Orange Boy
Member
Hi all,
I'm experienced with .380 and .45 ACP reloading, but am just getting my feet wet with .38 Special. In looking over a new Speer reloading manual, a question arose. It's more of a theory question I guess. I thought I would seek the answer here.
I know the .357 Magnum cartridge is made 1/10" inch longer (so that it cannot be chambered in a gun designed only to fire .38 Special)...yet....38 Special can be fired in the .357 Magnum firearm. In looking over the reloading manual for the various bullet/powder combination's for 38 Special/38 Special +P/.357 Magnum I was wondering why someone could not achieve .357 Magnum type ballistics from a cartridge handloaded for a straight .38 Special revolver? Let's assume that the revolver is rated at 38+P. Why not a hotter than +P load with the shorter cartridge length to be chambered in said 38+P gun? I know there must be some good reasons, I'd just like to ask you all to let me know. BTW...I don't plan to do this...just all hypothetical.
Thanks all,
Orange Boy (Bob)
Oh yeah, almost forgot...why do the .38 Special bullets all seem to be .358 diameter and most of the 357 magnums are .357 diameter?????
I'm experienced with .380 and .45 ACP reloading, but am just getting my feet wet with .38 Special. In looking over a new Speer reloading manual, a question arose. It's more of a theory question I guess. I thought I would seek the answer here.
I know the .357 Magnum cartridge is made 1/10" inch longer (so that it cannot be chambered in a gun designed only to fire .38 Special)...yet....38 Special can be fired in the .357 Magnum firearm. In looking over the reloading manual for the various bullet/powder combination's for 38 Special/38 Special +P/.357 Magnum I was wondering why someone could not achieve .357 Magnum type ballistics from a cartridge handloaded for a straight .38 Special revolver? Let's assume that the revolver is rated at 38+P. Why not a hotter than +P load with the shorter cartridge length to be chambered in said 38+P gun? I know there must be some good reasons, I'd just like to ask you all to let me know. BTW...I don't plan to do this...just all hypothetical.
Thanks all,
Orange Boy (Bob)
Oh yeah, almost forgot...why do the .38 Special bullets all seem to be .358 diameter and most of the 357 magnums are .357 diameter?????