Shooting 38's in 357 Marlin

[Jazzman]

I have heard the reasons not to shoot a steady diet of 38's in the 357 Marlin as a carbon ring will build up which is difficult to remove. I always clean my gun after a range session so not sure this would be a problem. I am more concearned about how well the 38's feed, could I get around this by using a 158 grain or 165 grain rnfp and loading them with a overall length close to that of a 357. I am thinking of shooting cowboy action next spring and want to load up a reliable feeding bullet for my Marlin and Ruger. The Marlin I have is a new 1894 cowboy which I have not gotten to shoot yet. What are you Cowboy shooters using.

Jazzman

[454Puma]

Load up with 38's and keep cleaning as you have and you'll not have the carbon build up problem!! Those that have this problem don't clean there guns!  I have no problems with feeding 38's in my CB!

[yukondog]

I too have not had a problem shooting 38 in my 357,but I also clean mine after shooting each time.

[pastorp]

O you could load 38spl level loads in the magnum cases. 1 out of my 3 1894s would not feed the special cases. 

Regards,

[Dee]

I have been shooting 38 specials in my 357 magnum rifles since about 1981. Sure hope it doesn't build up that carbon ring I been hearin about and ruin my rifles.
Gun rag writers should be ashamed of themselves for printin that stuff. I have personally fired thousands of rounds of 38 specials of every sort thru my 357 mag. revolvers and rifles, and never EVER had a problem, and have never met, or known any one else that did.

[federali]

I too have fired thousands of .38 SPL rounds through an S&W 65 and a Ruger Blackhawk. Absolutely no problem  when I chambered .357s. I owned a new Marlin in .357 that never saw a magnum round and no carbon ring developed in the chamber.