.38 vs .357 short barrel data

[Super Sneaky Steve]

I've heard on this forum that out of a short barrel .38 special is just about the same as .357 Magnum so I decided to put it to the test!

Test weapon: Ruger SP-101 3"

158gr Berry's 3.7 Bull 684fps 164 ft/lbs (favorite target load)
158 XTP 4.5 Bull 789fps 218 ft/lbs (+P max load for .38 spl)
158 XTP 16.6 H110 1096fps 421 ft/lbs
180 XTP 13.4 H110 953fps 362 ft/lbs
125 SpeerGD 21.6 H110 1367fps 518 ft/lbs
125 SpeerGD 10.5 HS6 1181fps 387 ft/lbs (target load .357 mag)

Each test was an average of 5 shots.

I gave the .38 special the most advantage possible by giving it a big bullet and a fast burning powder (bullseye). To keep things relative I used the same bullet with slow but powerful powder (H110).

Conclusion. The Magnum went 307fps faster and generated 203 more foot pounds of energy almost doubling the .38 special. So no, the .38 special isn't "just as good' or "almost as good" as a .357 magnum, even in a shorter barrel.

 

[BlindJustice]

how about a comment about yer seat of the pants
comparo of recoil and muzzle flash / blast....

you might google "Ballistics by the Inch:

I have a S&W Model 60 .357 Mag w/3" Bbl. and the carry load is
Double Tap .38 +P 125 gr. Speer Gold DOt it's a lot morecomfortable to
shoot and doesn't have the 2.5'+ of muzzle flash.

Randall

 

[Super Sneaky Steve]

how about a comment about yer seat of the pants
comparo of recoil and muzzle flash / blast....

you might google "Ballistics by the Inch:

I have a S&W Model 60 .357 Mag w/3" Bbl. and the carry load is
Double Tap .38 +P 125 gr. Speer Gold DOt it's a lot morecomfortable to
shoot and doesn't have the 2.5'+ of muzzle flash.

Randall

The 158 and 180 grain loads weren't so bad. I'd say they were comfortable in the all steel gun, but the 125 grain full house load was downright painful.

I'm still looking for my ideal carry load but I think it will be a low mid-range magnumload.

My purpose wasn't to tell people what to carry. I just want to provide data so people can make their own decisions. What I wanted to dispell is the notion that they perform the same or simmilar. That isn't the case. Flash and recoil are another matter.

 

[2wheels]

What I wanted to dispell is the notion that they perform the same or simmilar. That isn't the case. Flash and recoil are another matter.

That's always been my view. The .357 is gonna go faster, the REAL question is... Is it worth the added recoil and flash?

The answer to that depends on the individual.

 

[Cosmoline]

Good testing and it will hopefully help put the myth to an end.

Not that there's no place for .38 Specials out of a magnum frame. Some folks prefer that setup as it really soaks up recoil. But there's always going to be a tradeoff.

 

[sixgunner455]

When I hike and hunt, I carry heavy, hard-cast, WFN magnums. If I'm not in the great outdoors, my .357 has .38 Special 125gr JHPs loaded in it, usually the same kind I have in my 642.

They aren't the same. The .357 revolver is very flexible as a result of the different types of ammunition that can be used in it, and I think of this as a very positive thing - if the user is knowledgeable and considers carefully what ammunition to apply to which task.