Desert Eagle .357, will it run .38 special?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Desert Eagle .357, will it run .38 special?

Posted: 2/11/2006 9:58:14 AM EDT

My father in law called to ask if his .357 DE would run .38 special. I told him that I really didn't know, and that I doubted the slide would cycle reliably. It would b cool if I was wrong.

Has anyone run .38 spc through their .357 DE?

Posted: 2/11/2006 10:01:07 AM EDT

[#1]

Because the 38 & 357 are rimmed cartridges that headspace off the case's rim, it is completely safe to fire. Whether or not it functions reliably is a whole different matter. The 38 load might not have enough gas pressure to cycle the pistol, since it is a gas operated design. The only advise I got is try it to see. Lots of people shoot .380 ammo in a 9mm, but at times it doesn't cycle the gun properly either.

Posted: 2/11/2006 12:15:25 PM EDT

[#2]

I really doubt that the DE 357 magnum will run on 38 Special ammo. The DE's I have seen don't like 357 magnum ammo, full power, with bullet weights less than 140 grains IIRC. Charles the Gunsmith.

Posted: 2/11/2006 12:18:41 PM EDT

[#3]

Father in law huh? Afraid to admit you own a Deagle?

Posted: 2/11/2006 1:35:24 PM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
Father in law huh? Afraid to admit you own a Deagle?

That was pretty funny. No, I don't own a "Deagle". My FIL got a really really great deal on his though, so I can't fault him for buying it. I've fired it a few times, and it is kind of fun to shoot. It's a very impractical weapon, and I can't for the life of me understand what practical purpose it would serve. Shooting it is kind of like driving a Caddilac. It's big and cushy, you barely feel the recoil at all. I just can't figure out what niche it fills.

Thanks for the info guys. I'll let him know what you all said. I was actually going to recommend that he try the .38, but I thought I should ask first. This will be interesting to see.

Posted: 2/11/2006 2:01:43 PM EDT

[#5]

nothing wrong with owning a Desert Eagle, they're a ton of fun to shoot.

Posted: 2/11/2006 2:21:31 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
nothing wrong with owning a Desert Eagle, they're a ton of fun to shoot.

I actually try to be considerate of others at the range.

-Foxxz

Posted: 2/11/2006 2:36:28 PM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
Because the 38 & 357 are rimmed cartridges that headspace off the case's rim, it is completely safe to fire. Whether or not it functions reliably is a whole different matter. The 38 load might not have enough gas pressure to cycle the pistol, since it is a gas operated design. The only advise I got is try it to see. Lots of people shoot .380 ammo in a 9mm, but at times it doesn't cycle the gun properly either.

You are kidding right ? I wouldn't want to be anywhere near that .....

I have both and they have different diameters.

Posted: 2/11/2006 5:00:55 PM EDT

[#8]

I thought .380 and 9mm were the same diameter, it was the 9x18 that was different. I might be totally off though.

Posted: 2/11/2006 5:37:38 PM EDT

[#9]

Does it even function reliably with .375mag ammo?

Posted: 2/11/2006 6:50:36 PM EDT

[#10]

I reload 357Rem mag for the DE, and I load the 357 on the lower side of the power, and I can definitely say that 38Spl +P, will not cycle the slide in a DE. My 357Rem Mag load is a whole 2grains(there are 7,000grains to a pound) of powder more(and we go up in 0.2 of a grain) over that of a 38Rem Spl.

I know of only 2 guns both of which are out of production that shot the rimmed 38Rem Spl, the S&W Model 52 for low power WC rounds only, and the Coonan 357 with 38Rem Spl +P conversion kit.

Posted: 2/11/2006 7:30:00 PM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
You are kidding right ? I wouldn't want to be anywhere near that ..... I have both and they have different diameters.

Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading, 6th Edition, Volume 1, Page 723:
380 Automatic, a.k.a. 9mm Kurz, .380 Automatic Colt Pistol, 9mm Browning Short, 9mm Corto
Bullet Diameter: 0.355"
Max COL: 0.980
Max Case Length: 0.680"
Max Case Neck Diameter: 0.373"
----------------------------------------------------------
Page 725:
9mm Luger, a.k.a. 9mm Parabellum, 9 x 19mm
Bullet Diameter: 0.355"
Max COL: 1.169"
Max Case Length: 0.754"
Max Case Neck Diameter: 0.380"

Posted: 2/12/2006 4:58:14 AM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:
Quoted:
You are kidding right ? I wouldn't want to be anywhere near that ..... I have both and they have different diameters.
Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading, 6th Edition, Volume 1, Page 723:
380 Automatic, a.k.a. 9mm Kurz, .380 Automatic Colt Pistol, 9mm Browning Short, 9mm Corto
Bullet Diameter: 0.355"
Max COL: 0.980
Max Case Length: 0.680"
Max Case Neck Diameter: 0.373"
----------------------------------------------------------
Page 725:
9mm Luger, a.k.a. 9mm Parabellum, 9 x 19mm
Bullet Diameter: 0.355"
Max COL: 1.169"
Max Case Length: 0.754"
Max Case Neck Diameter: 0.380"

it isn't the bullet diameters that matter. it is the case dimensions specifically case diameter at the neck and at the base. i used to own a sig p232 (9x17) and just for kicks i took a .380acp snap cap and tried to get it to chamber in my ruger p95 (9x19) and it would not work. you can not ensure that the firing pin will strike the primer due to the size difference. that means you can do some serious damage to your firing pin. anyways 9x19 ammo is cheaper than 9x17.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Desert Eagle .357, will it run .38 special?

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