Flame cutting in .38 Special

[ZBill]

I have read a lot about the flame cutting problem with light bullets in the .357Magnum.

Is the same a consideration when using Federal 125 gr. hydroshock +P or the Federal 147 gr. hydroshock +P+ ?

Thank you, Bill

 

[rcmodel]

No.

+P .38 Spl pressure is less then half what a .357 Mag runs.

rcmodel

 

[VegasOPM]

Add to that the fact that the .38 has .1" more space for the gas to expand before it exits the cylinder and starts cutting the top strap. Flame cutting has only been an issue for me with heavy loads with slow burning powders

 

[ZBill]

Thanks folks

That is what I hoped to hear as a friend gave me a few boxes of both. If I follow Vegas OPM's line of reasoning, would there be even less of a problem using these in a .357 such as a S&W 640-1 snubbie?

Bill

 

[rcmodel]

There will be no problem, regardless of what you use them in.

Just not enough high pressure & slow burning powder in any .38 load.

rcmodel

 

[1 old 0311]

A little will show up in any pistol.

 

[rcmodel]

Really?

Only if you live long enough with anything except Magnums!

rcmodel

 

[Lazuris]

rcmodel knows his *****. Flame cutting mostly happens with the hot 125g magnum loads. Once I switched to 158's flame cutting stopped. Also my understanding is that regardless flame cutting only goes so far anyway.

 

[kmrcstintn]

the only time I would expect to see such flame cutting would be when shooting really hot +p+ loads or boatloads of the hotter Corbon or Buffalo Bore stuff; I would expect it more in aluminum framed guns, but if this was a serious concern I feel that S&W, Taurus, and Charter Amrs would put a stainless steel gas shield just above the gap between the cylinder & barrel as S&W does for their scandium/aluminum alloyed revolvers chambered for .357 magnum