Any Truth To The Rumor...

[Pecci]

That, for example, a 38 will shoot less accurately in a 357 mag revolver, tha it would for a gun designed for 38 only?

[unspellable]

I would think there is some truth to this.  Although you're a better shot than I am if you can prove it.

[Almtnman]

If it does, it would probably have something to do with the bullet jump before engaging rifling's due to a little longer bore. Maybe somebody on here can check it out and let us know. 

[Mikey]

Pecci:  Not necessarily and it quite often depends on the individual revolver but unless you are measuring groups by the 1/10th of an inch, not really.

Many, many fellas I know/knew shot bulleye with S&W Model 19s using 38 Spl wadcutters.  Every single Ruger Blackhawk in 357 I have ever shot shoots 38s just as accurately as it does 357s. 

You can often enjoy incredible accuracy with 38 loads in a 357.  Mikey.

[Wingman26]

While possible, in practice I don't think that is a significant problem.  I shot PPC competitively for a number of years, I competed in the Master Class, I won lots of trophies and other goodies at matches...did I mention that my match revolver was based on a Model 13 in 357 mag?  That revolver never saw a 357 magnum cartridge case, and the cylinder was original to the gun, so it was, and still is chambered in 357 magnum.

[Old Griz]

My S&W 10 is the most accurate gun I own. It may just be the gun. However, my blackhawks are more accurate with .357s than they are with .38s, so I'd tend to believe that .38s shoot more accurately out of guns made to shoot .38s than they do out of guns that will also shoot .357s. That's just my limited experience.

[canon6]

I can only speak for myself,but I do not think I can shoot good enough to tell the difference.   Doug

[Almtnman]

My S&W 10 is the most accurate gun I own. It my just be the gun. However, my blackhawks are more accurate with .357s than they are with .38s, so I'd tend to believe that .38s shoot more accurately out of guns made to shoot .38s than they do out of guns that will also shoot .357s. That's just my limited experience.

Griz, according to what little I know about the S&W model 10, it is notorious for being a extremely accurate handgun all the way back to when it was used in WWII as the Victory model. I have heard that some of the older model 10's are more accurate than some of the newer ones, but I suspect that is due to being fired a lot and the action smoothing out.

[Catfish]

I doubt that there is any difference with a revolver since the jump from the case to the rifleings is already so great. It might make some difference with a gun that has the chamber in the barrel and you can shorten bullet jump, but it still depend up the barrel in the individual gun.