Question about .38/.357

[tubeshooter]

Back some years ago I bought some .38 Special reloads at a gun show. I didn't really know as much about firearms as I do now, and had not really thought through about how you could potentially get a "double charged" round.

I still have some of these. My question is... do you think a Ruger SP-101 would be able to withstand a "double charged" .38 round? If not - how much gun would be able to, if one can? Would an L-frame be able to take it?


I'm not a reloader myself, and to my knowledge .38 Special is loaded to about 17k pressure while .357 is about 35k. Thanks in advance.

 

[oneounceload]

were they commercially reloaded, or by some guy in his garage??...If commercially done, they should be as good as regular factory, assuming the company is a good one with a good reputation

 

[Duke of Doubt]

A recent thread addressed this precise question, complete with pictures of the SP101 wreckage.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I don't know what to tell you to do but if you have a bad feeling about something go with your gut. You feel there might be a problem, listen to yourself.

BTW, a double charge doesn't mean double the pressure. If that were true there would be no danger firing a double charge .38 Special in a .357 Magnum. When you double the charge on a fast powder suitable to load a .38 Special many of those powders will spike pressures when too much is used. The pressure curve isn't linear and could actually be triple the pressure or more for a double charge.

 

[tubeshooter]

Thanks everyone. This does appear to be commercially reloaded, although not by a "big name" and I am not sure of their overall reputation.

I remembered hearing that the pressure curve was not linear somewhere. Makes sense.

They don't appear to be loaded very hot, just plain-jane 158 grain SWCs. I guess I will just go ahead and use them up as practice rounds. I have never had any problems so far.


I just wanted to pose that question... I figure I'm somewhat safer with the SP-101 as opposed to something J-frame sized, but I didn't want to be walking around here fooling myself so I had to ask.


[EDIT: Link to thread Duke of Doubt referenced above]