.38 Special and .357 Magnum relationship

[shephard19]

I was wondering if there is any balistic difference between .38 Special fired from a gun cambered only for .38 special and a gun chambered for .357magnum. I was wondering if any gas may be escaping when .38 Special is shot from a revolver chambered for .357 magnum.

 

[RoostRider]

A '.38 special only' gun has the rifling closer to the bullet when the bullet is seated in the cylinder chamber, because the cylinder and chamber are physically shorter...

Yes, I suppose there likely is a marginal loss of pressure from the chamber being longer than the cartridge by that fraction of an inch.... (the chamber being larger diameter than the rifling/bullet), but I would think that is very nominal compared to the loss of pressure at the cylinder gap of any revolver (some more than others).

The length of barrel would have far more affect....

 

[ChristopherG]

In theory yes; it makes sense.

In reality, that difference is not detectable amidst the differences in velocity from gun to gun--even of the exact same model, .38 OR .357. Guns are funny like that; there's the way things ought to work in our heads, and then there's the range...

 

[.38 Special]

.38 Special and .357 Magnum relationship

I did not have relations with that cartridge, .357 Magnum.

 

[kanook]

A .38 special only has the rifling closer to the bullet when the bullet is seated in the cylinder chamber, because the cylinder is physically shorter...

What?

 

[Canuck-IL]

A .38 special only has the rifling closer to the bullet when the bullet is seated in the cylinder chamber, because the cylinder is physically shorter...

Hmmm ... I wonder if the shorter cylinder has any relation to the 38Spc being shorter than the 357...?
/Bryan

 

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors \\ You are probably seeing the "dirty cylinder" after shooting any type of .38 through .357 . This is normal .

The Wider the cylinder gap (distance between cylinder and barrel ) the more debris, but I think NO ballistics difference.

CG is under .002 on my 1983 S&W Model 586 .357/.38 Distinguished Combat Revolver w/ 6 inch barrel.

I have read in Revolver forum here that some companies are ok with CG of .007 to prevent sticking cylinder due to fouling . I'll let you find out which one is mentioned.

 

[captain awesome]

Quote:
.38 Special and .357 Magnum relationship

Quote:
I did not have relations with that cartridge, .357 Magnum.

HAHAHAhA, seriously I was rolling.

 

[vanagon40]

. . . I have read in Revolver forum here that some companies are ok with [a cylinder gap] of .007 to prevent sticking cylinder due to fouling . I'll let you find out which one is mentioned.

My new Taurus Judge has a cylinder gap of .013"

Sorry for the thread hijack.

 

[TheWarhammer]

Guns are funny like that; there's the way things ought to work in our heads, and then there's the range...

Or, as Yogi Berra said, "In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice; in practice, there is."

 

[Walkalong]

Due to differences in barrels, there will be differences in velocity just using .38's with the same ammo.

I bet the differences in how "fast" or "slow" a barrel is will make more difference than wether you shoot .38 ammo in a .38 or .357 cylinder, and, as posted earlier, differences in cylinder gaps make a difference in velocity as well.