Author Topic: 38 Special loads in 357 Mag rifle (Read 2036 times)

Land_Owner · « **on:** March 26, 2010, 04:21:34 AM »

I was reading a response from LaOtto22 in another thread in which he indicates he uses 38 Special loads in his 357 Mag Handi with suitable close-range results and no ricochets. That's encouraging. How is the report of the rifle in comparison to standard 357 Mag rounds? My thought is for plinking in the neighborhood without startling them into calling the sheriff.

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #1 on:** March 26, 2010, 04:54:39 AM »

I shoot a lot of .38s from my .357, Most are very light plinker rounds, Very quite, no crack like a mag. They are not .22 quite but not anoying neither. Crazy fun and very accurate, I can even bust clays at 100 yards with them but I wouldn't try to shoot a critter past 50 with them.

Dee · « **Reply #2 on:** March 26, 2010, 06:01:19 AM »

Report is mild to say the least, and absent of the crack like a 22, so doesn't seem to carry as well or as far.

bilmac · « **Reply #3 on:** March 26, 2010, 06:37:56 AM »

Same here I even shoot down loaded 38s at times. Doesn't take a lot of velocity to poke a hole in paper or a cottontail head. Just gotta be careful not to get them so slow that they stick in the barrel.

Doublebass73 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 26, 2010, 07:39:27 AM »

The quietest round that I ever shot in my .357 Handi was a factory .38 Special 148 grain wadcutter. It's hard to tell with earmuffs on but to me it sounded even more quiet than a standard .22 LR, only with a deeper tone. My daughter loved shooting them since she is very sound and recoil shy. The accuracy was also fantastic, I could shoot 1 1/4" groups @ 70 yards with the factory open sights.

I also shot some other factory .38 Special rounds, they all seemed louder than a .22 LR but the wadcutter rounds seem quieter and perfect as far as not disturbing the neighbors.

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 26, 2010, 08:49:18 AM »

I am using a 148 grain HBWC with 3.0 grains of Bullseye for some where in the 850 fps range out of a 22" barrel. 2.6 grains gets me about 750 fps and is very quite. I like the 2.6 load the best, but it really throws off sighting when you use something heavier. With a 125 grain 357 Max loaded lightly, it is 2" high at 25 yards compared to the 3 grains of Bullseye, it gets worse with only 2.6 grains. It is very quite in comparison to a 22 LR high velocity. I shot a raccoon and a skunk in the backyard one night and never woke my wife from her sleep, I was just a few feet away from the bedroom window. Another time I crept out around the house and shot a Woodchuck. When I came back into the house, my wife asked if I got a shot, she did not hear the gunshot over the TV - no she is not hard of hearing

Land_Owner · « **Reply #6 on:** March 26, 2010, 10:35:55 AM »

So many choices, so little time.

I have a ton (not literally) of small rifle primers and both 700X and Clays powder. I definately have a (short) ton of 38 Special and 357 Mag cases. So the combination of "downloading" and plinking seems just right for each other in my neighborhood.

I am often "seen and heard" to shoot my Ruger 77K/RP22 off of the balcony at snakes and alligator gar fish in the pond. Ricocets from 22LR's are the danger of shooting too flat and into water. So far so good. No flyers, but a larger caliber (357), reporting LESS (than the 22LR), and with LESS velocity has got to be a PLUS.

PigBoy Crabshaw · « **Reply #7 on:** March 26, 2010, 10:47:31 AM »

I sure wish I could shoot off of my balcony at moving targets! -g

HAMMERHEAD · « **Reply #8 on:** March 26, 2010, 12:55:38 PM »

My .357 Handi never liked factory HBWC loads beyond 25 yards or so, but it's an older click adjustable sight, ejector barrel from about 15 years ago. Seems to have a slow twist.
Mine shoots great with any 125-140 grain lead flat point. Hornady swaged 140/.358" and Meister cast 130/.357" 'cowboy' bullets have both been terrific. Flat points wouldn't be a ricochet proof as full wadcutters, but they seem to bury safely into dirt or sand from shallow angles.
I use Titegroup mostly, but I'm really starting to like Trail Boss lately. I'm sure my loads don't break 900 fps and are very quiet, they have kind of a funny 'bloop' sound.
.38 brass has been better than magnum brass for me.

mechanic · « **Reply #9 on:** March 26, 2010, 03:54:06 PM »

Landowner,

I live in TOWN, and have shot my Handi with 38's. No one noticed.

chutesnreloads · « **Reply #10 on:** March 26, 2010, 06:13:17 PM »

2.8 grain bullseye and hbwc.With earmuffs on i can hear the barrel "ring".

R.W.Dale · « **Reply #11 on:** March 27, 2010, 07:36:41 PM »

Up until recently I would have though nothing of it but pay attention with light 38 loads in a rifle and make sure they actually leave the bbl each time you drop the hammer. In the case of the thread below I inadvertently developed the quietest 38 carbine load possible.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=513183
pay attention!!!!!

Perhaps the biggest problem Ive discovered with 38's in a 357 is neither of my rifles will group 38's within a a couple feet of the POA for a rifle sighted in for 357's

Land_Owner · « **Reply #12 on:** March 28, 2010, 01:37:29 AM »

So it is a lot like the Side Show Carnival 22's, you can't hit the broad side of a barn with them. Hmmmmm that is something to think about. "Throwing away" good primers and powder, not to mention the lead, for the "quiet" of report is worthy of further consideration.

Dee · « **Reply #13 on:** March 28, 2010, 02:28:44 AM »

Land_Owner, it is like shooting a CB Cap in a 22 pistol with a 6" barrel, and a 22 rifle with say a 23" barrel. It is night and day. In the pistol very loud, in the rifle, less than most pellet guns. I would imagine a load of Bullseye say 3 grains, or a little less in a rifle would be very quite, very accurate, and enough punch to put down a hog or coyote inside 50 yards, if hit right.

Doublebass73 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 28, 2010, 04:34:46 AM »

When I shot factory .38 Special 148 grain wadcutters point of impact was pretty close to factory .357 Magnum 158 grain JSP rounds. They were also more accurate than any factory .357 Mag round that I tried out to 70 yards. The perfect in town "quiet" round.

Land_Owner · « **Reply #15 on:** March 28, 2010, 05:00:48 AM »

Alright Dee. You, BadnewsB, and Dbase73 have encouraged me to continue this trek. I have loaded 3.0 grains through 4.5 grains of Hodgden Clays below 158 grain lead SWC's. I could go lower.

When I am shooting for groups I will pay close attention to the lower end. I have and will shoot a chronograph set up and get some measure of velocity through my Handi-rifle and report back. It is raining today. No range time again.

What is the velocity of the sound barrier?

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #16 on:** March 28, 2010, 05:05:27 AM »

Super sonic I believe is right around 950 to 1000 fps or so.There are a lot of variables to that thou.

I always keep light loaded .38s and .357s around they are just to much fun to shoot. I really like 125gr RNFPs over 2.5grs of bullseye or titegroup.

R.W.Dale · « **Reply #17 on:** March 28, 2010, 05:28:36 AM »

Right at 1130 fps at sea level

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #18 on:** March 28, 2010, 07:59:38 AM »

Hey krochus, Do you think that the bullet you stuck could have stuck because it was jacketed? I have never used jackets for light loads only cast. I have always heard that jacket don't travel the barrel as easy as cast.

Dee · « **Reply #19 on:** March 28, 2010, 08:29:48 AM »

Try 2.5 grains of Clays, and in a 6" barrel that will be about 680fps. In a rifle a little more, but not much more. Good to about 45 yards ,and then starts falling off.

R.W.Dale · « **Reply #20 on:** March 28, 2010, 08:42:35 AM »

Quote from: Badnews Bob on March 28, 2010, 07:59:38 AM

Hey krochus, Do you think that the bullet you stuck could have stuck because it was jacketed? I have never used jackets for light loads only cast. I have always heard that jacket don't travel the barrel as easy as cast.

Bullets! Of two rounds tested so far both stuck the projectile in almost the same point down the bbl (about 14")

I'm sure this was a factor, but bear in mind the load in question was for jacketed bullets in the +p 38 special section of "Metallic Cartridge Reloading".

Another factor is likely my rifle's tight bore. Either way though I'm just saying you want to make sure every shot you fire makes it out if the bbl.

Quote

Try 2.5 grains of Clays, and in a 6" barrel that will be about 680fps. In a rifle a little more, but not much more. Good to about 45 yards ,and then starts falling off.

In my opinion firing such a load in a long gun would be ASKING to stick a bullet. At only 2.5grs of propellant I would expect the drag from a longer bbl to yield slower MV's possibly as low as 0

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #21 on:** March 28, 2010, 09:25:35 AM »

Another factor is likely my rifle's tight bore. Either way though I'm just saying you want to make sure every shot you fire makes it out if the bbl.

Thanks, I really only shoot these out of my single shots and I always watch for impact. I kinda like my rifles and my face, so I do pay attention when shooting light loads.

BTW so far

I have never had a 125gr RN or 148 gr HBWC stick in my rifles using 2.5 grs of bullseye.