I know it's a NONO, but I done it anyway

[czechsonofagun]

Yesterday I was loading some 357 magnum rounds and when I run out of brass I realized I have about 30 .38 shells primed and ready to go. Since I have only one revolver GP100 in .357 magnum - I just went ahead and loaded those .38 shells with magnum charge of Unique. I felt too lazy to change the setting of the hopper and I will shoot that ammo this weekend anyway.

 

[SARG]

+P++++++++++
(I'll keep an eye on the newspaper to see how it works out):laughing:

 

[RobertN]

This is a bad idea. I am try to remember; Unique does not make a compressed charge?

THe original 357 and 44 mags were somewhat developed in the 38/44spl cases. Kieth et-al did a lot of development in the smaller cases. Cases were lengthened so the rounds could not be used in weaker cylinders. Also allowed more room for compressed powder charges.

I have reloaded for years. Personally, I would pull those bullets and start over. You should be able to resize/bell, but leave the primer pin out of the sizer die. Then throw your powder at the right volume for the load.

 

[2manyrocks]

I have no clue, but something tells me to listen to RobertN on this one.

 

[Car Doc]

The only thing that may cause it to work out is the free bore ahead of the 38's in the .357 cylinder will keep the pressure lower than just jumping out into the forcing cone maybe.

That said I wouldn't do it. I have had a couple double charges in my reloading career not fun! One causing a 1911 slide to crack all the way around the front but a 1/16th of an inch at the dust cover from letting the slide come back in my face. be careful! (btw it was a buddys reload and it was his gun with me on the trigger ouch!)

Steve

 

[roadhawk]

Engineers like to solve problems. If there are no problems handily available, they will create their own problems.

Your signature line. Is this what you're trying to achieve here?

If you felt it was perfectly safe and perfectly ok to do, why post about it?

 

[2manyrocks]

No, I think he also wants to become his own healthcare provider.

 

[lmalcomb]

Yesterday I was loading some 357 magnum rounds and when I run out of brass I realized I have about 30 .38 shells primed and ready to go. Since I have only one revolver GP100 in .357 magnum - I just went ahead and loaded those .38 shells with magnum charge of Unique. I felt too lazy to change the setting of the hopper and I will shoot that ammo this weekend anyway.

Bad idea, Have you ever had a case separation ?

 

[czechsonofagun]

It seemed like a good idea at the time and I can be talked out of it of course.

The charge is not compressed that's for sure. Now what I don't understand is why it would not work? If I take a magnum case and seat the bullet down I can make it the same C.O.L. as .38. The revolver is Ruger and I shoot 99% of the time magnum loads out of it. Maybe I look like an idjit, but why the same charge from shell 2 millimeters shorter with the same bullet caused problem in the same Magnum revolver?

 

[westbrooklawn]

Haven't done much reloading in several years, but my recollection is that Unique is a very fast burning powder... resulting high pressures would at least split cases... maybe worse.