The .38/.357 is ideal isn't it???

[ZVP]

Federal is the newest at trying to "Best" the .38/.357 It drives me nuts the way su8ch good preforming standards" like these two get attacked and are challenged so!
The ,38Special has been an excellent preformer since it went smokeless. is one of the best all around calibers ever invented.You can handload it to pipwsqueak or near magnum levels and the vqast array of Factory ammo is near staggering!
Far as the .357 goes it's a manstoper, engine block cracker and a fine hunting cartrige
I dunno maybe w2e DO need a hot .32 bnut all the R&D and cost of developement with such similar results as the .357 almost dosen't seem all worth the try.
Yes I guess it shows that I am a .37/.357 devotee and due to this fact I can't phantom the same spread only in.32? I just bought a"J" frame Model 36 for Personal Protection and also shoot a .357 Vaquero and a Cobra .38 Special for fun. The Vaquero is a widwly capable revolver with a dizzying array of available ammo! It does what my Single Six does just in a much bigger caliber! The little Derringer hasquite a soread of ammo available and can preform several tasks too, fun being the primary.
What can you say bad about a Chief's Special? It's perfect for what it was designed to do!
I guess that since I am not rich or a handloader I am not getting full benifit from the new .327Magnum...
ZVP

 

[gspn]

At this point in the life cycle of firearms I don't think there is a problem we can't handle with the array of calibers that currently exist...new calibers are now created solely to make money.

I'm not saying that is a bad thing...this is a free market society and if they want to take the risk of failing in the process of selling a new product then so be it. But I can't imagine a problem I might have that couldn't be solved with the vast array of choices I currently have...from 22 cal to something north of the 500 S&W I think I could find a solution.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Alec]

I don't know about that, I think the .327 Mag is actually filling a niche. Namely, that of a high-velocity SD cartridge that allows you to cram a 6th cartridge in the same size gun as a 5-shot .357.

 

[browningguy]

I disagree with the basic premise that a .38/.357 is ideal.

Neither one loads easily in a semi auto so as self defense cartridges many of us just don't even think about them. The .38 Special in any case is a marginal cartridge for SD in my mind, similar to a .380 it's about the minimum I consider for serious defensive use. The .357 is a really fine defensive cartridge except for being in a limited capacity revolver, and for pistol hunting I prefer my Super Blackhawk in .44 Mag.

 

[.45&TKD]

"The .38 Special...... similar to a .380..."

I beleive that's incorrect, but I'll leave it to the experts.

 

[19-3Ben]

Ummm ok. What brought all this on? There were plenty of these discussions when Federal and Ruger first came out with the .327mag, but I feel like this is one that we opened and closed a while ago.

As for .38/.357 being ideal... no. Ideal is a round that hits like a .500S&W mag, recoils like a .22LR, costs the same as a jar of airgun pellets, with high capacity guns/mags available, and that one can carry thousands of rounds without getting weighed down.

Ideal doesn't exist. However, that cartridge combo is quite versatile if that's what you mean. It does a lot of jobs well. In a S&W 642, a .38spl can be loaded to have nice light recoil, and punch paper with no problem. Stuff a monster .357mag into a Marlin 1894c and you can take down a deer. That doesn't make it ideal, but I still love my .357s and won't give 'em up!

 

[ColtPythonElite]

It may not be "ideal", but fills most of my needs.

 

[56hawk]

"The .38 Special...... similar to a .380..."

I beleive that's incorrect, but I'll leave it to the experts.

It's always hard to compare cartridges due to different pressure loadings and barrel lengths. However looking at wikipedia, 38 Special has a 158 grain bullet at 770 fps for 208 ft-lbs of energy and 380 has a 95 grain bullet at 980 fps for 203 ft-lbs of energy. Basically the same energy. Of course if you start comparing +p or buffalo bore ammo who knows.

 

[beatledog7]

The .38 Special in any case is a marginal cartridge for SD in my mind, similar to a .380

...except that with a +P rated .38SPL one can push a 125gr JHP to over 1000fps, but with a .380 one can only get a 115gr JHP to reach maybe 950fps. More than a marginal win, I'd say.

Considering also that the same .38SPL can also boost a 158gr JHP (a far heavier slug than the .380 can handle) to over 800fps, it's the clear SD winner.

For its far better flexibility and ultimately harder hitting power, I'll take the .38SPL.

 

[56hawk]

...except that with a +P rated .38SPL one can push a 125gr JHP to over 1000fps, but with a .380 one can only get a 115gr JHP to reach maybe 950fps. More than a marginal win, I'd say.

A 125 gr bullet at 1000 fps has 278 ft-lbs of energy. Buffalo Bore loads a +p 380 with a 100 grain bullet at 1150 fps for 294 ft-lbs of energy.

 

[Legion489]

"Ideal" for you? Possibly/probably if you say so. "Ideal" for someone else? Possibly/probably/no/ain't no way/probably not/possibly not.

The .357 is NOT a "engine block cracker" with any current loads. The hard cast Buffalo loads would be your best bet, but they don't do much to cast iron blocks except make smears. Possibly if you loaded up a bronze/steel/or other custom bullet it might do better, or possibly against some aluminum blocks, but I wouldn't bet a lot of my money on it.

 

[Deaf Smith]

At this point in the life cycle of firearms I don't think there is a problem we can't handle with the array of calibers that currently exist...new calibers are now created solely to make money.

Exactly.

If you are a good shot there is plenty out there that is quite good enough.

And if you are a crappy shot.. there is nothing that will truly compensate.

Deaf

 

[Jaymo]

Buffalo Bore also loads a 158 grain .38 LSWCHP at 1000+ fps.

 

[Bubba613]

It's always hard to compare cartridges due to different pressure loadings and barrel lengths. However looking at wikipedia, 38 Special has a 158 grain bullet at 770 fps for 208 ft-lbs of energy and 380 has a 95 grain bullet at 980 fps for 203 ft-lbs of energy. Basically the same energy. Of course if you start comparing +p or buffalo bore ammo who knows.

The current crop of defensive loads in the 125gr +P loadings seem to run the bullet probably 800fps out of a 2" gun, which is what most people carry. A .380 is a 90 or 95gr bullet doing about 1000 fps. Not a lot of difference, imo.
However the 158gr LHP was a great load that replicated performance of .45 hardball in both 2" and 4" guns. One of the great parts of the .38spc is its versatility in loadings.
And given it was a police standard from about 1899 to 1990 I'd hardly call it "marginal."

 

[Jaymo]

With a good .38 defensive load, you don't have to choose between expansion and penetration. You get both.

 

[skidder]

I guess that since I am not rich or a handloader I am not getting full benifit from the new .327Magnum...
ZVP

ZVP-- You could get started reloading for about $200-$300 depending on what you buy. It's well worth it. The versatile 38/357 becomes 100 times more versatile. RCBS makes a starter kit that works great. Save your brass now and you're part way there. The 357 dies are nice because they come with a spacer ring for quick change-up from 38 to 357. I mostly load 148 wadcutter (very accurate) with 3+ gr of Red dot or whatever shotgun powder I can find cheap : Bullseye, 700X, 800X, Red Dot, Green Dot, etc.. The faster burning powders will cost the same per pound, but you can stretch a pound a lot further for plinking (takes less powder per round). I'm a cheapskate cuase I like to shoot.

 

[bluethunder1962]

I was thinking the same thing when I got my five seven, The five seven is a little quicker but my 357 has a lot more punch when it gets there. But it is 20 rds against 8. I am just going to carry 4 guns and be ready for anything.

 

[Jaymo]

.327 should have been named 7.62 Tokarev rimmed revolver cartridge.

I'm a big bore fan, but I'm also a .32 and .38/.357 fan.

 

[GP100man]

The 357 I like also !

Very versatile round if ya handload !

Very good SD/HD round .

Ideal for all ,no .

Some people & states call it marginal & even don`t allow it for hunting , but used in it`s means & shots placed well it`s a very viable meat getter & with good bullets will kill med/large game humanely .

For larger hungry/meaner game my revolver caliber is gonna start with a 4.

& as for terminal affects on humans ,ask a mortician `bout gunshot victims .

I hope in generations to come there`ll be revolver shooters!!

 

[firesky101]

I have yet to meet a cartridge I did not like. Just cartridges I would not use for certain purposes. I have to agree with 19-3Ben that ideal does not exist, thats why I need to own them all (that is what I tell my wife anyway).

 

[7.62 Nato]

I'm a 38/357 fan also. But I also see a point of the 327 magnum. There are people that it is more suited for. Besides, look at all the other 32 cartridges you can fire through that same gun.

 

[RevolvingGarbage]

A 125 gr bullet at 1000 fps has 278 ft-lbs of energy. Buffalo Bore loads a +p 380 with a 100 grain bullet at 1150 fps for 294 ft-lbs of energy.

Ok now let's compare apples to apples here. A heavy .380 PLUS P, versus a moderate .38spl, maybe slightly into plus P territory? Hardly fair.

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=108

That is not even the heaviest .38spl plus P load buffalo bore makes.

So please, all things being equal, they aren't.

.38spl can throw a heavier slug than .380 can, and that puts it ahead.

 

[AFDavis11]

A . 39 special would be so dramatically better a man stopper than that puny .38

 

[Walkalong]

It is certainly a great combination.

 

[357 Terms]

For me, here in Indiana, the 357 is really the best choice if I could have only one caliber.

I handload so I can produce loads that are "ideal" to the platforms I use it in.

I use lighter med loads for my snubbies, using bullet designs that are optimal for that platform (Barnes XPB's 125grn for my snub and 140grn for the 4in).

For my 6.5in I have hot hunting loads in 158, 170 and 180grn HP's and SP's that will do their part as long as I do mine.

My Marlin gets the whole gamut, from 125grn loads that exceed 2000fps (varmits) to heavy 180grn's that are well past 1600fps (great for whitetail).

None of these loads are "ideal" for their intended purpose, but with the 357 I can cover SD (carrygun), feild gun, hunting rifle, and get the job done, all with one caliber.