[Joey l mur]

38 puts .358 hole in chest and stays in body, 357 mag puts .358 hole in chest and a two foot hole in back. Witch one do you want. My RCBS dies are made to load 38, 38s, and 357 mag. In the 357 mag I have never had truble with the 38 amo but a friend lost a 38 S&W long by fireing 357 mag.

[Coralsea]

Of course you will have to adjust your Lee reloading dies for the difference in length between the 38 special and 357 cases. If your dies are set up for 38 special, you'll have to readjust them to load 357 cases. But you probably know that.

[Airweight38]

Right. Two full turns out for the charging die and the crimp die.

[jpkingp1]

As discussed earlier, the difference is in case length, and therefore volume. My favorite load for a decent 38 special is 4 grains of Red Dot behind a 158 grn SWC lead bullet. Standard small pistol primers are called for. These will lead the barrel somewhat, but step right out and are accurate. In the 357 case, I increase to 5.5 grains for the same effect due the increased case volume. Both loads are extremely accurate in both my Ruger Security Six 6" and my Dan Wesson 4"/8".

"biker" Jeff

[bltefft]

Just get a .357 revolver and reload 38 Spl, 38 +P, and 357 Mag for that revolver. I do (I have a Ruger SP 101 .357 and a Taurus 605 .357) and I only load into .357 cases.

Hack

[deadzero]

there has always been confusion on the 38/357 issue with new reloaders. The 38 was a holdover from the blackpowder era. it was originally a .38 diameter smooth bore that shot round ball. once in modern form, with rifling machined in is where the change occured. all bore diameters are measured from the rifling, from land to land. on a 38, with a rifled barrel, this measurement is .357 from land to land. but, if you measure the bore groove to groove it still measures .38.

so, basically the bullets are one in the same. the only difference is the case length and the magnum being able to function properly at much higher pressures.

[deadzero]

one more thing, load only bullets of .357 or 358 diameter in the 38/357.
ABSOLUTELY DO NOT load bullets of .38 diameter into a 38/357!!!

[billy]

What's the difference between .38 and .357?
lets see......carry the one......
.357-38=319
the answer is .319


anything else i can help you with?

[billy]

Quote:       Originally Posted by bltefft

Just get a .357 revolver and reload 38 Spl, 38 +P, and 357 Mag for that revolver. I do (I have a Ruger SP 101 .357 and a Taurus 605 .357) and I only load into .357 cases. Hack

i load a fair amount of .38 because .38 brass is so cheap and plentiful.

[jimkim]

Quote:       Originally Posted by billy

What's the difference between .38 and .357? lets see......carry the one...... .357-38=319 the answer is .319 anything else i can help you with?

.357-38=-37.643 isn't it? I hate modern math.

[billy]

Quote:       Originally Posted by jimkim

.357-38=-37.643 isn't it? I hate modern math.

you forgot to carry the one...

[jimkim]

I cant carry the one I have a bad back.

[gwalchmai]

Hi. New guy checking in adding just a bit more to the confusion.

Here's a good explanation of the development of the .357 Mag and its relationship to the .38 SPL.

As far as the naming difference, I've always been told that it came about because heeled .38 bullets used to have a diameter of .38", like the case, and then when heeled bullets were replaced they kept the name for marketing purposes.

[captainsnow]

"357, 358, whatever works!"

(where's that a quote from?)

[samuel]

If you can't figure .38 out go to .45 and if that doesn't work get a shotgun. sam.

[bobvonb]

Quote:       Originally Posted by billy

What's the difference between .38 and .357? lets see......carry the one...... .357-38=319 the answer is .319 anything else i can help you with?

keep your day jobs.

.38 -.357 = .023

[FortyXDM]

Wait...wait....let me simplify. The difference between .38 & .357 is something like this.
Imagine a gal walks up and kicks you in the ass wearing bunny boots.....
thats a .38
Imagine her long legged boyfriend kicking you in the ass wearing pointy cowboy boot....thats a .357.

Got it.

[ravenh2001]

shoot someone elses reloads ? it is ok if they are mine. I reload for 40 of my own guns. when my friends want me to reload for them they have to bring me their gun. I have many dies , powders and bullets for my toys. I work up a load for their gun that I would be proud to shoot then make them buy the bullets primers and powder for that load. I get to shoot on their dime. If they shot much they would reload their own. Today I have 2 friends guns beside me. my key board is between 2 reloading presses. 24 inches from the right hand press is a bench rest looking out at a 25-400 yard range. The wife made me sound proof the room so it didn't jump her if I shot without telling her first. right now shooting 308 168 grain bthp match hornady imr 4895 50.5 gr in browning a bolt for free. tight groops but drop at 300 is more then I like. I don't think she will try a 300 yard game shot so I think the recoil and comfort might be right. got to switch guns now.

[ravenh2001]

wow typo fat fingers on a keyboard it is 40.5 grains of 4895!!!! very sorry

[gashog]

Airweight38,

I also have the Lee Deluxe Pistol Die Set for 38 Special, I use them on a Lee turret press. I setup my dies for reloading 38 Special. Then I made (2) .130" thick spacers on my lathe. When reloading 357's I put a .130" spacer under the Expander Die and the Bullet Set Die and with a minor adjustment to the Crimp/Post Size die I'm good to go with reloading 357's. If you would like a set of these spacers let me know, I would be glad to make you some.