.38 Special data in .357 loads?

[dz86]

I have a question regarding loading data for .357 magnum loads.

Is it safe to use .38 Special loading data with the Hornady 125 grain #35730 FP/XTP bullet and the 158 grain #35780 FP/XTP bullet?

This may be an odd question, as one might ask why I don't simply load those bullets in .38 cases and use them in my .357 firearm. But I have three reasons for asking:
1. I have thousands of beautiful, nickle-plated, once-fired .357 magnum cases that were given to me by a local police department.
2. These loads will not only be fired in my Ruger Blackhawk pistol, but also in my H&R 158 signle-shot rifle that is chambered in .357 Maximum. I have fired .38 loads in this gun, but they aren't very accurate. The longer .357 magnum cases work much better.
3. I suffered a permanent wrist injury several years ago. I really have trouble shooting magnum loads anymore.

So what I would like to do is load these bullets in .357 Manum cases, but at a lower velocity in order to reduce recoil. Like something in the 800 fps range. However, I have read that it is unsafe to use reduced loads in some magnum applications. Since my Hornady handbook shows no such loads for the .357 I wanted to make sure it was safe to do so with Blue Dot or 231. These loads are going to be used for informal target shooting and plinking.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Jerry Lester]

My favorite all around plinking/hunting load is 7.5g of Unique behind a 125g bullet in 357 cases with CCI 550 primers. This is just slightly above 38 special loads, but the recoil is barely noticable in either my 1894C, or my 5.5" Blackhawk. It's also been a very accurate combination with several stlyes of 125g bullets, in quite a few revolvers, and rifles.

I've loaded a lot of 38 special loads in 357 brass, but usually the accuracy ranges from bad to worse.

[Questor]

You might try the wadcutters that seat flush with the case mouth. That might improve your accuracy.

[Badnews Bob]

I do it all the time for my cowboy shootin irons, 3.9gr of titegroup and a 158gr RNFP hand cast bullet .357 case shoots inside of 1.5" at 50 yards and will bust clay or cans at 100yrds every time fun to shoot. I use them in my NEF .357 max, ruger vaquaros,and my marlin lever gun. Had to find a way because the marlin dosn't like to feed the .38s.  I believe the problem of shooting light magnum loads come from useing powders like H110 or W 296 you can not reduce those loads, but powders like Bullseye,uniqce,titgroup, and some othrs can be reduced quite a bit. it dose tend to leave you with very dirty cases.

[ajj]

Of the two powders you mention I think 231 is the better of the two for your purposes. I've shot a lot of .357 mag "starting loads" of 231 with good success. You probably know that using a .38 special load in the magnum case will cause some loss of pressure and velocity. Just try the starting load listed in the .357 data. Good luck.

[Mikey]

dz86:  My Lyman Pistol and revolver Handbook shows a 7.0 grain load of Unique behind that 125 gn bullet for 990'/sec at 18.9k psi - that's in the 38 Spl pressure ranges.  10.4 gns of Blue Dot runs to 20K psi and 1113'/sec, which might be too hot for your wrist injury.  The only WW231 load I show for that bullet is 5.6 grns for 1070'/sec at 19k psi.

HTH.  Mikey.

[Black Jaque Janaviac]

There should be no problem with what you suggest.

What I have done is look up a .357 load and a .38spl load for same bullet.  I used a .357 case and STARTED with the .38 spl max load, worked up from there figuring I would stop at the .357 magnum maximum-charge.  I think I found what I was looking for before I reached the .357 magnum maximum-charge.  (Please note: I am using the word maximum to mean the "maximum listed charge" in a reloading manual, I am NOT referring to the .357 Remmington Maximum cartridge).

You are fine using non-magnum powders for weak loads.  It's tiny doses of magnum powders that has caused problems.

[dz86]

Thank you all very much for your input. It is much appreciated.

Dave