inches, but the chambers are in the cylinder.

That extra bore length makes up the loss from the barrel / cylinder gap.

rcmodel

 

[Lazuris]

FYI for $500 bucks you can get a Ruger GP100 and never have to worry about breaking it. Its one of the best revolvers ever built, tough as nails and can handle any hot hand loads you can throw at it.

 

[RNB65]

Look for a good used S&W or Ruger instead of a Taurus.
-

 

[dsdanger]

Used Ruger

A good-condition used Ruger (such as the service six) should be easy to find and will save you a ton of money.

My question, since I'm ignorant about Canadian gun issues: how do you legally own/purchase a revolver in Canada, and is it more difficult to find/purchase handgun ammo (such as your .357 mag) up there? What if someone visiting from the States wants to buy handgun ammo up there to use in a lever .357 rifle? Would he have any problems?

 

[brentn]

Handgun ammo is available, all the popular rimless calibers are widely available. Sometimes, just like you guys, we see ammo shortages but its not hard to find.
Most stores carry more of the hunting cartridges, more for rifle than anything. Unless you goto a store that specializes in handguns or sells lots of them with hunting rifles you won't find much handgun ammunition.

Since .357 magnum and .44 mag are used in lots of lever rifles, I've found it in almost any store that sells rifles. Its a popular chambering.
To buy ammunition you MUST show them your firearms licence, if your from the states I have no idea how this works, you may be able to get some kind of paperwork that works like a licence in which you can buy ammunition.

If you bring your own reloading equipment you can buy all the components without a licence however.

I've also heard quite a bit on the S&W and how its better.. Its hard to find used guns up here... Because of the registry and because of the impending doom that most canadians feel is going to happen with firearms in the near future, not many people sell. Certainly not nearly as many people sell as they used to back before 01..

 

[welldoya]

Where are y'all finding this cheap .38/.357 ammo ?
The 100 round WWB of .38 FMJ that I was paying $22 for is now $29.99.
If you want to shoot cheap, get a .22.

 

[dsdanger]

Impending Doom

Brentn: Will you explain this "impending doom most Canadians feel is going to happen with firearms in the near future"?

 

[brentn]

Well its not super cheap, its about the same price as .223 wich is pretty cheap up here. Good enough for me. Yea your right .22LR is much less, way way less, but I want a revolver that has the option to do a higher powered cartridge.

I may be overexaggerating when I say "impending doom" but its the general belief with the way society is heading in the gun culture that they will be all taken away one day, or at least our aquisition abilities will be gone and only posession will be allowed. Thats what they did before with the FAL, AK47, Thompson, etc in 2001. You can never buy them again, but if you had one before the registry you are allowed possession.

crappy.

 

[dsdanger]

Thanks for the clarification. It's always interesting to learn about the gun cultures of different communities.