Is it safe to switch between 357 Magnum and 38 Special in a lever gun?
Switching between .38 Special and .357 Magnum in a lever gun can cause reliability issues due to fouling rings. Extensive use of .38 Special creates a carbon/lead ring that can cause .357 Magnum cases to stick or split. For competition, using downloaded .357 Magnum loads like Magtech Cowboy Action avoids this. If .38 Special must be used, thorough cleaning is essential before returning to .357 Magnum.









