OK Am I missing sumpin?

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R.W.Dale

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Take for instance ruger other brands have the same but ruger is the easiest to refrence to.

With the sp101 3 1/16" barrel there are .357 and .38 +p chamberings, diffrent model numbers same specs, Hence the question WHY the .38. Why not a single .357 model number. It's not like you can't shoot all the .38's you want in a 357.

What I'm wondering is why even have a dedicated .38 chambering

http://ruger.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=5739&return=Y

http://ruger.com/Firearms/FAProdView?model=5719&return=Y
 
This has been asked before and I believe the popular concensus is A) many security firms specify the use of a .38 caliber revolver ONLY. B) shorter chamber on .38 model, this may decrease the length of the weapon if not then at least .38s are rumered to be more accurate when fired out of a dedicated .38 only revolver. The sp101 started out as a .38 caliber revolver in the beginning. some police dept's back when they used revolvers (new york for example) only wanted revolvers in .38 caliber not in the publicly fearsome magnum rounds.
 
Two reasons:

* In some countries private handguns are limited in power. The 38 is legal in Peru, the 357 isn't. This isn't unique.

* Some security companies buy guns in batches and want 38s instead of 357s for insurance/liability reasons.

At least in Rugers, if you get hold of a 38 gun that can normally take 357s you can have a gunsmith re-chamber it longer. The sole exception is the VERY oldest batch of SP101s. Even then you can do it, but the cylinder length will limit you to 125gr or less (same as the earliest 357 SP101s until they changed the cylinder length spec). Ruger heat-treats their guns and cylinders only one way: real good. S&W was long known for different heat-treats between their magnum and non-magnum product lines...dunno if that's changed of late. Might have, given the reduced cost of heat-treat through computer control.
 
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