Archived Posts » 59,726,163
.357 DE cycle the .38 special rounds?
3/30/2010 2:16:37 PM
I'm looking at picking up DEs in .357 and .44. I just parted with all of my revolvers with hunter length (6"+) barrels but I'd still like to have the .357/.44 mag capability. Will the .357 cycle the .38 rounds. I carry a .357 mag backup that is usually loaded with .38+P. DEs use a gas system...so I'm currious about the "lighter" rounds. Thanks.
3/30/2010 2:21:12 PM
short answer is no. heard of guys ordering new springs and cutting them and such, but it never really seems to work well. Mine will only shoot hot loads reliably.
3/30/2010 2:33:14 PM
It won't cycle them, but it'll shoot 'em one at a time just fine.
-Mark.
-Mark.
3/31/2010 10:02:32 PM
You can handload to make it work. But for the effort and what you get out of it, you might as well just use .357 brass to begin with.
Here is a .44 Spl. that I loaded up to .44 Mag OAL and to .44 Mag pressures and they ran just fine in my DE. But like I said, it doesn't do anything that the same load in .44 Mag brass doesn't already do. The one advantage I can think of is that the Spl. case's shorter length might help it eject clear of the slide a little easier. The primary malfunction that I get is when the piece of brass gets caught between the slide and the rear end of the scope mount.
Of course the first time I posted this picture, I was immediately swamped by the guys saying that it's dangerous and that one of my "nuclear .44 Spl. rounds" could magically make its way into an original Colt SAA and blow it up along with my hand, etc, etc.
Here is a .44 Spl. that I loaded up to .44 Mag OAL and to .44 Mag pressures and they ran just fine in my DE. But like I said, it doesn't do anything that the same load in .44 Mag brass doesn't already do. The one advantage I can think of is that the Spl. case's shorter length might help it eject clear of the slide a little easier. The primary malfunction that I get is when the piece of brass gets caught between the slide and the rear end of the scope mount.
Of course the first time I posted this picture, I was immediately swamped by the guys saying that it's dangerous and that one of my "nuclear .44 Spl. rounds" could magically make its way into an original Colt SAA and blow it up along with my hand, etc, etc.
