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October 15, 2009
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Hey y'all,
I'm new to this forum. Recently picked up a DW model 40 Supermag in .357.
Gun is near perfect. My question is : what harm am I likely to cause by firing .38 special or .357 mag ammo ?
I've seen folks say it's fine except for loading up the forcing cones with crap, Dan Wesson specifically says "not recomended"!
This is probably an old, much visited topic for you.
THANKS,
Hank
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Range Officer
Range Officers
May 2, 2009
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Hey Hank,
First of all 
to the 
...This finest place on the internet for all the DW knowledge you need! Please stop in the new members section and tell us a little about yourself. I'm not a SM expert, but I'm sure one of the guys will jump in here and answer your question.
Also, we live for 
, so please post a pic of your DW in the pictures area for us to drool over.
SHOOT
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Moderators
January 24, 2009
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Hi Hank, welcome to the
As with any revolver, it's usually best to shoot the ammo that the gun was designed for. The .357 SuperMag will shoot Mag & Spl. rounds, but the fact that the cases are shorter, the bullet needs to jump a greater distance before it reaches the forcing cone in the barrel. Accuracy will usually suffer as a result, because the bullet tends to wobble a little as it jumps that gap. Plus, some folks say that it will wear the forcing cone prematurely...I'm not sure if that's a fact, or a myth.
Range Officers
February 25, 2009
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I tried 357 Mag in my max and accuracy was fair at best.
I don't think forcing cone wear is much of an issue with the shorter ammo. The issue is the shorter case in the chamber. The bullet is unsupported in the chamber and as it moves down the chamber it comes to the throat and has to allign with it. At that point the bullet can leave a small ammount of lead or copper in the chamber. In time it will build up. Then when you try to load a regular lenght max case it might not chamber. If it does chamber the buildup can cause problems by not letting the case expand enough for good bullet relase. That can generate excessively high pressures.
So if you do shoot shorter cases in a long chamber with accuracy success. CLAEN The chambers thourghly before you fire regular length ammo. This also goes for the 414 and 445.
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."
~Thomas Jefferson~
Range Officer
Range Officers
Dans Club
February 28, 2009
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Welcome happyhank, and listen to Charger and Tigger. I have found both of those situations to be true. And the cleanup is long and tedious.
Again welcome to the DWF. It's a great place to learn all about your gun.
-Mike
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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happyhank- Welcome to DWF, you're in the best place you can be to ask questions and talk about your DW revolver. When you have an opportunity, please visit the New Members area and tell us a little more about yourself.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
October 15, 2009
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Thank you all for timely answers ! I guess I just wanted someone to say : Yeah no problem, shoot these and it"s all good. Oh well, time to start handloading again, after about 28 years off.
Makes sense anyway as on the "left coast" new laws seem to be getting signed everyday !
Genuine pisses me off too, I voted for him, he hasn't been too bad. I think he buckled [maybe steroids] ! or suckin' Kennedy tit...... oops bad Hank ! He's the only Gov. I remember saying he will not forget who he works for......But he wasn't elected yet !
I'll send a pic or two when I figger how to do it RIGHT. For the guy doin' the serial # data : mine starts with an E then two zeros then 15 and two more digits. Got a 12" barrel / shroud, and 8" shroud with two 8" barrels.
Thanks again
October 15, 2009
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Holy Dung,
I said 12" when I meant 10" !
It worked when I was dating !!!!!! [but it's never been close]
sorry
Dans Club
May 17, 2009
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February 2, 2009
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As a fellow Max owner; even DW fudges; as the 10" is only 9 1/2". Brass can still be found on the various gun auction sites, new Remington and even occasionally Federal. For target plinking and economy, I use Unique and load down to 38 sp. loads with the Max brass and 158 gr cast. For hunting or distance loads, I use 4227 and 200 gr cast gc. The Max's were designed for use with heavy bullets and will firecut the top strap with light bullets(140 or less) pushed to 2000+ fps. Thats Why Ruger stopped making them, however the cutting is self limiting and there are still many 357Max's around, both Ruger and DW. I got mine in 1992 and it's had a steady diet of Max loads ever since. It's taken a few deer and hogs all with bang flop.
January 13, 2009
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While we are on this subject of shorter cases in longer chambers, what is the best way to clean the chambers? The 15-2 I bought a while back has been fired with 38 spl. before I bought it and has the infamous ring built up in the chamber. It will function with .357's, but they are slightly sticky ejecting. I am currenlty soaking the cylinder in Hoppe's #9 and was going to use chamber brush tonight to get the rest out. I spent quite some time on it last night, but thought soaking it overnight would help to loosen up the fouling.
I don't know if the previous owner shot copper or lead through it, that might have to be my next solvent.
What works for you guys?
Quincy
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Moderators
January 24, 2009
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Myself, I use a .44 size copper barrel brush in there. With it dripping plenty of cleaner, I push it in so a little is poking out the end, then rotate it by hand for maybe a dozen revolutions. After repeating in all the holes, I hit each hole with a clean swab & check my progress.
I've had a couple stubborn ones that required a few repeats, but everything came out fine after a while.
October 15, 2009
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Hey guys,
This may alarm some folks, but I occasionally chuck a cleaning brush in a cordless drill.
For cleaning my choke tubes of plastic wad fouling or revolver cylinders, it works great !
I turn real slow and keep it wet with solvent. Beats tryin' to turn a 1/8" rod with oily fingers.
Hank
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