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i have a S & W Model 686 in 357 mag. Is it ok to shoot 38 Caliber ammo in it?
Shoot 38 Caliber in a 357 Caliber?
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Thanks.
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That is all I shoot in my 357 guns. After shooting lead bullets, shoot a few FMJ rounds through it. It will help with cleaning the lead residue. Shoot lots and shoot often.
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I was thinking.........this must be a trick question.
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Nope. Just a new shooter.I was thinking.........this must be a trick question.
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Glad to have you and welcome.
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But not the other way around. Never shoot 357 in a gun marked 38 special or 38 S&W.
The cleaning mentioned above is because 38sp is shorter and a ridge can build up over time and make chambering 357 problematic.
The cleaning mentioned above is because 38sp is shorter and a ridge can build up over time and make chambering 357 problematic.
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Special warning early 1900 Colt revolvers for 38 Long Colt did not have the cylinder bored to prevent the insertion of 357 Magnum rounds. I have actually seen someone carrying 357 Magnum Ammo in an early Colt revolver made some 35 years before the 357 Magnum Guns and ammo were introduced. The 357 magnum had over 3 times more pressure than the 38 Long Colt. The fellow said that he had never fired a 357 magnum and only used 38 Special shooting (still a bad idea). He was saving the 357 rounds for serious business.
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Thanks. You guys are all neat! (And Gals!!)
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ABSOLUTELY Just clean it good before you try to shoot magnums
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Some cartridges (especially for revolvers) are designed in a family, with a number of cartridges of different power levels in very similar cases, and with very similar bullets.
The general advice is to only use the ammunition for a gun that it's specifically designed for - and to confirm any markings on the gun with both the box marking for the ammunition and the headstamp on the ammunition base.
Some identical cartridges go by a number of different names. For example, ".380ACP", "9mm Kurz", "9mm Corto", "9mm Short", and "9x17mm" all refer to the same cartridge. The "9mm Luger", "Parabellum", "9x19mm" are the same cartridge. The "9x18mm" or "9mm Makarov" is a completely different cartridge used by the Eastern Block in Europe.
Those are cartridges for semi-auto guns, and the way they are designed the exact cartridge must be used for the handgun they fit in. When loaded into the barrel's chamber, these cartridges all rest on the mouth of the case. The barrel and rifling is precision designed for the circumference of the bullet loaded in the cartridge.
The design of revolver cartridges is a bit different. These cartridges rest in the cylinder's chambers on the rear rim of the cartridge, which is actually wider than the body of the cartridge case. For that reason, a revolver can be designed to work with cartridges of different lengths, and that is the case of the .38 special and the .357 magnum. The main difference between the cartridges is that the case of the .357 is a bit longer, there is more powder in it, the primer that ignites the powder is more active and the bullets are often a bit lighter.
Your S&W 686 revolver is designed to withstand the pressures generated by the powerful .357 magnum ammunition, as well as the less powerful .38 special ammunition. This is why it works with both cartridges.
A standards body in the USA, and another in Europe have specified the details of what each of these cartridges is. It's called SAAMI in the USA, and CIP in Europe.
The SAAMI specifications for pistol cartridges is here, if you are interested in a reference:
SAAMI Standards – SAAMI
Buy a box of each kind of cartridge when you can, and try them both. The .357 magnum will generate more recoil so you have to be prepared to manage it and follow through properly after the shot.
Consider an NRA Basic Pistol class. You'll find it interesting, improve your safety with handling a gun and enjoy the coaching that many of the instructors share...
Welcome to the forum.
The general advice is to only use the ammunition for a gun that it's specifically designed for - and to confirm any markings on the gun with both the box marking for the ammunition and the headstamp on the ammunition base.
Some identical cartridges go by a number of different names. For example, ".380ACP", "9mm Kurz", "9mm Corto", "9mm Short", and "9x17mm" all refer to the same cartridge. The "9mm Luger", "Parabellum", "9x19mm" are the same cartridge. The "9x18mm" or "9mm Makarov" is a completely different cartridge used by the Eastern Block in Europe.
Those are cartridges for semi-auto guns, and the way they are designed the exact cartridge must be used for the handgun they fit in. When loaded into the barrel's chamber, these cartridges all rest on the mouth of the case. The barrel and rifling is precision designed for the circumference of the bullet loaded in the cartridge.
The design of revolver cartridges is a bit different. These cartridges rest in the cylinder's chambers on the rear rim of the cartridge, which is actually wider than the body of the cartridge case. For that reason, a revolver can be designed to work with cartridges of different lengths, and that is the case of the .38 special and the .357 magnum. The main difference between the cartridges is that the case of the .357 is a bit longer, there is more powder in it, the primer that ignites the powder is more active and the bullets are often a bit lighter.
Your S&W 686 revolver is designed to withstand the pressures generated by the powerful .357 magnum ammunition, as well as the less powerful .38 special ammunition. This is why it works with both cartridges.
A standards body in the USA, and another in Europe have specified the details of what each of these cartridges is. It's called SAAMI in the USA, and CIP in Europe.
The SAAMI specifications for pistol cartridges is here, if you are interested in a reference:
SAAMI Standards – SAAMI
Buy a box of each kind of cartridge when you can, and try them both. The .357 magnum will generate more recoil so you have to be prepared to manage it and follow through properly after the shot.
Consider an NRA Basic Pistol class. You'll find it interesting, improve your safety with handling a gun and enjoy the coaching that many of the instructors share...
Welcome to the forum.
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Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass! What they^ said!
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You wouldn’t like that 686. I can do you a favor and just take it off your hands.
The 686 is a very versatile and high quality firearm. I’ve never shot a Colt Python but will never buy one. If I win the lottery I will buy a Dan Wesson 715 357 revolver (but I will have to win the lottery to justify the cost) Ruger GP100’s have a well deserved reputation for being over built. But I’ll take my S&W 686, thank you very much. Last gun I would ever get rid of and the best looking most well proportioned Smith revolver, IMHO. And there are a lot of good looking ones.
The 686 is a very versatile and high quality firearm. I’ve never shot a Colt Python but will never buy one. If I win the lottery I will buy a Dan Wesson 715 357 revolver (but I will have to win the lottery to justify the cost) Ruger GP100’s have a well deserved reputation for being over built. But I’ll take my S&W 686, thank you very much. Last gun I would ever get rid of and the best looking most well proportioned Smith revolver, IMHO. And there are a lot of good looking ones.
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