Significant irritation...

[Old Ironsights]

SO, I just aquired a .38sp derringer specifically to use with .38 Snake Shot loads.

Guess what?

The durn chamber is too short. The plastic shot thingy of my CCI shotshells won't enter the forcing cone.

So how hard is it to take a .357 finish reamer and stretch the chamber some?

Now, admittedly, when (if) I have the time I can make my own shot shells... but not right now. And also admittedly, being able to shove a .357mag load into a derringer designed for .38sp would be a Bad Thing (TM).

But I REALLY only bought this thing for use with Shot loads and it's dang annoying that I can't use it for that out of the box.

Anyway, I can rent a Finish Reamer for about $50. Does that need a lathe to work, or just a T handle?

[AJMD429]

I'd be tempted to try sort of 'pencil-sharpening' the plastic shot case. I had some yellow ones a ways back that were pretty thick. I expect you could use a file or rasp on them to give them some 'ogive'.

MAYBE even re-seating it deeper, though pressures would rise (but I doubt pressures are all that 'hot' for those rounds).

[Old Ironsights]

I'd be tempted to try sort of 'pencil-sharpening' the plastic shot case. I had some yellow ones a ways back that were pretty thick. I expect you could use a file or rasp on them to give them some 'ogive'.

MAYBE even re-seating it deeper, though pressures would rise (but I doubt pressures are all that 'hot' for those rounds).

Won't work. The chambers on this thing are Very tight and assume a Cone Shaped ogive. The Cylindrical ogive of the CCI shot Cup simply won't go in.

[harry]

T handle will work just fine for this application

[Old Ironsights]

T handle will work just fine for this application

Thanks. I'll most likely be ordering a Rental from these folks...

http://www.reamerrentals.com/ProductDet ... 357Mag%2Ef

Seems like a good deal... especially as I am not enough in the habit of needing a Reamer to buy one.

[olyinaz]

I'd suggest re-boring it with a .38 Special reamer first.

[Old Ironsights]

I'd suggest re-boring it with a .38 Special reamer first.

Every SAAMI .38sp I've tried drops right in... so the case shoulder is probably just fine.

The problem is is that the CCI Shot load is only SAAMI when put into a 38/357 CYLINDER.

When inserted into a SAAMI .38 CHAMBER the shot cup OD is greater than the ID of the Lands in a .38 barrell... meaning it just won't fit.

I need to push (grind) the lands out to the OAL of the CCI Shot Cup.

[SteveR]

Just a thought, but if you reem it out and it is long enough to take .357. And later in life you sell it or your heirs sell or even don't know its not for .357, you could be creating a hazard for life and limb.

Steve

[Old Ironsights]

Just a thought, but if you reem it out and it is long enough to take .357. And later in life you sell it or your heirs sell or even don't know its not for .357, you could be creating a hazard for life and limb.

Steve

Agreed. Which is the rub.

OTOH it's no big thing to engrave the barrel with "Dispose upon transfer" or "Don't you DARE try to stuff a .357 in here"...

Heck, a new Barrel set for a Cobra is only $70...

[SteveR]

Just a thought, but if you reem it out and it is long enough to take .357. And later in life you sell it or your heirs sell or even don't know its not for .357, you could be creating a hazard for life and limb.

Steve

Agreed. Which is the rub.

OTOH it's no big thing to engrave the barrel with "Dispose upon transfer" or "Don't you DARE try to stuff a .357 in here"...

Heck, a new Barrel set for a Cobra is only $70...

Maybe a Lyman hand reloading tool in .38/357, and you can set the shot shell to fit. I bet it would be a little cheaper than even renting the reemer.

Steve

[Glenn]

OI, rent a throating reamer, not a chamber reamer. This will ream out the rifling only and not allow a 357 case to enter.

HOWEVER, make sure there is some rifling left in there!! (I know you knew that.)

Glenn

[Old Ironsights]

OI, rent a throating reamer, not a chamber reamer. This will ream out the rifling only and not allow a 357 case to enter.

HOWEVER, make sure there is some rifling left in there!! (I know you knew that.)

Glenn

+1.

Not much rifling in a 2" bbl...

[Sixgun]

OI,
It does take much time to load a dozen snake loads.

Get some empties and reprime them---you don't even need to resize or have a loading press---just knock out the old primers with a finishing nail and tap the new ones in with a light hammer using a piece of a wooden dowel for a punch.

Get one of your empty 38 cases and run a pocket knife around the edge to make it sharp.

Use that case to punch out some wads from old business cards.

Load 3 grains of Bullseye or 4 of Unique and tap a wad over the powder.

Break open a common shotgun shell that was loaded with #7 and 1/2 or #8 shot. Pour your shot into the case until it reaches 1/8" below the mouth.

Tap in another wad and put on a dab of Elmers glue, let it harden...................then go to town!!----------------------6


The reason your CCI's shotloads don't chamber is because they are meant for revolvers with long throats. My way is a lot easier than messing with rented tools and destroyed rifling. Its not as if you are going to go through 100 rds of these in a week.----------Sixgun

[FWiedner]

Aw hell.

Just admit you made a mistake, sell the darn thing, and get a .357 derringer.

You're tryin' to polish a turd.

[Griff]

Aw hell.
Just admit you made a mistake, sell the darn thing, and get a .357 derringer.
You're tryin' to polish a turd.

Bluntly stated, but accurate.

[Bronco]

Howdy,
I've made shot shells for years. Powder charge, gas check ( cup up ), pushed down with wooden dowel, shot, another gas check ( cup down ), crimp, seal.

Interesting part is that upon firing the bottom check get about 50grs. of lead welded in place so the pattern has a chunk of lead that puts a hole in the middle of the pattern. About 8" diameter pattern at 6 feet. The rifling really fans the shot out.

John

[mikld]

OI, rent a throating reamer, not a chamber reamer. This will ream out the rifling only and not allow a 357 case to enter.

HOWEVER, make sure there is some rifling left in there!! (I know you knew that.)

Glenn

This is what I was thinkin' too. Rather than a .357 chamber, just make it a .38 chamber with a long lead...

[Grizz]

would it be simpler to trade the 38 for a 357? that way all the fiddling is done

just saying

[olyinaz]

Just a thought, but if you reem it out and it is long enough to take .357. And later in life you sell it or your heirs sell or even don't know its not for .357, you could be creating a hazard for life and limb.

Steve

Agreed. Which is the rub.

OTOH it's no big thing to engrave the barrel with "Dispose upon transfer" or "Don't you DARE try to stuff a .357 in here"...

Heck, a new Barrel set for a Cobra is only $70...

There you go. I'd say you have a plan!

[Griff]

Just a thought, but if you reem it out and it is long enough to take .357. And later in life you sell it or your heirs sell or even don't know its not for .357, you could be creating a hazard for life and limb.
Steve

Heck, a new Barrel set for a Cobra is only $70...

There you go. I'd say you have a plan!

Can't argue with that logic... buy a .357 barrel for it.

[Old Ironsights]

Just a thought, but if you reem it out and it is long enough to take .357. And later in life you sell it or your heirs sell or even don't know its not for .357, you could be creating a hazard for life and limb.
Steve

Heck, a new Barrel set for a Cobra is only $70...

There you go. I'd say you have a plan!

Can't argue with that logic... buy a .357 barrel for it.

The frame for the .38 is not rated for .357 (or even +P) pressures and they do not sell .357 barrels for it.

If I wanted a derringer as big as a glock that could handle .357 or .45/.410 I would have gone that route. ... But I want SMALL for a very specific cell-phone-case carry reason.

Also, looking at how a .357 does not seat compared to how the .38 CCI Shot load does not seat, I don't think even a .357 derringer would accept those CCIs without opening up the throat.

So I'm going that route. A .358 throat reamer with T handle rents for $25 postage paid.

Yes, I will eventually be taking the time to make .38 Shot &/or Shot & Ball loads with my Lee Whack A Bullet, but not right now... not while I'm working 16 hr days. It will take less time and make the gun more flexible to open up the throat... and order a spare barrel set.