Author Topic: Accuracy of 38 special? (Read 981 times)

dd61999 · « **on:** July 26, 2012, 03:14:56 AM »

How accurate are the 38 specials in the 357 barrel? Can they even be used?....thanks in advance

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #1 on:** July 26, 2012, 03:16:42 AM »

In a word VERY in some guns and acceptable in all the ones I have shot.

OSOK · « **Reply #2 on:** July 26, 2012, 04:03:02 AM »

I've never heard of anyone complaining about bad .38 accuracy in the .357. I reamed mine to .357 Maximum and saw no noticable change in accuracy from the .38's or .357 mag's. It is still a super accurate rifle, putting all the rounds in nice little groups.

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 26, 2012, 04:23:31 AM »

i shoot a 148 grain HBWC over 3.0 grains of bullseye for a back yard pest control load. It is quiet and accurate enough to pop off chipmunks in the 25 - 30 yard range and powerful enough to kill 'coons, woodchucks and skunks. I reamed mine to 357 Max Also and I did not see a problem with accuracy dropping off, i think it might even be slightly better with 38 Special and 357 Mag.

Good Luck and Good Shooting

Doublebass73 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 26, 2012, 05:50:08 AM »

I haven't tried 38's yet in my Maxi but a few years ago I had a 22" Mag barrel that shot 148 gain BBWC 38's better than any other load.

thejanitor · « **Reply #5 on:** July 26, 2012, 05:57:40 AM »

We shoot kernels of corn with our .357 barrels with a wad cutter loaded in a .38 case with 3.1 gr of trail boss. ( at 12 - 15 yds) VERY accurate up close, have never shot a .38 factory round but I love the new combo with the trail boss load as it would mess up a raccoon or oppossum real bad at 20 yds or so. But it is accurate, quiet and fun for the whole family. thejanitor

petemi · « **Reply #6 on:** July 26, 2012, 06:16:59 AM »

Hey Brent, From what the National News said today, those kernels of corn are gonna get too expensive to shoot.

Ya better save them.

Pete

cwlongshot · « **Reply #7 on:** July 26, 2012, 06:57:26 AM »

Quote from: dd61999 on July 26, 2012, 03:14:56 AM

How accurate are the 38 specials in the 357 barrel? Can they even be used?....thanks in advance

WELCOME!

As in most all guns chambered for 357 mag, 38 spec ARE safe to shoot. ( Remember to clean chamber(s) afterwards to avoid problems with the longer rounds.

I have two Maxi barrels one has shot quite allot of lite bullseye loads with a HBWC bullet. It ain't gonna win any accuracy contests! But it's easy minute of beer can out to 25-30 yards.

Good luck,
CW

ratdog · « **Reply #8 on:** July 26, 2012, 08:29:19 AM »

have shot a lot of 38's in my handy's and lever guns 357's shoot real good i also shoot 158 grn wad cutters lee mold cheap. good on small game not much damage.

thejanitor · « **Reply #9 on:** July 26, 2012, 09:21:21 AM »

Thanks Pete- will ration the corn. But man it was fun, relatives and all were amazed how fun those rifles were to shoot....

thejanitor

twoshooter · « **Reply #10 on:** July 26, 2012, 03:00:00 PM »

I use a 185 gr RN 358 dia from an old Lee mold and 3 gr of Unique seated pretty long, it stayed at about an inch @ 50 yards. Also pretty close to that with 5 gr of Blue Dot. Mine took awhile to come in, the 1st 200 rounds were not so hot, the longer it shoots, the better it gets.