Dreaded Carbon Ring

Centerfires, rimfires, pistol cartridges and everything in between.
Post Reply
User avatar
Ojaileveraction
A Poster
A Poster
Posts: 113
Joined: Mon May 22, 2017 5:32 pm
Location: Ventura California

Dreaded Carbon Ring

Post by Ojaileveraction »

Trying understand the dyer threat of CARBON RING when shooting 38 S&W sp in a 357 Mag rifle, from the reaction I get when I mention wanting to shoot 38 sp exclusively in my '92 is sounds bad.
Won't a carbon ring form when shooting 357mag. There still a bit of chamber there in my revolver? I can't see inside my rifle.
I shoot only 38sp in my 1 1/2 inch snub and then clean it. No issues. ?
Tim
Guns, They're not really yours, until you void the warranty.
eagleeye42
B Poster
B Poster
Posts: 14
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2010 4:23 pm

Re: Dreaded Carbon Ring

Post by eagleeye42 »

I shoot a very light load thru my Rossi 92 (5.8 grs Unique behind only a 125gr boolit) but always use .357 magnum brass. The magnum brass is about .010" longer and bingo no carbon ring. With a load like that I get, at least, 30 reloads even with a rolled crimp. It's not the price of the brass, it's the results. Just separate your brass.
Good shooting.
User avatar
Ojaileveraction
A Poster
A Poster
Posts: 113
Joined: Mon May 22, 2017 5:32 pm
Location: Ventura California

Re: Dreaded Carbon Ring

Post by Ojaileveraction »

I found the chamber specs and drawings and now understand the .380" to .358" angle did not understand that part before.
But still after shooting my 25-20 these last few months the 357 is just so much over kill.
It was never meant to be a sub-sonic cartridge.
I know the 38sp was originally a black powder cartridge, for less that a year.
musings of a mad man
Tim
Guns, They're not really yours, until you void the warranty.
User avatar
TheBugFather
AAA Poster
AAA Poster
Posts: 839
Joined: Thu Jul 08, 2010 3:14 am
Location: So. California

Re: Dreaded Carbon Ring

Post by TheBugFather »

Tim, don't worry about if you clean the rifle frequently and it should be no problem.

If all you shoot is 38 special forever, it should still not be a problem.

Most rifles are listed by the manufacture as both anyways.

Just keep it clean.

Thanks, Dennis
The Bug Father
...I don't like recoil, but I love to experiment.
User avatar
DAVIDMAGNUM
A Poster
A Poster
Posts: 140
Joined: Sat Oct 17, 2015 7:06 am
Location: Middle of the Delmarva Penninsula

Re: Dreaded Carbon Ring

Post by DAVIDMAGNUM »

Years ago before I started reloading I did that with no problems.
It was a Rossi 20" carbine and my 8 year old son found 357 magnum loads uncomfortable. So I purchased 38 special ammo for when he shot it. He shot it a lot.
In the days of old when men were bold, and a quarter was still worth a dime.
Maryland's Eastern Shore
User avatar
Ojaileveraction
A Poster
A Poster
Posts: 113
Joined: Mon May 22, 2017 5:32 pm
Location: Ventura California

Re: Dreaded Carbon Ring

Post by Ojaileveraction »

dwostler wrote: Thu Dec 17, 2020 8:05 pm If all you shoot is 38 special forever, it should still not be a problem.
Thank Dennis, Not worried but the assurance is appreciated.
An earlier thread lead me to think more about 38sp as a Rifle Cartridge like the 32-20.
From my reading the ole 38 S&W Special was the ultimate in Black Powder Pistol Cartriges for less that year, when public demand made it a Smokeless Cartridge.
Well anyway, for me it works to be a , quoting someone here, 'More Elegant' solution to knocking down steel with 357 caliber bullets, as opposed the brute force of the 357Mag.OMO
Or I could just be trying to convince myself that I don't want a 32-20.
Tim
Guns, They're not really yours, until you void the warranty.
User avatar
TheBugFather
AAA Poster
AAA Poster
Posts: 839
Joined: Thu Jul 08, 2010 3:14 am
Location: So. California

Re: Dreaded Carbon Ring

Post by TheBugFather »

No problem Tim, 38 special/ 357 mag works great!

Tony and I use a load of 110gr or 125gr bullets with 10.4gr or 9.8gr of VV 3N37, depending on bullet. Very low recoil.

And of course I use one for long range with heavy 200gr bullets subsonic for 200 meters.

I like the Hornaday bullets.

I'm going to have a couple of 32-20 up for sale on this site too, but use what you have, it is more reliable than 22 mag, for maybe less than or the same cost for ammo, if you reload.

Thanks, Dennis
The Bug Father
...I don't like recoil, but I love to experiment.
User avatar
Ojaileveraction
A Poster
A Poster
Posts: 113
Joined: Mon May 22, 2017 5:32 pm
Location: Ventura California

Re: Dreaded Carbon Ring

Post by Ojaileveraction »

dwostler wrote: Fri Dec 18, 2020 12:31 pm


And of course I use one for long range with heavy 200gr bullets subsonic for 200 meters.

I like the Hornaday bullets.



Thanks, Dennis
If you don't mind me asking, what did you end up with that load.

I did some testing using TB, but slipped into other things.

Tim
Tim
Guns, They're not really yours, until you void the warranty.
User avatar
TheBugFather
AAA Poster
AAA Poster
Posts: 839
Joined: Thu Jul 08, 2010 3:14 am
Location: So. California

Re: Dreaded Carbon Ring

Post by TheBugFather »

Tim, I ended up using VV 3N38 powder, I don't remember the load of the top of my head, but around 7 grains.

Of course don't quote me on this.

But it works well, a whole lot of turns up in elevation, but nothing different than the other 38-55 shooters and other subsonic shooters are doing.

Dennis
The Bug Father
...I don't like recoil, but I love to experiment.
Post Reply