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I want to make some .357 mags., but don't have any .357 brass right now. Is it safe to load .38 brass to .357 loads if I mark them as such? Any reason, other than confusing them, not to do it? Thanks.

I do not think it is a good idea, even if you mark them.

The case volume difference is probably not significant enough to matter, unless they are close to max loads. That is, I don't think there is a technical problem with what you propose.

However, I think that getting away with stuff breeds sloppy habits and sloppy thinking - which, in reloading, will eventually cause you grief.

Better to pay a few dollars too much and get 50-100 new .357 cases at the gun store, and work up your loads, than have some 'way hot .38 loads lying around, possibly falling out of the carefully-marked box.

If you are anywhere near Columbus/Sealy/Wharton you are within driving range - I will give you some new .357 brass. Let me know.

Regards,
Andrew

agdude wrote: Is it safe to load .38 brass to .357 loads if I mark them as such?

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!

If it was safe to do that, don't you think the ammo manufacturers would have already thought of it?

Ok, so it's a bad idea.

I always figured the manufacturers didn't do it because they didn't want people putting .357 pressure out of their .38's. Is there another reason? Is there a reason that that it wouldn't work, other than that risk?

Thanks for all the info.

Kevin

Bobcat,

Sure do appreciate the offer. I doubt I'll be heading down that way any time soon.

I'll probibly end up just picking a few pieces up at the range until I get a decent pile going. Now I'm just really curious to see why this would/wouldn't work. lol. It seems to me like it would work fine, just might not be the best idea in case I ever mixed it in with standard .38's

And you wonder why there are so many aggie jokes...

Actually, the extra 0.1" case length is for exactly that reason - so no one could physically chamber a .357 mag in a .38 spl cylinder and blow it up. The original .357 mag was developed using large charges of slow powders in .38 spl cases, in heavy 38/44 S&W revolvers, if I remember correctly what I read about this. Since the .38 spl started out as a black powder cartridge, there is plenty of room in the case for lots of powder.

The added case volume of teh .357 will only come into play at or near max powder charges. If you are below max, there is no technical reason not to try it, but it is asking for trouble and creating a safety hazard and potential failure mode intentionally, where none would exist using the proper brass. Life can be hazardous enough, without tempting Mother Nature to teach you a lesson.

Regards,
Andrew

agdude wrote:Ok, so it's a bad idea.

I always figured the manufacturers didn't do it because they didn't want people putting .357 pressure out of their .38's. Is there another reason? Is there a reason that that it wouldn't work, other than that risk?

Thanks for all the info.

Kevin

Kevin,

Clark Magnuson, on rec.guns, posted once that he had loaded 22grs of
H110, and a 148 gr bullet into a .38 Sp case. It didn't blow up, but he
said that recoil was "sharp", or some such.
He also reported that this same load in a .357 Mag produced about 44,000
psi of pressure.
The SAAMI pressure limit for .38 Sp is around 17,000 psi.
There is a message here, somewhere, but it is beyond my ability to grasp.

IF you decide to proceed with a test, do so slowly, and creep ever so
cautiously beyond that .38 Sp limit. What you learn will no doubt be
useful, either to you, us, or to your next of kin.

Kind Regards,

Tom

All good info. not gonna try, but good stuff to know.

llwatson wrote:If it was safe to do that, don't you think the ammo manufacturers would have already thought of it?

What, exactly, do you think they're doing when they stuff a "blow your classic M&P to junk in your hand" load into a .38Spl case and mark the base only with a tiny +P or +P+?

agdude wrote:I want to make some .357 mags., but don't have any .357 brass right now. Is it safe to load .38 brass to .357 loads if I mark them as such? Any reason, other than confusing them, not to do it? Thanks.

DO NOT DO THAT

It is very dangerous to deviate from the published data. Use up to date manuals that show the same powder and bullet weights you want to use.

Yea, you're gonna hear "...man I always load 'em hotter than the book" and all kinds of crazy crap that will get you in big trouble.

Follow the loading data from the manual or the powder manufacturers web site.

KD5NRH wrote:

llwatson wrote:If it was safe to do that, don't you think the ammo manufacturers would have already thought of it?

What, exactly, do you think they're doing when they stuff a "blow your classic M&P to junk in your hand" load into a .38Spl case and mark the base only with a tiny +P or +P+?

Then, you follow the reloading data to load +P's - You DON'T just figure you'll drop a full .357 magnum charge into a .38 special case.

I think I might have quite a bit of .357 brass around here, might you be interested in it?

Amy