.38 super in a .357 revolver

[DragonFire]

Is it possible to safely and accurately shoot .38 super rounds in a .357 revolver, using moon clips?

I have a S&W 627 revolver, and have had unsatisfactory results with the moon clips. They load alot harder than my other moon clips guns (646, 610 and 625), and don't go into the gun as easy either.

In searching this forum and others, it seems I'm not alone in having problems. Some people have over come the problem by being very selective in their choice of brass (those the selections seem to be very varied) and choice of moon clilps (seems every brand has caused their share of problems).

I believe I've read that some shooters have used .38 super rounds. The 627 was available in .38 super at some point in the past, but I believe the threads were about using them in a .357 caliber gun.

.38 super's and .357's must be mentioned in agazillon threads, and while I've read lots (and lots and lots) of them, I can't find one where someone says they've actually done them. I have found threads where someone says a friend has done it, or some pro-shooter used to do it etc. so details are missing.

So can it be done without any safety issues? Will the rounds be accurate?

The 627 will be a competition gun, so a few milliseconds for a reload would make a difference, but not if the gun would be significantly less accurate.

 

[Smurfslayer]

Not a direct answer

but along with the brass selectivity would come "match" moon clips.

If you notice, the Rem, Starline, Fed brass are barely held by the standard moon clips. The match clips are thicker and hold the above mentioned brass much better. It saves a little time on the reload, but it's still not as easy as a .45ACP...

 

[GrandmasterB]

Don't use .38 Super in your .357 chambered 627 S&W. The cases will bulge and the accuracy will be poor.

If you want shorter brass for a faster reload, then use .38 Short Colt brass. The chamber specs are the same as .38 Special but just shorter, and you will have better accuracy too. Some competition shooters go this route for faster reloads.

 

[EastKY_DO]

Supers in a Mag

I would only use .38 Super in a .357 Mag in a 'have to' situation. You can fire them without the moon clips as is are a semi-rimmed cartridge. I have done so on a few occasions just to observe the results. They fire fine, but as mentioned above, the cases do bulge slightly and the bullets, being .355 inch diameter, don't fly with the accuracy of a .38 Special or a 357 Magnum load. That's true in the guns I've personally tried this with.

l8r . . .
Doc

 

[bakert]

Although I've heard for years you can do it, aint gonna try it in my guns

 

[TonyT]

I have not had any problems using Ranch Product moonclips and remington brass in either 357 Mag r 38 Special. The 38 Special cases will slide in a bit faster or as one of the previous responder stated use 38 Short Colt cases.

 

[.30-378]

not a good question

 

[mike45]

I thought it was a good question.

I remember an article in one of the gun rags 15 (or so) years ago where the author tried it and thought it was a good idea. He said there was just enough rim on the .38 Super for it to headspace and eject using the revolver's extractor.

Mike

 

[Confederate]

I don't think it will harm the gun, if it's a quality gun. The bulging brass is only to be expected given its slightly smaller size. Would the pressures pose a threat? I don't see how. The brass expands to the size of the chamber, then the bullet is expelled. The brass will be damaged and shouldn't be used again, but the gun should handle the pressures fine unless you find extraction very difficult. The chambers are designed for a tight fit, but accuracy should be the only thing that suffers. It's nice to know that in a tight situation that the .357 is even more versatile by being able to take it.

Elmer Keith tells the story of a few men who were...ummm...once detained at gunpoint to do a little labor. Since the men who detained them didn't want it to be obvious that these men were being forced, they emptied the guns of their new hires and set them to work with one man guarding them. While working, one of the men found what appeared to be a live cartridge in the ground where they were digging. But it was smaller than the .45 Colt rounds of their guns. During the course of their work, they discreetly wrapped the cartridge in either cloth or whatever (I don't recall) and stuffed it into the chamber of the best shot. Later, when they had the chance, the fellow pulled his pistol and shot the guard dead at near point blank range. I thought it was an innovative solution to an otherwise dismal situation.