Does shooting 38's in a 357mag rifle cause chamber erosion?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Does shooting 38's in a 357mag rifle cause chamber erosion?

Posted: 3/21/2017 10:01:58 PM EDT

Rossi 92 just back from the factory and have been looking to work up some loads for it. I see lots of people say don't shoot 38 specials it will cause a carbon ring in the chamber and 357 won't function, also people claim that the shorter cases cause chamber erosion?
I mean the rifle is stamped 38/357? Wouldn't the carbon ring be removed with a chamber brush? Is this legit or just internet bs?

Posted: 3/21/2017 11:07:26 PM EDT

[#1]

I'd just load light .357 Mag.

Posted: 3/21/2017 11:31:23 PM EDT

[#2]

Historically, cheap .38 reloads could be bought with soft lead, wax-lube bullets.

Really splooged-up the chamber.

Yes, the chambers could be de-splooged with enough solvent and elbow grease. But,the cheap bastards who liked to buy that sort of ammo wouldn't clean the guns worth crap. So, their guns tied-up when they shot the longer ammo.

You can still handload sploogey .38 special, but it's much more rare over the counter at ranges.

Posted: 3/21/2017 11:33:44 PM EDT

[#3]

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Quoted:
I'd just load light .357 Mag.

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This is an option also but mag brass is a lot more expensive

I have 38 brass running out my ears

Posted: 3/21/2017 11:43:41 PM EDT

[#4]

Yes, shooting 38spl will cause a carbon ring that a good scrubbing will remove. You might have trouble chambering 357's after a bunch of 38's have been fired without first cleaning out the carbon ring. Chamber erosion from shooting 38's, it's going to take a lot of shooting to see any measurable erosion...

The better reason to load 38spl charges into 357 cases is for better feeding. If your rifle doesn't mind the shorter OAL of 38's then use the cheaper brass if you like.

Myself, unless the gun is chambered for 38 or 44spl, I always use the longer 357/44m cases for optimum feeding and load as light or hot as I want.

Posted: 3/22/2017 8:14:18 AM EDT

[#5]

Never hurt mine. S&W and Ruger .357's have had a lot of .38's through them in past years.

Just clean them after every shooting trip.

Posted: 3/22/2017 6:17:59 PM EDT

[#6]

Mix a 50/50 Kroil/Hoppes 9 solution and allow it to soak in your chamber for a day or two. Then use a .40 cal bronze brush and scrape the chamber clean.

Posted: 3/22/2017 6:19:18 PM EDT

[#7]

OP, how long was your gun at Rossi?

I called yesterday in regards to mine and they said they are on schedule for revolvers and rifles and behind schedule for semi auto pistols.

Posted: 3/22/2017 7:26:10 PM EDT

[#8]

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Quoted:
OP, how long was your gun at Rossi?

I called yesterday in regards to mine and they said they are on schedule for revolvers and rifles and behind schedule for semi auto pistols.

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5 months...

I had to call every couple of days or I fear it would have been longer. Back around November they told me only 1 guy was working on long guns

Posted: 3/23/2017 5:27:17 PM EDT

[#9]

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Quoted:

5 months...

I had to call every couple of days or I fear it would have been longer. Back around November they told me only 1 guy was working on long guns

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Crap.

My barrel chamber was oversized so they need to replace the barrel and headspace.

Posted: 3/23/2017 11:12:58 PM EDT

[#10]

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Quoted:
Crap.

My barrel chamber was oversized so they need to replace the barrel and headspace.

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View All Quotes

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Quoted:

Quoted:

5 months...

I had to call every couple of days or I fear it would have been longer. Back around November they told me only 1 guy was working on long guns

Crap.

My barrel chamber was oversized so they need to replace the barrel and headspace.

Is yours a round barrel?
Mine was an octagon and after 5 months I called one day and they said it couldn't be repaired so I could pick a replacement rifle but they had discontinued the octagon models. So I chose a 20" round barrel and it was on backorder. I called again and they said no eta on when they would get them in they had no idea. I called a week or so later and the guy says well they were able to repair your original rifle after all so it will ship out tomorrow. It's been a heck of an ordeal when I was quoted 4-6 weeks

Posted: 3/24/2017 2:13:01 PM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:

Is yours a round barrel?
Mine was an octagon and after 5 months I called one day and they said it couldn't be repaired so I could pick a replacement rifle but they had discontinued the octagon models. So I chose a 20" round barrel and it was on backorder. I called again and they said no eta on when they would get them in they had no idea. I called a week or so later and the guy says well they were able to repair your original rifle after all so it will ship out tomorrow. It's been a heck of an ordeal when I was quoted 4-6 weeks

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Mine is the round barrel.

The Rossi rep also said if they are out of stock on parts then they have to be shipped from Brazil and it can take time.

I'll know in 2 weeks as I'm 4 weeks in. They also quoted me 4-6 weeks.

If Henry's had a loading gate I'd not be in this pickle.

Posted: 3/24/2017 2:25:51 PM EDT

[#12]

Sounds like they have become100% Taurus.

Posted: 3/24/2017 2:48:12 PM EDT

[#13]

The carbon ring isn't really a big deal. An occasional cleaning keeps it from building up or you can just do the following when you get enough that it bugs you.

If you reload, or know some who does, just take a resized .357 case and put enough bell on the case to where you can just get it into the chamber.

Fully seat the case and it will scrape 90% plus of the carbon out. A little brushing will take care of the rest.

Helps if you chamfer the case inside and out before belling to give the case mouth a sharpish edge.

Posted: 3/24/2017 8:45:09 PM EDT

[#14]

I would also like to add. The thought of a chamber ring from shooting 38s in a 357 Mag chamber also came from
A time when a lot of lead bullets were being used. So you could get lead build up.
Less of an issue with jacketed bullets.

Posted: 3/24/2017 8:55:02 PM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
The carbon ring isn't really a big deal. An occasional cleaning keeps it from building up or you can just do the following when you get enough that it bugs you.

If you reload, or know some who does, just take a resized .357 case and put enough bell on the case to where you can just get it into the chamber.

Fully seat the case and it will scrape 90% plus of the carbon out. A little brushing will take care of the rest.

Helps if you chamfer the case inside and out before belling to give the case mouth a sharpish edge.

Cool I do reload so I will try that

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Posted: 3/24/2017 8:56:18 PM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:
I would also like to add. The thought of a chamber ring from shooting 38s in a 357 Mag chamber also came from
A time when a lot of lead bullets were being used. So you could get lead build up.
Less of an issue with jacketed bullets.

View Quote

Good to hear, I usually use plated bullets that have no exposed lead

Posted: 3/24/2017 8:58:45 PM EDT

[#17]

Quote History

Quoted:

Mine is the round barrel.

The Rossi rep also said if they are out of stock on parts then they have to be shipped from Brazil and it can take time.

I'll know in 2 weeks as I'm 4 weeks in. They also quoted me 4-6 weeks.

If Henry's had a loading gate I'd not be in this pickle.

View Quote

I know what you mean I can't stand that loading system and Henry makes some nice rifles but the octagon model I looked at was heaaaavy
I also read a lot of complaints from the cowboy action crowd that said nobody brings a Henry more than once apparently they will not hold up when run hard at a match

Posted: 3/25/2017 10:30:48 AM EDT

[#18]

I talked to Henry's pres, Mr. Imperato, when they were developing the big boy rifle and came out to Colorado to visit a Cowboy Action shoot with some drawings and pictures of the prototype 357mag version. A few of us asked him why they didn't add a side loading gate. He gave a strange answer about something to do with a patent, however, he agreed that the patent on the gate expired decades ago so there was no issue there. He asked us if we thought it was a big deal and I and some others said it was a deal breaker. He didn't seem concerned which puzzled us as reloading through the gate is faster than through the tube.

Posted: 3/25/2017 1:24:33 PM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:
I talked to Henry's pres, Mr. Imperato, when they were developing the big boy rifle and came out to Colorado to visit a Cowboy Action shoot with some drawings and pictures of the prototype 357mag version. A few of us asked him why they didn't add a side loading gate. He gave a strange answer about something to do with a patent, however, he agreed that the patent on the gate expired decades ago so there was no issue there. He asked us if we thought it was a big deal and I and some others said it was a deal breaker. He didn't seem concerned which puzzled us as reloading through the gate is faster than through the tube.

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I also don't like my hand near the muzzle to load.

He seems he did not want to be bothered with changing his design.

I would love a Henry steel in .357/.44 mag with a side loading gate.

They are heavy. I'm not a coyboy shooter. If heavy= reliable then that's a fine tradeoff for me, plus a heavier shooter will be easier on the kids.

If enough people wrote to Henry with the same concern, they would eventually listen?

Henry just made a pretty cool lever action with a detachable mag and they shoot centerfire.

So, why not make a loading gate?

Posted: 3/25/2017 2:20:41 PM EDT

[#20]

Maybe this can help you with the chamber issue...
Lever Action Chamber and Bore cleaning. Rifle (unloaded) secured in a vise or cleaning fixture and the lever all the way down/breech fully open (or bolt lacked to the rear).
Step 1. Use a Dewey coated rod so as not to harm the rifling as you rotate it to clean or brush the chamber. The rod needs to be at least 4 to 6 inches longer than your barrel. I get ready to position the best fitting felt wad assembled to the Dewey rod tip adapter (or chamber mop, or bore/chamber brush) (all available from Brownells) in the open breech and sometimes use a needle nose pliers to hold it steady and centered to the chamber/bore centerline during the end of the Step 2.
Step 2. Carefully insert the bare coated rod (keeping it centered so as not to harm the crown) through the muzzle and through to the breech area to engage what you will be holding in position there, and rotate the coated rod body extending in front of the muzzle clockwise with your fingers until it’s fully screwed into what you are (now) holding steady and centered in the breech area.
Step 3. Once secured, pull the rod towards the muzzle a bit so the wad, mop, or brush it is now fully in the chamber area. Then by rotating the coated rod body with your fingers, you can wipe/brush the chamber quite effectively. Correct size wads work particularly well in .357 or .44 Magnum chambers which have fired shorter .38 or .44 Special ammunition. I have also worked through a number of “looser to tighter” bore/chamber brushes to get the cleaning fit I think effective. What I mean here is that I have found that not all .38 or .44 caliber brushes are the same diameter.
When using wads or a mop, I don’t drip solvent on it until I have it assembled to the rod in the breech area so I can rotate it from the muzzle end as I drip solvent/oil for even distribution. This also keeps your fingers dry. Once rotated a bit for the cleaning level desired, pull out towards the muzzle keeping the rod centered at the crown. You might do this more than once so you clean the bore simultaneously.
I can then wipe the chamber/bore dry using a folded patch inserted through rod tip held in the breech, with the needle nose if necessary, using the same (bare rod through the muzzle) method as above. The best part of this procedure is that you are always pulling the fouling from the chamber/bore area out the muzzle.
I use this same basic chamber to muzzle procedure for M1’s, M14’s, Mini 14’s, etc., even .22’s
Once clean, use the same procedure to coat the chamber and bore with your favorite preservative oil.

Posted: 4/2/2017 5:10:09 PM EDT

[#21]

To add a leading gate a number of parts would have to be redesigned, you can't really just add it without changing anything.

Also I just cleaned a 44 Marlin that I have been shooting lots of 44spl through. Significant carbon ring in the chamber. Took a 1/4 inch piece of copper wire, hammered tip flat, and bent the flat tip 90deg and used it like a scraper to get the carbon ring. Worked great and took maybe 5 min. I had shot over 200rd of lead special and mag brass was getting hard to extract after firing.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Does shooting 38's in a 357mag rifle cause chamber erosion?

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