Introduction
Revolver lovers often debate about the best cartridges. Two of the most popular cartridges are the 357 Magnum and the 38 Special. The former is a faster, more powerful, and cooler version of the latter. However, that does not mean a 38 Special is not worth one’s time. Even though a century has passed since their development, they are still popular. Why is that? Because they are fantastic! They are notoriously accurate and comfortable to carry.
Winchester, Smith & Wesson, and Federal are the manufacturing companies that produce .357 Magnum and .38 Special cartridges. The .357 Mags have less than half the .38’s powder capacity; however, they produce far more energy than the .38 Specials. However, that does not mean the .38s are woeful. After all, they were used in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The .38 Specials served well for many decades.
357 Magnum Vs. 38 Special
The .38 cartridges can be fired from revolvers designed for loading .357; however, .357 will not fit in revolvers designed for loading .38 cartridges. The reason is that the 357 magnum creates a high pressure that cannot be handled by a 38 Special revolver, whereas the 38 Special creates lesser pressure when fired.
Difference Between 357 Magnum And 38 Special In Tabular Form
| Parameters of Comparison | 357 Magnum | 38 Special |
| Length | 357 Magnums are 18 inch longer than 38 Specials. | 38 Special’s case length is 1.155 inches (that is 29.3 mm). |
| Pressure | It creates a maximum pressure of 35,000 psi. | It only creates 17,500 psi. |
| Recoil | 357 Magnum is not meant for amateurs; only experts can handle the recoil it generates due to its greater velocity. | 38 Specials are renowned for their manageable recoil. |
| Accuracy | It takes a lot of practice and skill to shoot a 357 Magnum with accuracy and precision. | Most people find 38 Specials comfortable to handle. Therefore, it is easier to learn to shoot accurately with them. |
| Power | A 357 Magnum is extremely powerful and can handle bullet weights from 125 – 180 grams. | A 38 Special can only handle bullets weighing between 110 – 158 grams. |
| Velocity | It achieves a higher muzzle velocity. | It fires at moderate velocities. |
| Uses | 357 magnums may be used for hunting. | .38 Special cartridges can be used in revolvers, carbines, and some semi-automatic pistols and are suitable for target practice and personal defense. |
What Is 357 Magnum?
The .357 Magnum came into existence in an effort to reassert Smith & Wesson as the leading armament provider for law enforcement. Its case length was increased slightly so that it cannot be loaded instead of a .38 Special intentionally or unintentionally. This precaution was taken to avoid the disastrous results of loading a .357 into a revolver designed for chambering a .38 caused during the experimental stage.
The Keith bullet was the first bullet choice for the .357 Magnum cartridges. The bullet was modified to resemble a Sharpe bullet’s form. These modified bullets were then loaded into the revolvers. However, Winchester made modifications to Sharpe bullets to use them during their experiments. Therefore, the final bullet choice for .357 Magnum cartridges was based on Keith and Sharpe bullets with slight variations.
Despite the .357’s recoil that most people whine about (and rightfully so), firing it causes significant damage to the target, which means one does not have to shoot repeatedly. Since .357 Mags lessen the need for consecutive shots, people may comfort themselves knowing they need to handle the recoil less often. The .357 Magnum cartridges are exceptionally good at penetrating through barriers. That is why they are preferred to .38s while hunting. Of course, the cartridges are of no use if people do not pick the right revolver to load them into.
Moreover, choosing a .357 Magnum is beneficial because it is something law enforcement officers have been using for a long time. After all, people will have to deal with lawsuits after firing a shot at someone (even if it was in self-defense). The prosecution will probably try to convince the jury that the shot was fired deliberately and for no convincing reason. The defense will have a hard time proving the shooter’s innocence at the best of times; however, a familiar cartridge used in revolvers suitable for self-defense will help the defendant’s case.
Best .357 Magnum Revolvers
The following are some of the top picks from revolvers designed for .357 Magnum cartridges based on reliability, affordability, and available features:
Smith & Wesson Model 60
This model was the first revolver made from stainless steel. It has been in production since 1965 (though it was not until 1996 it was designed to chamber r.357 Mags) and is popular even today. Model 60s are one of the best choices for backup and are easy to conceal. They are manufactured with an exposed hammer, a swing-out cylinder, and fixed sights, as opposed to modern-day revolvers with adjustable rear sights with fixed front sights.
Ruger Model SP-101
Sturm, Ruger & Co introduced Ruger SP101 in 1989. This model has steel construction and fixed or adjustable sights. The hammer may be spurred or spurless. It is often referred to as the small-frame counterpart of the Ruger GP100.
Ruger GP-100
GP100s are six-shot revolvers manufactured in the United States by Sturm, Ruger & Co. The cartridge is only fired if the transfer bar is between the firing pin and the hammer. The transfer bar falls into the required position when the trigger is pulled back completely. These revolvers have an effective range of around 50 – 101 meters. A limited special edition of GP100 with 4-inch barrels was made available in 2016. Only 1,145 such revolvers were manufactured.
Colt King Cobra
Colt King Cobra is a medium-sized V-frame double-action revolver suitable for law enforcement officials and firearm enthusiasts. Discontinued twice since it was first produced, this model emerged again chambered for .357 Magnum cartridges in 2019. The Colt King Cobra has a three-inch barrel and looks similar to the Colt Python; however, its design was based on Trooper MK V.
Kimber K6S
Kimber K6S is made with stainless steel and has a brushed stainless/satin finish. It has a black rubber grip, a smooth trigger, and superior ergonomics. This model has a 2-inch barrel and is quite compact.
Colt Python
The Colt Python is a huge player in the premium revolver market. Some go so far as to opine that it is the best revolver produced to this day. Every firearms collector worships the Colt Pythons. The pythons are known for their remarkable accuracy, smooth trigger, and adjustable sights. Veronica Guerin, a crime reporter, was murdered in 1996 with a Python chambering .357 Magnum semiwadcutter cartridges.
Colt Pythons seem like the King of handguns; however, even they have their drawbacks. For one, they are heavy and prone to Mis-timing, a condition that causes a slight loss in accuracy.
Taurus Model 66
This model is a seven-shot, 4-inch barreled stainless steel revolver. Model 66 has an integral key lock and a transfer bar that prevents people from firing accidentally. It has a rubber grip which means it will not slip from people’s hands even if they are sweating profoundly in situations calling for self-defense (not everyone has steel nerves). Taurus Model 66 may not be the best revolver out there, but it is affordable and does its job well.
What Is 38 Special?
The .38 Special cartridges were developed with better penetration properties to overcome the drawbacks of the .38 Long Colt. They remained the favorites of law enforcement officers until the introduction of .357 Magnum cartridges. However, in the 1950s and 60s, many complaints arose stating that the .38 were not capable of stopping assailants. In 1972, the FBI introduced the .38 Special +P cartridges that generated higher pressures than the .38 Specials. Another variation, the .38 Special +P+ was introduced later. All .38 Special cartridges along with their variations (+P and +P+) can be fired from revolvers designed to chamber .357 Mags.
.38 Specials are preferable to semi-automatics for several reasons. One, they are not so complex to use. Two, they do not malfunction or jam right when you need them to operate at their best. That does not mean semi-automatics are worthless and jam all the time. However, an inexperienced shooter who has absolutely no knowledge of clearing jams is better off with a .38 Special. Lastly, elder people and others with hand-related problems find it easier to operate revolvers than semi-automatics.
Best .38 Special Revolvers
Some of the best revolvers designed for chambering .38 Special cartridges are as follows:
Smith & Wesson Model 686
Though this model is chambered for .357 Mags, it works equally well when loaded with .38 Special cartridges. Model 686 is a six-shot double-action revolver with numerous variants. The US Navy SEALs used these revolvers during waterborne missions. Furthermore, the Luxembourg Grand Ducal Police had been using them since the 1980s before they opted for HK VP9 in 2017.
Colt Cobra
Colt Cobras were sold from 1950 – 1981. They were released again in 2017 with a steel frame. The newer version can be used to fire .38 Special +P cartridges, whereas the older versions will not handle the higher pressure generated by these cartridges. The Cobra was Michele Cavataio’s (the Italian mobster Il Cobra) favorite weapon. Moreover, it is the official gun of the Atlanta Police Department. When a mobster and the police agree on something (here, they agree that the Cobra is an excellent option), it is wise to believe them.
Ruger LCR
Ruger LCR (Lightweight Compact revolver) was introduced in the year 2009. Sturm, Ruger & Co. built the original version for the .38 Special; this compact revolver is highly popular and looks fabulous. Later, Ruger LCR 357, a variant meant for .357 Magnum cartridges was introduced.
Rock Island M206
This model does not look as polished as other ones; however, it is affordable and does what it is required to do effectively. Rock Island M206s are a bit heavy and are harder to carry concealed. However, they generate less recoil.
Taurus 856
Taurus 856 is a lightweight gun that people can carry concealed when doing any physical activity. These revolvers are good for self-defense and are designed well. Taurus 856 comes with two-inch and three-inch barrels. Therefore, people can pick the one they are most comfortable with.
Main Difference Between 357 Magnum And 38 Special (In Points)
- Elmer Keith, Philip B. Sharpe, and Douglas B. Wesson designed the 357 Magnum, whereas Smith & Wesson designed the 38 Special.
- .38 Special was designed in 1898; however, 357 Magnum was designed only after a few decades, 1934 to be precise.
- .357 Magnum cartridges are slightly more expensive than .38 Special cartridges. Therefore, some people purchase guns designed for .357 Magnum but use .38 Special cartridges.
- .38 Special merely has a muzzle energy of 208 foot-pounds, whereas .357 Magnum has a muzzle energy of 539 foot-pounds.
- .357 Magnum has a straighter trajectory compared to a .38 Special.
- Revolvers designed for .357 Magnum and .38 Special cartridges are easy to conceal and carry. However, most people prefer the .38, as it has less recoil. A .357 may be far more effective in self-defense situations, but how will a person shoot accurately if they cannot handle the recoil effectively?
- .357 Magnum has fantastic stopping power due to higher velocity and energy leaving the .38 Special in the dust.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the shooter’s skill influences the shot more than the cartridges. Therefore, people should choose between a .357 Magnum and a .38 Special based on their level of comfort when using them. A revolver with chambers designed for the .357 Magnum oozes power; however, the .38 Special makes people feel more secure.
People will not go wrong with either cartridge. Experts who want to show off their skills or go hunting large game will have better luck with a .357 Magnum, and people heading to target practice or those who simply need a firearm to feel safe in their homes will be better off with the .38 Special.
References
- https://www.recoilweb.com/38-special-vs-357-magnum-complete-guide-180280.html
- https://ammo.com/comparison/38-special-vs-357
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.357_Magnum
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.38_Special
- https://www.pewpewtactical.com/best-357-magnum-revolvers/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_%26_Wesson_Model_686
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_King_Cobra
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Cobra
- https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/review-rock-island-armory-m206-revolver/
- https://harrysholsters.com/taurus-856-review/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_%26_Wesson_Model_60
- https://www.kimberamerica.com/k6s
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_Python
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruger_GP100
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruger_SP101
- https://skyaboveus.com/hunting-shooting/357-Magnum-Best-All-Round-Handgun-Cartridge-10-Reasons-Why
- https://www.minutemanreview.com/best-357-magnum-revolvers-money/#pr6
- https://www.nrawomen.com/content/in-defense-of-the-38-special/
