38sp + ammo in Big Boy ok?

[hbob]

Any issues with 38 sp Plus ammo in the Big Boy carbine chambered for .357/38sp
I have a stock of .38 sp, .38sp + and .357 to practice with.

I will set sights with my main defense hunting .357 round, just want to make sure all will feed and nothing will do harm to rifle.

[2fewdaysafield]

.38 spl is fine. Not sure about +P since I don't know the pressures it shoots at but given that the Big Boy will handle some pretty hot .357 loads I doubt that the 38 +P would cause any problems but I think you would be better off to check the pressures before trying the .38 +P. As to feeding the .38 spl....the one time I tried .38 spl in my Big Boy it fed fine but as always the sure way to find out is to try it. Some guns can be finicky about certain brands of ammo. The HRA rifles generally aren't but trying it is the only sure way to find out.

[clovishound]

Henry recommends 158 grain in .38. Those feed fine in mine. If it will handle .357, it will handle .38 +P.

Generally, things are smoother with .357, especially when brand new.

[2fewdaysafield]

Plus the .357 is more FUN! .38 is a bit cheaper, but if you look around you can find some great deals on .357 especially the non-reloadable aluminium or steel cased stuff. But if you are going to shoot more than a box or two per year buy yourself a Lee Loader and load your own. I shoot reloads at the range but keep a box or two of factory stuff around for hunting.

[hbob]

Plus the .357 is more FUN! .38 is a bit cheaper, but if you look around you can find some great deals on .357 especially the non-reloadable aluminium or steel cased stuff. But if you are going to shoot more than a box or two per year buy yourself a Lee Loader and load your own. I shoot reloads at the range but keep a box or two of factory stuff around for hunting.

I just checked it out and may try loading my own...But the Lee Loader says not for lever action guns.
What is your experience?

[2fewdaysafield]

Plus the .357 is more FUN! .38 is a bit cheaper, but if you look around you can find some great deals on .357 especially the non-reloadable aluminium or steel cased stuff. But if you are going to shoot more than a box or two per year buy yourself a Lee Loader and load your own. I shoot reloads at the range but keep a box or two of factory stuff around for hunting.

I just checked it out and may try loading my own...But the Lee Loader says not for lever action guns.
What is your experience?

Dunno why they say not for leverguns. Been using one for 3 years. No problems.

[ditto1958]

I'm not sure why they say that. The Lee Loaders do not full length size, they only neck size. So long as you reload brass that has been fire formed by the same rifle that you will be shooting the reloads in, there should be no problem whatsoever. In that sense, it's actually a good thing, as you are making custom ammo for your rifle.

If you try to use brass that was fired by other lever guns, it will be hit and miss- some of the brass may not want to chamber.

[Frontiersman]

Lever rifles like brass that has been full length resized. It may not be an issue if all your brass came from that rifle.

You can fire .38+P in a .357. +P is hotter than .38 but not as hot as .357.

Be forewarned though, if you shoot a lot of .38s in a .357 chamber it will eventually foul up the front of the chamber and you will have trouble chambering when you switch back to .357. It can be cleaned, but it takes a bit of effort.

My preference is to just load .357 cowboy loads when I want to do some light plinking.

[2fewdaysafield]

I'm not sure why they say that. The Lee Loaders do not full length size, they only neck size. So long as you reload brass that has been fire formed by the same rifle that you will be shooting the reloads in, there should be no problem whatsoever. In that sense, it's actually a good thing, as you are making custom ammo for your rifle.

If you try to use brass that was fired by other lever guns, it will be hit and miss- some of the brass may not want to chamber.

That explains why I've had no problems. All the brass I use was purchased as factory ammo and always used in the same rifle.