WestKentucky
Member
I reload. I enjoy tinkering. I know what SHOULD be done (thanks to all of the enablers here) but I just want to know…
The Smith & Wesson K frame for a short time housed a 357 magnum factory cylinder. Essentially a model 10 deep chambered to accept 357 cartridges. That proved to be too much for the gun to handle, but the engineers clearly thought it would work out or they would not have ever given the project the green-light. So clearly, the K frame can take more than 38spl… but how much more? How hot can a 38 go without quickly shooting the gun loose or out of time?
I also know it’s a pretty simple process to convert a 38 cylinder to 357. I don’t really want to do that, but I have considered it and would just make a point to not go nuclear. But still, how hot is too hot? Seems the larger case capacity of 357 opens up some options, but it opens up some risk as well, both in conversion and in use after conversion. For doing the same thing, same bullet at same velocity, the greater capacity of the 357 should mean lower chamber pressure… slightly.
This is just an excercise of the mind at this point. I don’t want to buy another gun just yet. I know what I want and I am willing to save and spend for it. BUT I wouldn’t mind having a 357 lite either. Do I need the power, no not really, and if I do I have a 10mm 1911 to get done whatever needs done.
I don’t recommend people going over book max loads, or doing anything unsafe. Pure academics here…
The Smith & Wesson K frame for a short time housed a 357 magnum factory cylinder. Essentially a model 10 deep chambered to accept 357 cartridges. That proved to be too much for the gun to handle, but the engineers clearly thought it would work out or they would not have ever given the project the green-light. So clearly, the K frame can take more than 38spl… but how much more? How hot can a 38 go without quickly shooting the gun loose or out of time?
I also know it’s a pretty simple process to convert a 38 cylinder to 357. I don’t really want to do that, but I have considered it and would just make a point to not go nuclear. But still, how hot is too hot? Seems the larger case capacity of 357 opens up some options, but it opens up some risk as well, both in conversion and in use after conversion. For doing the same thing, same bullet at same velocity, the greater capacity of the 357 should mean lower chamber pressure… slightly.
This is just an excercise of the mind at this point. I don’t want to buy another gun just yet. I know what I want and I am willing to save and spend for it. BUT I wouldn’t mind having a 357 lite either. Do I need the power, no not really, and if I do I have a 10mm 1911 to get done whatever needs done.
I don’t recommend people going over book max loads, or doing anything unsafe. Pure academics here…