Anyone know if there are any accuracy issues shooting .38 special in a .357 or any negative chamber issues.

In what gun?

 

.38 Special in a S&W 686 Revolver is just fine...

 

.38 special in a Desert Eagle .357 will have cycling issues...

.38 spl in a Remlin 1894C lever (18.5" bbl):

Pro: Mag tube capacity 10

Con: Groups are huge

 

.357 Mag in the same gun:

Pro: Groups are much tighter (not quite match gun tight, but technically it's not a match gun)

Con: Mag tube capacity 9

 

I've loaded .38 spl +P brass to .357 Mag spec and fired it in same gun:

Groups are almost as tight as .357 Mag brass

Groups are 6" higher than .357 Mag brass

Capacity is 10

Many will say there's a loss of accuracy shooting a 38 in a 357 due to the bigger jump the bullet has to make. I'm not one of them. If this were true in all cases S&W K frame 22s would be the most inaccurate revolver ever made. We all know it's not.

 

I've never seen much, if any, difference in accuracy shooting 38s in a 357. In a rife? there may be some difference. I haven't shot much 38 in my 357 levergun. However, last week I tried some std velocity lead SWCs. They were more accurate than the 357s at 25 yds. If you're shooting 38s at longer ranges you may have accuracy problems as the bullet loses stability as it loses velocity.

 

You will hear people talk of fouling in the cylinder from shooting 38s in a 357. I've never had that problem because I clean my guns after use.

Plinking at clay birds on the berm and nailing them at 50 yards 5 out of 6 times shooting .38's in a .357 revolver would tend to make one think they don't have an accuracy problem .  Just remember to breathe and squeeze, and "just let the explosion happen"!

This is all 38 158gr out of my 18" Henry 357 after first time shooting, Backyard boresight group at 9:00, 50yds. center dot after an adjustment. Went to 357 and didnt get on paper with 5 shots. Was a long day by then,and saved that issue for another day. But when shooting out of a 4" brl, at typical handgun distances i dont get a noticable dif other than a small shift of grouping.

You will probably get a POA shift between the two but accuracy should be fine

should have mentioned it will be in a revolver,   looking for a .38 target gun and was thinking of possibly making it a .357 to get the versatility.   Older model guns as well, colt, smith

should have mentioned it will be in a revolver,   looking for a .38 target gun and was thinking of possibly making it a .357 to get the versatility.   Older model guns as well, colt, smith

4" 357 revolver, best do it all handgun IMO.

I haven't noticed any particular loss in accuracy using 38 in my S&W 627 or my Ruger Match Champion.

You do need to adjust for bullet drop over distance if you swap back and forth with 38/357 and cleaning becomes more important as the jump to the forcing cone is greater meaning more buildup around there and rings in the cylinder from the shorter cases.

Long as you keep it reasonably clean, I don't think there will be any accuracy issues.

 

-Jim

Tip:

Use a .40 cal cleaning brush to clean the cylinder bores

Tip:

Use a .40 cal cleaning brush to clean the cylinder bores

Also use a belled brass 357 case to remove 38 cylinder build up.

Also use a belled brass 357 case to remove 38 cylinder build up.

If you find yourself having to do this you're not cleaning properly.

should have mentioned it will be in a revolver,   looking for a .38 target gun and was thinking of possibly making it a .357 to get the versatility.   Older model guns as well, colt, smith

No finer .38 Spl then a S&W Model 14

currently I have a model 15 4" and would like to add a 6" target model.