38 special

[fred spencer]

can 357 mag be fired in a 38 special?

 

[mondocomputerman]

No, it cannot. You will most likely blow up your gun. You may, however, fire .38 special in a .357 mag revolver.

And welcome to thehighroad.org!!

 

[blakec3686]

in shot NO it will cause major damage to the firearm and also injury to the shoot .
youve got it backward a pistol chambered for .357 magnum can also shoot .38 in it as the cartriges are basically the same with the exception that a .38 is alot lighter or a caliber (less pressure and such)

 

[Dr.Who]

In most .38's revolvers, you will not be able to put a .357 round in due to it being too long for the chamber. However, do not rely on that....

 

[Majic]

In some of the older revolvers, but you will probably only get the one shot. Then hopefully you will still have all your body parts intact, but you can write off the revolver.
NO, don't ever try that stunt.

 

[Pumpkinheaver]

NO, even if it will chamber don't do it!

 

[SouthpawShootr]

If you can fit .357s into a .38 special cylinder, the gun is either very old (and it will probably explode when you fire it with .357s) or it is out of spec (equally dangerous). Best case scenario is that the gun will shoot loose quicker. Worst case: BOOOOOM!

I've read that some people have L-frame S&W 696 revolvers (made in the last several years) where .44 magnums can be inserted into the cylinder. I doubt these guns would blow first time, but they will probably have a drastically reduced service life and the owners are voiding their warranty (I'm pretty sure gun manufacturers can tell the difference between something that has shot loose from high pressure as opposed to high round counts).

 

[FRIENDLY]

wrong cartridges

If somehow you manage to insert one and fire it you will probably be called stumpy for the rest of your life

 

[James Bondrock]

I passed on a Colt New Frontier because the pawnshop owner said it was chambered for .44 Magnum. Not without reaming out a new chamber shoulder, it wasn't. It was likely a .44 Special and he didn't know what he was talking about, but I would not want it if it had actually fired any amount of .44 Magnums. The old Colt is much too light-framed for the Magnum.

 

[Lone Star]

The Colt New Army/New Navy .38's of the early 1900's are bored without shoulders in the chambers, and a .357 round WILL fit.

They are actually chambered for the .38 Long Colt, a sort of predecessor to the .38 Special. The pressures of the .357 Magnum weren't even envisioned when those guns were made. Don't ever fire .357's in one.

Lone Star

 

[sevenpoint62mm]

Actually the cartridge of each will fit in the other, assuming your cylinder is long enough. However the 357 is a hotter, stronger, more powerful cartridge and will put excessive strain on your cylinder, causing it to blow. If it blows first shot or not is debatable depending on your weapon but it won't take long.