38 special brass question

[IndyND]

Does anyone know if 38 special brass is any different than 38 special +P brass? I have some of each, and was wondering if they reload the same. Another way to ask the question is could I load 38 special brass to +P standards? I am shooting thru a .357 mag revolver so it can handle all of the above safely.

 

[geronimojoe85]

You can safely load +p in regular cases, heck some people used to load 357 in 38 cases(way back when 357 cases were scarce just load them to 357 COAL).

Only difference, and I've checked, is the head stamp.
I've weighed them and cut them to check thickness, and they are the same.

 

[Leo]

Same case thickness and strength for at least the last 50 years. For safety, I never load +P (or magnum) loads in regular marked .38 spl brass. If I croak and my grandkids try to shoot the rest of my ammo, I don't want them to blow up a pocket pistol in their hand.

I will load light loads in the +P brass, as there is no danger to the uninformed. When I shot bullseye, I would shoot load .38 wadcutter loads in .357 mag brass if I was using a magnum revolver just to keep the chambers cleaner.

 

[IndyND]

thanks guys. Leo that is a great point about keeping things labeled correctly. I would plan on being the primary user of all my reloads but you just never know. I also can't imagine ever owning a .357 caliber revolver that could only handle .38 special loads. I would always want to go with the stronger gun.

 

[exbrit]

Yes I do both

Couple of good comments about labeling!
I know its overkill but I re-load a lot of ammo, hence I want to be able to see exactly whats in each box.
I made up adhesive labels to fill in the data for each box
It has the date:
The caliber:
The bullet type and weight and manufacturer:
Powder type and weight
The primer data. Mfr and part number
Case details: Manufacturer, and any other pertinent data.
COL
Normal velocity from the Chrono
How many loadings
Any other notes that I think are relevant
I know this gets away from the original question a little but with the sticky label on the box and an identical label inside the box, there is no doubt what loading I am picking up.
Also sometimes I load to +P pressures in a regular 38 case and sometimes the reverse, regular loads in +P cases.
Each to his own but it takes me a few seconds to fill in the data on the labels and I can look a year later and know exactly what load I am picking off the shelf.

 

[mssmith44]

I want to add to the information related to the original question.
There are some differences between +P and non +P.
There are some military cases that are not +P that also have the same problem
The problem only becomes apparent with a flush seated 148 grain wadcutter.
The case narrows in the interior dimension enough that the wadcutter causes the
case to expand and not be able to chamber in the cylinder.
For round nose and other bullets there doesn't seem to be an issue.