Are 38 Special and 357 interchangeable?

Are 38 Special and 357 interchangeable?

But here’s the deal: Because the two rounds are loaded with bullets that are the same diameters, but the 357 Magnum merely has a longer case and more powder, the 38 Special cartridge can be safely fired in guns marked 357 Magnum, but not vice-versa.

Are 357 and 38 bullets the same?

38 Special and . 357 Magnum are exactly the same in width. It’s only when looking at their length that you’ll notice a difference. Many handgun owners shoot one or both of these rounds, and while the cartridges have a common heritage, these bullets perform in strikingly different ways.

What ammo can a 38 Special shoot?

What Type of Ammunition Can I Fire In My Revolver?

If Your Revolver Is Marked …	It Will Safely Fire These Cartridges …
.327 Federal Magnum	.327 Federal Magnum, .32 H&R Magnum, .32 S&W Long
.38 Special	.38 Special
.38 Special +P	.38 Special +P, .38 Special
.357 Magnum	.357 Magnum, .38 Special +P, .38 Special

What ammo does a Colt 38 use?

38 Long Colt uses a . 357–. 358 in (9.07–9.09 mm) bullet, the bearing surface and lubricant of which are entirely contained within the cartridge case.

What is the difference between 38 special and 357?

38 and . 357 are virtually identical. . 38 cartridges can be fired from revolvers chambered for the . 357, but the converse is not true; ….Comparison chart.

	.357 Magnum	.38 Special
Base diameter	.379 in (9.6 mm)	0.379 in (9.6mm)
Designed	1934	1898
Rim diameter	.440 in (11.2 mm)	0.44 in (11mm)

What is the difference between 38 and 38 special?

There’s no difference between a . 38 and a 38 special. The former refers to a caliber with a . 357 inch bullet diameter, while the latter is a cartridge variant under the .

Is there a difference between 38 and 38 special?

What does plus P mean on 38 special?

38 Super Auto ammunition has the “+P” designation.) To prevent firearm damage and possible injury, +P ammunition must be fired only in those firearms certified for it.

What’s the difference between 38 and 38 special?

Is there a 38 special short?

38 Special-Short, LRN, 125 Grain, 50 Rounds – 85435, . 38 Special Ammo at Sportsman’s Guide.

How bad does a 357 kick?

It has extremely light recoil, it’s very easy to shoot, and I had no problem getting good scores with all three guns. 357 Magnum Golden Saber which is pretty mild for a magnum load, but it has significantly more recoil than the +P.

Is there a difference between a 357 and a 357 magnum?

357 Magnum and 125-grain . 357 SIG. The larger Magnum cartridge has lower speeds but a muzzle energy of 539 foot-pounds, while the . 357 SIG, a faster cartridge, has only 506 foot-pounds of muzzle energy.

What kind of rounds can a 357 Magnum shoot?

A .357 Magnum can safely and readily shoot the following rounds: .38 Short Colt, .38 Long Colt, .38 Special, .357 Magnum.

Can a 38 Long Colt safely fire 38 Special?

And of course any .38 Special or .357 Magnum revolver can safely fire .38 Long Colt. Here’s a brief synopsis of the .38 Colt/Long Colt story: It was introduced in the early to mid-1870s for several types of Colt revolvers.

Can I shoot 38 Spl+P in a 357 Mag?

A final note, you can also shoot.38 SPL+P in your.357 Mag…but you might as well just shoot.357 Mag rounds if you’re going to do that. You can even get low recoil/low flash.357 Mag rounds and avoid the chamber fouling/erosion issues that come from prolonged use of.38 SPL or.38 Long Colts. If you reload, just reload them light.

What is the best bullet for a 38 Long Colt revolver?

If the .38 Long Colt revolver you wish to shoot is an original or a facsimile such as my “modern” conversion, then the best choice is a 145–155-grain soft lead, hollow-base bullet. In past years hollow-base bullet molds were not hard to find. Today they are.