Question 357 vs 38spl Ammo

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   This morning we got out to the range before too hot!
At  50yds from a pistol support, knowing I have an adjustment now switching shootings hands, my shot groups with the 38 spl were spread way over the target paper, where as with the 357 they were not great but inside a three inch group, some in a quarter.
Using the same pistol but different ammo...factory ammo.. not mine.
The sights are fixed...no adjustment.
Question: Is it the difference in bullet length, noting that 357mag is about .130inches longer than the 38 spl causing the 38 spl to " jump" into the rifling more so than the 357 mag? Thus poorer shot groups?
I know pistols are not as accurate as rifles but why such a difference.
Maybe it is still my change over from right to left hand.
Any thoughts?

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Bojon Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List .243 Winchester Joined: 11 June 2003 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 247	Topic: Question 357 vs 38spl Ammo Posted: 09 July 2004 at 11:32
	This morning we got out to the range before too hot! At 50yds from a pistol support, knowing I have an adjustment now switching shootings hands, my shot groups with the 38 spl were spread way over the target paper, where as with the 357 they were not great but inside a three inch group, some in a quarter. Using the same pistol but different ammo...factory ammo.. not mine. The sights are fixed...no adjustment. Question: Is it the difference in bullet length, noting that 357mag is about .130inches longer than the 38 spl causing the 38 spl to " jump" into the rifling more so than the 357 mag? Thus poorer shot groups? I know pistols are not as accurate as rifles but why such a difference. Maybe it is still my change over from right to left hand. Any thoughts?
	Freedom is God given and our most precious Right It seems as though Rifles have become measured as the automobile..."how fast can it go?"...

mr mom Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List .30/06 SpringField Joined: 10 June 2003 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 342	Posted: 09 July 2004 at 12:12
	bojon: i dont think its the jump from the cylender to the cone of the bdl. i shoot 44 spl. out of my mag all the time with the same results. crappy. i havent shot it much in a long time . i use to shoot combat corse , i would sand bag em.. i would use the hottest mag rounds i had to warm up with. then when it was my turn i would use the spl. with a 208 gr. wadcutter with about 3 or 4 gr. of powder. it shoot very good but when i had to shoot left handed i would have dont better just by throwing the rounds with my hand. it was the only 1 that i didnt get in the kill zone.
	mr mom

deaddog Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Administrator AKA The Flying Gun Joined: 23 April 2004 Location: Svalbard Status: Offline Points: 991201	Posted: 09 July 2004 at 12:41
	I've always had better accuracy with .38's in a .38 than in a .357. Some have been pretty close but never equal. They say it's the pressure jump going into the forcing cone. On the other hand I've had several .357 rifles and the accuracy with .38's has always been excellent. The thing to do would be to run them accross the chrono to check the deviation. My guess is that the .38's have more than the .357's. DD

CB900F Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Administrator Honor, Integrity Joined: 10 June 2003 Location: Eritrea Status: Offline Points: 8857	Posted: 09 July 2004 at 14:11
	Bojon; I've reloaded for the .357 for a while now. I've always, without exception, used .357 brass. That's not to say that all loads are magnum, because they aren't. Most of my practice/plinkinig rounds are loaded with a 125 gr copper-washed bullet & 5.0 gr of 700X. I get excellent accuracy with a very clean burning powder. When I do load up to magnum velocity I use Blue Dot, but go to jacketed bullets. If I remember correctly, you do reload. My advice is to stop bothering with the .38 brass & just load .357 to whatever level you need for the purpose at hand. 900F
	Birth certificate!? He don't need no steenkink birth certificate!!

Ranch 13 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List .375 Holland & Holland Magnum Joined: 02 June 2004 Location: Guernsey Status: Offline Points: 657	Posted: 09 July 2004 at 16:18
	Its my belief that when using the shorter special cases in a magnum cylinder the bullet has just a bit of unsupported travel to the cylinder throat, that causes accuracy to go to pot. Best cure I've found is using a longer bullet in the special cases, or putting special type loads int the magnum case so the bullet is closer to the throat.
	The most expensive bullet there is isn't worth a plug nickel if it don't go where its supposed to.

waksupi Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List .416 Rigby aka Keeper of the Old Traditions Joined: 11 June 2003 Status: Offline Points: 2371	Posted: 09 July 2004 at 17:15
	Check how the bullets fit the throat. If they aren't .001 over, they won't shoot well.
	Shooters Cast Bullet Alumnus http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/index.php?

Bojon Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List .243 Winchester Joined: 11 June 2003 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 247	Posted: 10 July 2004 at 04:37
	Thanks to all of you. The idea of CB's I want to try, and yes the spacing, length must contribute or take away something. We can load up different weights and use other powders staying with the 357. This is the next step, and I'll report back in couple of weeks as soon as we load up and shoot some of our own 357. Thanks again. Bojon
	Freedom is God given and our most precious Right It seems as though Rifles have become measured as the automobile..."how fast can it go?"...

Vern Humphrey Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List .243 Winchester Joined: 29 November 2003 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 156	Posted: 12 August 2004 at 11:46
	I shoot .38s from all my .357s (a Colt SAA, a Colt M357 and a Ruger SP 101), and they all show gilt edge accuracy. I would be inclined to think it's the ammo, not the cartridge that's the problem. A good cast bullet in .38 special, sized for your revolver should shoot as well as any .357 load.