Carl N. Brown
Member
"I am new to reloading .38 spl/ .357 magnum and am wondering why there is such a huge gap between between 38 spl up to 20,000 psi and 357 magnum up to 35,000 psi?"
.38 Special was developed for black powder in 1898. A .38 special cartridge could hold about 20 grains of black powder developing up to 20,000 psi.
The revolvers designed to use .38 Special were designed to endure a lifetime of firing standard .38 Special ammunition.
Industry-wide specifications for .38 Special ammunition and firearms chambered to use .38 Special were set to those standards worldwide.
Smokeless powder gradually replaced black powder. It takes only about 5 grains of smokeless powder to equal the power and pressure of 20 grains black powder.
That did not make existing .38 Special firearms any stronger and did not warrant a change to standard specifications for .38 Special cartridges.
To exploit the higher power of smokeless power required a different cartridge that would not fit existing .38 Special firearms.
So in 1930 we got the .38/44 cartridge essentially a souped up .38 Special cartridge in a bigger .38/44 revolver originally designed for .44 Special.
Labelling that ammunition .38/44 "High Velocity" or "Heavy Duty" did not keep daring souls from trying it in .38 Special firearms not designed to handle it.
So in 1934-1935 Smith & Wesson and Winchester developed and marketed the .357 Magnum. After that, the.38/44 kinda faded into firearms history.
.38 Special was developed for black powder in 1898. A .38 special cartridge could hold about 20 grains of black powder developing up to 20,000 psi.
The revolvers designed to use .38 Special were designed to endure a lifetime of firing standard .38 Special ammunition.
Industry-wide specifications for .38 Special ammunition and firearms chambered to use .38 Special were set to those standards worldwide.
Smokeless powder gradually replaced black powder. It takes only about 5 grains of smokeless powder to equal the power and pressure of 20 grains black powder.
That did not make existing .38 Special firearms any stronger and did not warrant a change to standard specifications for .38 Special cartridges.
To exploit the higher power of smokeless power required a different cartridge that would not fit existing .38 Special firearms.
So in 1930 we got the .38/44 cartridge essentially a souped up .38 Special cartridge in a bigger .38/44 revolver originally designed for .44 Special.
Labelling that ammunition .38/44 "High Velocity" or "Heavy Duty" did not keep daring souls from trying it in .38 Special firearms not designed to handle it.
So in 1934-1935 Smith & Wesson and Winchester developed and marketed the .357 Magnum. After that, the.38/44 kinda faded into firearms history.