Why do guys buy a 357 mag, and shoot only 38 caliber in it

george burns said:

This always made me say huh? I understand if someone wants the option of either round, that makes sense, but lately I see many guys spending 1000 dollars on a magnum and saying they only intend to shoot 38 or 38+p in it. Do some feel that the Magnum is just worth double the amount because it's a heavier gauge or steel instead of aluminum,heat treated, or something else.
If one is only going to shoot 38 caliber ammo then why not just buy a 38? I don't care how a man spends his money but this is more about intent than money, do some feel the 38 calber pistols are just not up to par? Hell I shot a 36 for 20 years and it functioned just fine with 38's in it. I know when I bought a 357 it was to shoot 357 's through it, maybe seldom, but seldom works for me. Having the capability is one thing, not intending to take advantage of it is another.Maybe I missed something here feel free.

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I do it to have the option, with larger frame revolvers. With J-frames, I picked a 640 because I liked it best, and it just happened to take .357. I don't intend to ever shoot magnums out of it; there's just no need.

Why do people buy +P rated guns and only shoot standard pressure loads? It doesn't matter, it ain't my business.

So now that we've established .38 SPL is good shooting from the .357's... Been looking at SGA and some my preferred choices have not been in stock for a bit. Have the ammo hunters switched to buying .38SPL now? Hahaha... )

Until you buy and shoot a S&W L frame or larger, .357 is not much fun to shoot. Once you shoot a firearm truly designed to handle the magnum load. Then you shoot the magnum load all the time.
K frames handle the magnums, but L and N frames own them.

I shoot both out of my Colt. I hand load both as well. If I want to just plink, I load up some light 38 wadcutters. If I want to hunt or really light it up at the range, I have a few 357 loads that get that done as well. I like the versatility of being able to shoot either. Also, the 38's do not put as much wear and tear on the gun and since it was my dad's, I really don't want to punish it - I want it to last so I can pass it on to my kids.

I don't shoot magnums with my GP100 because the guys at the indoor range I frequent asked me not to.
I think I need to take the Ruger and a box of .357s to the new (indoor) range down south and see what the RO down there says about them.
And see if the arthritis in my fingers will still allow me to shoot them.

bumbazine said:

And see if the arthritis in my fingers will still allow me to shoot them.

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I think it probably will. It might scold you for days afterwards (like the arthritis in my wrist does me) but I think it will allow you to shoot them.
Gettin' old ain't for sissies.

.308 Norma said:

I think it probably will. It might scold you for days afterwards (like the arthritis in my wrist does me) but I think it will allow you to shoot them.
Gettin' old ain't for sissies.

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Ain't that the truth! I am amazed where I am now compared to 10 years ago!

For the same reason I have 4x4 truck that sees hardly any miles off road. It's there when I want/need it.

The .38 is a swell round. Powerful enough for defense with judicious load selection, and mild and affordable enough to shoot all day comfortably.

.308 Norma said:

I think it probably will. It might scold you for days afterwards (like the arthritis in my wrist does me) but I think it will allow you to shoot them.
Gettin' old ain't for sissies.

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But getting old beats the alternative.

My pony broke my right wrist about 15 years ago and it still is good at forecasting the weather. I usually get a subtle reminder about the break for a day or two after shooting full power 357 magnum rounds in light or short barrel revolvers. (Same for the 460XVR)

I shoot full power loads infrequently but it is fun for a short while.

In the last few years, I've discovered just how special it is to shoot 38 Special in a revolver chambered for 38 Special (also, 44 Special in a revolver chambered for 44 Special).

bumbazine said:

I don't shoot magnums with my GP100 because the guys at the indoor range I frequent asked me not to.
I think I need to take the Ruger and a box of .357s to the new (indoor) range down south and see what the RO down there says about them.
And see if the arthritis in my fingers will still allow me to shoot them.

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Seriously? The range gives you a hard time about shooting .357 magnum rounds??

If it was me I would stop going to that range alltogether, you know, to make sure you aren't bothering anyone.

The report from .357 can be quite unpleasant for the guy next to you at an indoor range - if there is a .357 (or bigger caliber) shooter, I try to leave as much room as possible between us. Actually, bystanders hear the shots louder than the shooter (unpleasant), not to mention muzzle blast (unpleasant), burned powder in the face (unpleasant). It's not a bad idea at all to keep that in mind when there are other people at the range.

For me it's mostly about the configuration of the gun. I shot .38's in .38's for decades. I like 6" barreled revolvers for paper punching. I wore out my Model 14, had S&W rebuild it, and wore it out again. I say wore out but that's not really right. Let's say it was due for maintenance. Lots of end shake and sloppy lock-up.

About that time I shot a friend's Model 19. I really preferred the heavy barrel on the 19 to the 14. I sure shot it better. I had the 14 rebuilt and sold it off. Bought a Model 66-2. I've been using it ever since. For me it makes no sense to shoot .357's in it. My component stash has tons of .38 brass. .38 uses less resources to reload. I can shoot the .38 all day long, the magnum will wear me down quicker. Though the .357 isn't bad, more blast than actual recoil.

Now I've shot more than my fair share of magnum rounds, in .357 and larger. I'm over it. I'm also a lot older than I used to be. I can still get through about 50 rounds of full house .41, but then I'm done for the day. But why? It's not fun anymore. I sure don't shoot the full power loads any better than my softball .41 load.

It also seems to me that this Model 66 is holding up better than the Model 14 given the same diet of .38 ammo. Mostly, I've found I don't care for the tapered barrels they have on guns like the Model 15 and Models 24/27/28. I much prefer the heavy barrels they put on the magnums. So I buy those and load them down. If they offered the heavy barrels with .38 cylinders I'd buy one in a heart beat. I have toyed with building one....but that's not really practical.

Many 38s are too light and uncomfortable to shoot. Buying a heavier 357 is a way to shoot 38s more comfortably.

The best selling feature of magnum revolvers is the ability to shoot lighter ammunition in it. In my .357 magnums, it probably about 95% of the time that they are shot with a 38 or 38 plus P round for an enjoyable range outing. And my bulk loading .357 is a reduced 158 SWC going out about 1100 FPS. My full charged .357 ammo is used for blowing up 2 liter soda bottles. If I were to hunt deer with a handgun, it would be with a 44 or 45.

Not every configuration is available in both chamberings. Then there are those who say, why buy a .38 when you can get a .357 and shoot both. Who really cares either way? If I buy a .357 or .44Mag just to shoot Specials, it's none of anyone's business but my own.

Makes sense to me. The option for extra power is there if you need it, but most people probably won't. Why put up with extra recoil and muzzle blast just to poke holes in a piece of paper?

I own three or four of each. Since I mostly shoot at the range, I shoot 38's through all of them there. It pokes holes in paper just fine. When I am loading them up for hunting or SD, the 357's get loaded with 357.

Probably for the same reason trap shooters don't shoot 3" shells although most shotguns have 3" chambers these days.

CoalTrain49 said:

Probably for the same reason trap shooters don't shoot 3" shells although most shotguns have 3" chambers these days.

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I don't know about trap, but competitive skeet only allows 2-3/4" shells (2-1/2" in .410) and limits the maximum shot load for each gauge.

My skeet grade Citori has 2-3/4" chambers but I started shooting competitive skeet with a field grade Citori and, yes, it had 3" chambers.

Back on subject, I had a pleasant afternoon shooting my 38 Special loads loaded in 357 Magnum cases in my 2-1/2" Model 19. My formerly broken wrist does not hurt and I still have my hearing.

My Taurus 605 was only $300-----its had a box or 2 of magnums through it and the recoil isn't that bad due to the weight --making it pretty heavy for a snub nosed J frame style revolver.

It stays loaded with .38 SP+P 125gn JHP's-----mainly to reduce flash and not much is gained with magnums through a 2in barrel.

I also haven't even tried the 4 wheel drive in my new truck-----guess I should at least see if it works before winter comes. 17 Nissan Frontier SV 4x4 Crewcab Longbed

I see buying the 357 chambering purely for versatility, a little stronger revolver, and in particular if you don't own many firearms. But in general, I shoot 357's from 357 revolvers and so forth.

C5rider said:

Well, if y'all would start tossin' those precious .357 brass to the curb at the range, maybe us reloaders would have some brass capable to push our Magnums! Seems only the 38s are one-time-use! While us reloaders know better, it behooves us to buy more magnums when the junior cartridge is ripe for the picking! LOL!

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I start searching on Armslist when I'm needing brass for reloading. Just 3wks ago I made a purchase from a local for 760 of 38/357 mixed brass for $20. Turned out that 568 were .357. He told me that the majority of it he collected from a local range.

They make a loud BANG!

I just think that there are a lot of guys out there who intend to shoot .357 out of their .357 and then discover the cost difference with commercial ammo in .38 Special. I admire handloaders, but a lot of people just don't have the time, inclination or mechanical ability to handload. Lots of guys shoot on the same day they pay their weekly bills and when things are tight that box of .38 Special FMJ seems a lot more responsible than a box of .357.