reloading .38 spl for .357 mag questions

homersimpson · September 11th, 2006, 03:30 AM

I wasn't sure if this belonged Defensive Ammunition & Ballistics or not. Admin feel free to move it.
I have a sp101 in .357 mag. I would like to buy .38 spl factory ammo, shoot it, and reload it to .38 spl specs. Are there any down sides to doing this? Will .38 spl eventually cut a ring in each cylinder the way a .22 short would (over time) in a SP101 chambered for .22 lr? Any other helpful comments/favorite loads would be appreciated.

P95Carry · September 11th, 2006, 08:50 AM

If cleaning is adequate then you should have no problem.

It is less a ''cutting'' problem than carbon ring build up - which eventually could prejudice insertion of that extra 1/10" case of the 357.

From my experience - we are talking quite high 38 thruput before build up becomes a major problem. If you go lead bullet then be prepared to delead a bit in the chamber throats after use.

I'll put this over in the ammo forum.

homersimpson · September 13th, 2006, 03:18 AM

thanks P95! Just trying to sqeeze out some savings given the ammo prices.

rocky · September 13th, 2006, 06:58 AM

You could always light load .357 mag casings too.

farronwolf · September 13th, 2006, 09:52 AM

Personally, I only load .357 ammo. I just load them light for target, plinking etc.

The brass is actually cheaper to buy .357 than 38 spl., and the lead is the same piece of lead for both rounds, so no cost difference there.

What it does save you is having to adjust your dies every time you switch between 38spl and .357, and having to remeasure your OAL, etc.

The only changes are grains of powder, and maybe primers if you don't want to use spmagnum primers for you light loads.

I would recommend labeling the boxes though. It is a great suprise to go from a target load of 900 to 1000 fps and then accidentally grabbing a box that is moving at 1400 fps that you loaded for hunting.

Either way, it is much cheaper, and more fun to load your own, good luck.

September 11th, 2006, 03:30 AM	#1
homersimpson Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: US Posts: 91	reloading .38 spl for .357 mag questions I wasn't sure if this belonged Defensive Ammunition & Ballistics or not. Admin feel free to move it. I have a sp101 in .357 mag. I would like to buy .38 spl factory ammo, shoot it, and reload it to .38 spl specs. Are there any down sides to doing this? Will .38 spl eventually cut a ring in each cylinder the way a .22 short would (over time) in a SP101 chambered for .22 lr? Any other helpful comments/favorite loads would be appreciated. __________________ Two of my favorite responses: "What is it about gun control laws that makes you feel safe?" "For the same reason I always wear my seatbelt."

September 11th, 2006, 08:50 AM	#2
P95Carry Assistant Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: South West PA Posts: 25,339	If cleaning is adequate then you should have no problem. It is less a ''cutting'' problem than carbon ring build up - which eventually could prejudice insertion of that extra 1/10" case of the 357. From my experience - we are talking quite high 38 thruput before build up becomes a major problem. If you go lead bullet then be prepared to delead a bit in the chamber throats after use. I'll put this over in the ammo forum. __________________ Chris - P95 NRA Certified Instructor & NRA Life Member. "To own a gun and assume that you are armed is like owning a piano and assuming that you are a musician!." If a BG dies as the result of pointing a gun at me, then he has merely succumbed to an occupational hazard of being a thug

September 13th, 2006, 03:18 AM	#3
homersimpson Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: US Posts: 91	thanks P95! Just trying to sqeeze out some savings given the ammo prices. __________________ Two of my favorite responses: "What is it about gun control laws that makes you feel safe?" "For the same reason I always wear my seatbelt."

September 13th, 2006, 06:58 AM	#4
rocky Senior Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: MI Posts: 11,090	You could always light load .357 mag casings too. __________________ "In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." Thomas Jefferson Nemo Me Impune Lacesset Link to my kydex builds:http://rocknloadkydex.blogspot.com/

September 13th, 2006, 09:52 AM	#5
farronwolf Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 1,056	Personally, I only load .357 ammo. I just load them light for target, plinking etc. The brass is actually cheaper to buy .357 than 38 spl., and the lead is the same piece of lead for both rounds, so no cost difference there. What it does save you is having to adjust your dies every time you switch between 38spl and .357, and having to remeasure your OAL, etc. The only changes are grains of powder, and maybe primers if you don't want to use spmagnum primers for you light loads. I would recommend labeling the boxes though. It is a great suprise to go from a target load of 900 to 1000 fps and then accidentally grabbing a box that is moving at 1400 fps that you loaded for hunting. Either way, it is much cheaper, and more fun to load your own, good luck. __________________ Just remember that shot placement is much more important with what you carry than how big a bang you get with each trigger pull.

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