Can you use a 38 Super round in a 357 Magnum? - Answers

No, .38 super is a semi automatic round and .357 is a revolver round. While both have a bullet diameter of .355. The case length is different and the the tounds are held in the firearms differntly. Semi automatics have a shoulder in the barrel that holds the round in place. a revolver has a lip on the cartridge that holds it. In 1986 Ed Sanow performed a test using various .38 Super ammo on two different .357 Magnum revolvers, SW and Colt (different twist rates) and he concluded. A. You and safely shoot .38 Super in a .357 Mag revolver. (not in a .38 Special gun even if it is +p). It will fit in both guns. The Super has lower chamber pressure than the .357 Mag but almost double than de .38 Spl +p B. Even thoug the Super is semmi-rimmed it extracted reliably from both revolvers. C. The longer freebore due to the supers shorter case and the different bullet dia. did not affect accuracy. Actually the Winchester .38 Super Silvertip was more accurate through a .357 mag than all the .38 Special and .357 Mag loads shot during the test. He concluded that using a .38 Super through a .357Mag is a better alternative than using a .38spl+p. It has better stopping power. Also it is a good alternative if the muzzle blast and shot to shot times prove hard to handle with the .357.