2007-09-30 07:31:49 · 19 answers · asked by tarkiz 2 in Sports ➔ Outdoor Recreation ➔ Hunting
The answers above are all absolutely accurate.
Here is something more - find a local independent FFA certified gun dealer/repair/gunsmith. Get to the know the guy. Buy your ammo from him [even if it is $1.00 more than Walmart, so what?].
That is the guy who you need to be asking these questions.
2007-09-30 08:02:08 · answer #1 · answered by Prof. Cochise 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No, a .38 Special is not rated to fire .357 Magnum ammo. You'll find that the .357 Mag. ammo is too long to allow the cylinder of a .38 Special revolver to rotate. If for some strange reason, as if the nose of the .357 round is shortened or something and you can get a round to fit into a .38 revolver, it is still extremely unsafe because the .357 Mag. is a much higher pressure round.
Also, before trying +P or +P+ .38 Special ammo in your .38 revolver make sure that it is rated for this higher pressure ammo. Now a .357 Magnum revolver will safely fire any .38 Special round including the one rated +P+ because these are even lower pressure than your standard .357 Magnum bullets.
Best.
H
2007-09-30 22:55:28 · answer #2 · answered by H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it's the other way around 357's shoot 38's. 357's are longer than 38's and have much higher pressure. They won't allow you to close the cylinder on a 38 and that's a good thing because full power 357's would blow-up a 38.
2007-09-30 12:35:02 · answer #3 · answered by Steel Rain 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, the diameter of both is exactly the same but the .357 is too long to fit into the chamber of the .38 Special. Even if you could manage to get a .357 cartridge into a gun chambered for the .38 Special, the .38 Special is not rated for the pressures generated by the .357 and it could blow up in your hand.
2007-09-30 08:11:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Some are strong enough, notably the Smith and Wesson Model 10 Heavy Barrel and the model 64. However the chambers are 1/10 inch too short to chamber the round.
That being said, all .357 Magnums can fire .38 Specials and .38 Long Colt.
2007-09-30 15:54:26 · answer #5 · answered by eferrell01 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. A .357 mag can shoot 38 cal ammo but this won't work the other way. The .357 bullet is too long.
2007-09-30 07:40:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Not unless it has the cylinder capable of handling the extra pressure and the slightly longer length of the entire Magnum round. Yes, you can fire standard .38 special cartridges in a .357 Magnum cylinder with no appreciable loss in accuracy. But don't attempt to fire a .357 Mag round in a standard .38 caliber revolver. It could result in some serious damage to the shooter and bystanders due to a burst cylinder...
2007-09-30 07:37:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
I would not try it!
Some of the old .38's are not even designed to handle the pressure of +p rounds, let alone a .357 Mag round.
If you had a .357 Magnum MARKED gun, you would be fine to run .38's, +p's as well as .357 Mag rounds through it, but not the other way around!
Please be careful!
2007-09-30 08:33:44 · answer #8 · answered by konstipashen 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, No, No! A .357 although the same diameter, is longer and should not be even attempted to be used in a standard .38 cal gun. On the flip side, a .38 cal shell can be used in the .357 gun with no danger or problem
2007-09-30 07:36:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 0⤋
A thumbs up to all above answers!!
Also watch out for .38 special ammo marked +P.
Some revolvers cannot handle this extra powered ammo.
2007-09-30 08:21:33 · answer #10 · answered by James D 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
NO, the .357 round is about 1/16" longer, and if by chance some of the vintage guns can accept the .357 round, if you fire it in the .38 spl. gun, you have set off a hand grenade.The gun will probably blow up in your hands and you will be killed.
2007-10-01 00:33:44 · answer #11 · answered by WC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋