38 Special rifle load recommendations

[TNBigBore]

Any of you guys load 158 grain jacketed hollow points in a 38 Special case to use in your Marlin, Rossi or Browning rifles? I got 500 .357 jhp bullets for a good price, but am very low on 357 brass. I have tons of 38 Special brass, thus the question.

I have a fair amount of Unique, H110 and Lilgun on hand. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Tycer]

4.7-5.5 grains of Unique. 5.5 is a 22,400 CUP +P load. 5.2 is 18,200 CUP. Both of them are fine in a rifle. I'd only use them in a heavy action revolver.

[rjohns94]

my very same loads, works well in my nkj .357 lever

[Terry Murbach]

FOR HEAVY LOADS IN THE 38SPL WITH 158gr BULLETS I STILL PREFER 2400 PROPELLENT. IN THIS CASE I WOULD LIKE 11.5gr OF 2400 AS THAT IS ALSO MY CURRENT HEAVY LOAD FOR MY 38SPL 5-GUNS AND SIXGUNS.

[Bear 45/70]

The 38 loads will dirty up the chamber ahead of the 38 brass making chambering 357's a problem without major cleaning.

[cshold]

The 38 loads will dirty up the chamber ahead of the 38 brass making chambering 357's a problem without major cleaning.

Must take shooting more than 50 rd's of .38 spl's to "dirty up the chamber".
I just did it, switching back to .357's was a non-issue.

[Tycer]

The 38 loads will dirty up the chamber ahead of the 38 brass making chambering 357's a problem without major cleaning.

Must take shooting more than 50 rd's of .38 spl's to "dirty up the chamber".
I just did it, switching back to .357's was a non-issue.

I do make a habit of scrubbing the chamber of any gun after shooting short rounds. I shoot cast bullets almost exclusively. A little powder fouling prolly won't hurt anything, but a little lead might jack pressures up past safe. I run my 357 magnums at full pressure.

[Travis Morgan]

Any of you guys load 158 grain jacketed hollow points in a 38 Special case to use in your Marlin, Rossi or Browning rifles? I got 500 .357 jhp bullets for a good price, but am very low on 357 brass. I have tons of 38 Special brass, thus the question.

I have a fair amount of Unique, H110 and Lilgun on hand. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

If you need .357 brass, I can roll out the old tradin' blanket! I need: 8 rd. 1911 mags, a 358429 mold, possibly other molds, a front sight insert that goes in the ramp on a 1976 model Winchester 94 .30-30, innards for a Buffalo Bill commemerative 94, a bigger truck, a smaller wife, and better eyes and ears.

Whatcha got?

[TNBigBore]

Thanks for the info guys. I learned the hard way about the crud that builds up in a 357 using 38 cases. The first Marlin 1894C I owned was fed a steady diet of 38s before I ever fired the first 357 out of it. I had a lot of trouble ejecting spent cases. It took some serious elbow grease to get the gunk out. I usually try to clean thoroughly after about 200 rounds of 38 now.

Wish I had some of the trade goods you are looking for Travis.

[Travis Morgan]

I also take cash, ya know.