Firing .38’s in a .357 Magnum

[filmjunkie4ever]

Where are you all at on this apparently hot-button issue? I have heard much scuttlebutt lately decrying the firing of .38 ammunition (especially in revolvers) chambered in .357 Magnum. The fly in the proverbial ointment being that prolonged application will result in gas erosion in the cylinder wall which will cause sticky extraction and even case damage when switching back to the longer .357 Magnum cases.

I for one have several .357 Magnum guns and have fired lots of .38’s in each of them never having noticed any sort of the above mentioned issues. Just like firing .22 Shorts in a .22 LR, or 2.75” 12 gauge ammo in a 3” chamber.

Have any of you had issues firing .38’s in your .357’s?

 

[jjs405]

Same here ... been doing that exact same thing since I was a kid without any adverse effect on the revolvers ... but then again I do clean my firearms

 

[Guy Miner]

Only adverse thing I ever encountered doing that was the build up of a "crud ring" in the chambers - if I was lazy about cleaning. One good cleaning and there'd be no crud ring.

Shooting 38's from a 357 is a really common thing and I don't know of any harm that comes from it.

Guy

 

[salmonchaser]

I think too many people have borescopes and don’t clean their guns. I’m with Guy and JJS405 (sorry I don’t know your name) on this as well.

 

[JD338]

I guess the same could be said about the 44 S&W Special and 44 Rem Mag and/or 22 Short, Long and Long Rifle.

JD338

 

[Guy Miner]

When one of my officers shot a 9mm from his 40 caliber Glock... That was interesting, and not recommended.

Guy

 

[PJGunner]

I've shot .38 Spl. in my .357 Mags for years and never had a problem. But, I do clean the gun as soon as I get back home. I do the same with .44 Spl. ammo in my .44 mags. Currently don't bother running the .44 Spl. in the mag anymore now that I have a sweet S&W 624.

 

[NYDAN]

I never had a problem other than having to clean out the carbon build up in the front of the .357 chamber from the shorter .38 specials. That is not a problem when cleaned.

I have a friend who shoots a lot of different revolvers chambered in 357 Mag. and 44 Mag. He says he simply avoids the problem by shooting 38 Special velocity loads from his .357 Mag brass, and 44 Special velocity loads from his 44 Mag. brass.