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I have been shooting .38 spl ammo in my Ruger Blackhawk .357 for over five years and was told recently by a gun salesman that it wasn't very good for the gun. Is there any truth to this?

You can shoot .357 or 38 special ammo out of your Blackhawk without any real issues. Just keep your cylinders clean and free of leading and you shouldn't have any problems.

R,
Bullseye

If you shoot .38 special in a .357 you get a bathtub ring in the cylinders that gets sticky. As Bullseye said, you need to clean that regularly. I've read that .357 does more damage because of the hotter gasses eroding metal. My guess is you have to shoot a lot of full-house .357 loads to see much damage.

If you are punching holes in paper, the .38 special round is a joy to shoot. A mid-range load doesn't have a lot of recoil or noise and is darned accurate. Of course, throwing a few .357's in and making the guy in the next lane twitch when it goes off is always fun.

greener wrote: If you are punching holes in paper, the .38 special round is a joy to shoot. A mid-range load doesn't have a lot of recoil or noise and is darned accurate. Of course, throwing a few .357's in and making the guy in the next lane twitch when it goes off is always fun.

Were you in the lane next to me? I've been told the same thing a number of times and my 25 year old S&W doesn't seem to have suffered.

Only difference is 1/10 of an inch on the case and .357 are loaded heavier. I have had a S&W 686 that has shot thousands of rounds, and never saw a .357. just 38 Specials

True fun as stated, pop-pop-pop-pop-pop-BANG! Watch a big group open up next you, lol.

Tbag wrote:True fun as stated, pop-pop-pop-pop-pop-BANG! Watch a big group open up next you, lol.

Have a 50th Anniversary Blackhawk and a Marlin 1894C both chambered in .38/.357 and all I shoot is medium load or factory .38's. Mostly my SWC handloads as they are only used for paper punching, I really do not need any .357 mags, plus I don't care for the extra noise either and neither does Bear.

ronn wrote:Only difference is 1/10 of an inch on the case and .357 are loaded heavier. I have had a S&W 686 that has shot thousands of rounds, and never saw a .357. just 38 Specials

Pretty doggone good pistol out of the box isn't it?

Of course, throwing a few .357's in and making the guy in the next lane twitch when it goes off is always fun.

I shoot 98% 38's thru my S&W 6866", but when I shoot the 2% 357mags,
it's always nice to feel that power! You feel that concussion hitting you like a stiff wind.
Makes the neighbors twitch.

Just keep your cylinders clean and free of leading and you shouldn't have any problems.

Good point. A cleaning solution that works for me is a 50/50 mix of peroxide and Isopropyl alcohol.
I soak my cylinder in it for 10 minutes and the residue comes out like liquid mush.
I also use it for the barrel(20 mins), because it dissolves lead as well.
I am hesitant on using it with my blued ruger, but I do, making sure it only contacts
the inside of the barrel. I don't know, but I don't think it would hurt the bluing either.
Haka

I shoot some hot .38+p loads once in a while but have given up on full house .357's as I don't hunt anymore.

Hakaman wrote:

Of course, throwing a few .357's in and making the guy in the next lane twitch when it goes off is always fun.

I shoot 98% 38's thru my S&W 6866", but when I shoot the 2% 357mags,
it's always nice to feel that power! You feel that concussion hitting you like a stiff wind.
Makes the neighbors twitch.

Just keep your cylinders clean and free of leading and you shouldn't have any problems.

Good point. A cleaning solution that works for me is a 50/50 mix of peroxide and Isopropyl alcohol.
I soak my cylinder in it for 10 minutes and the residue comes out like liquid mush.
I also use it for the barrel(20 mins), because it dissolves lead as well.
I am hesitant on using it with my blued ruger, but I do, making sure it only contacts
the inside of the barrel. I don't know, but I don't think it would hurt the bluing either.
Haka

Don't let it stay to long before you rinse it out

http://www.ozoneservices.com/articles/004.htm

*****Deleted*****

thanks Coach, you're right !
Haka

5" at 1000 yards is very impressive with a pistol; perhaps a typo?

R,
Bullseye

I think Haka posted that to the wrong thread. It seems to belong to the Misc thread about sharp shooting.. 84 year old Marine.. black hat recipient.. put 3 rounds downrange at 1000 yards.. in a 5 inch group. - all head shots. And I agree.. very impressive at any age.

Bullseye wrote:5" at 1000 yards is very impressive with a pistol; perhaps a typo?

R,
Bullseye

I don't like to brag, but...