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December 10, 2023
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Hey guys!
just got my first ever revolver and I got very lucky. I got an original Dan Wesson 357 Super Mag chambered for 357 maximum CTG with all the goodies in basically new condition.
I have an important question, I read lots of mixed discussions online but I need a clear answer before I fire this thing.
I can’t get my hands on the original ammo (I live in Europe) so I have to do with .38spl and .357 magnum ammo. For the winter months I can only fire .38spl due to inside range rules.
which 38 ammo is safe to fire from this gun? And which 357 ammo is safe to fire? Please let me know. I don’t reload I only buy factory ammo.
Dans Club
October 17, 2008
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You’re good to go with the.38 special, just make sure you clean the cylinders well before switching to .357 Mag, factory ammo should be fine these are stout revolvers
Dans Club
February 24, 2013
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Congratulations on your score!! 😆
DWF Supporters
March 28, 2023
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Welcome to the forum! Bet you don't see to many Dan Wessons over there! I wonder if the prices are higher?
December 10, 2023
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KurtB said
Thanks! It’s an awesome gun 🙂
December 10, 2023
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Stmstan 445 said
Welcome to the forum! Bet you don't see to many Dan Wessons over there! I wonder if the prices are higher?
Ow prices here are more then double of the US in some cases. It’s actually insane but must say DW is probably just behind S&W in popularity here!
December 10, 2023
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Dan Fan said
You’re good to go with the.38 special, just make sure you clean the cylinders well before switching to .357 Mag, factory ammo should be fine these are stout revolvers
Any recommendations on grains and type of bullet? I heard minimal 150…ish and above is best due to accuracy issues with lighter bullets?
DWF Supporters
July 12, 2020
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Beautiful gat!
Oh, welcome to the forum from PA, USA!!!!!!
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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European guns are double in price here. Lol. I know, I have Manurhins, Korths and ERMA ER777s. The DW 357 Supermag is an iconic gun. There will be no more made. It can take any 38 Special or 357 Magnum you use. Shorter cartridges may not be as accurate as 357 Maximum but they may be close. There was flame cutting of the topstrap from using 110 and 125 grain bullets in Silhouette. The factory recommends 180 grain or above if shooting 357 Maximum. 158 grain should be fine in a 357 Mag. The flame cutting stops as it hardens the steel it turns out. You can't have too many DW Supermags.
Dans Club
December 7, 2020
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Ole Dog said
The flame cutting stops as it hardens the steel it turns out. You can't have too many DW Supermags.
Does it stop? Reason for asking is after 8K+ rounds flamecutting seems more noticeable that before....but not severe. So, I was planning on selling off my Remington MAX factory loads of 158 grain and switch to 180 grain.
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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Probably a good idea to switch to 180 grain. If you had a couple of boxes it wouldn't hurt but why risk it. You could reload with heavier bullets. Or buy a rifle that is chambered for 357 max.
August 28, 2009
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I'll add an additional comment on the .357 Max ammunition. Dan Wesson continued selling cartridges under the Dan Wesson name in both bullet weights (158 and 180 gr.) up until recent Norwich years (I believe around 2015), which was many years after the problem first arose with the Ruger Blackhawks during the 80's. I have some of both ammunition in the original DW boxes. I spoke to the ammunition manufacturer about this. You won't see any difference as far as flame cutting and erosion (if any) between the 158 and the 180 gr. bullets in the factory loads. The problem was identified primarily in the lighter bullet weights....125 gr. range and lighter weights range with hot loads. DW was basically the only other revolver manufacturer of this caliber after Ruger, and continued manufacturing it all the way through the Serva years at Norwich. DW was closely exposed to the flame cutting problem with Ruger and felt they mostly resolved it by closing up the cylinder/barrel gap to .002, and staying away from the light bullets (125 gr and lighter). They would not have continued marketing and selling the ammunition in a 158 gr. weight for 30 years if there was documented concern about it. As a safeguard they supplied an extra barrel for those that still continued shooting with the light bullet weights and also failed to close down the cylinder/barrel gap. The recommendation of the ammunition manufacturer was.....sight the gun in with either bullet weight and use either one for hunting if you choose, and don't lose any sleep over it. Close your gap down as tight as you can on the longest chamber. S&W affixes a small stainless steel or titanium guard on the underneath of the top strap of some of their "vulnerable" revolvers with light bullets. Their "vulnerable" revolvers are the super lightweight, alloy frame revolvers. I don't know what they use to fasten it to the top strap, but you can also try this for additional protection. If you're going to blow apart a bunch of targets at the range, don't even use a Max. cartridge. Use a .357, .360 or even a .38sp.
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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Excellent synopsis!!!
Dans Club
January 17, 2015
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I can tell ya that shooting the .357 MAX is a blast (literally). I've reloaded a bunch of 180g bullets and it is a thumper - you can't help but to smile.
April 18, 2016
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What seems to have been forgotten over time is that the 357 Maximum and the 357 SuperMag were two different cartridges. The DW was chambered for the SuperMag as was the Seville. Early DW 357 SuperMags were marked as chambered for 357 SuperMag and 357 Maximum both.
The Maximum case has a MAXIMUM length of 1.605 while the SuperMag was a trim to length of 1.610. This looks trivial at first glance, but the Maximum chamber is 1.610 so a SuperMag case may bind up the cylinder.
The Maximum was rated for 40,000 while the SuperMag was rated for 50,000 pressure. As a result the SuperMag specified a rifle primer and the DW has a spiffy hammer strike accordingly. The Maximum does not specify a primer, best evidence is Remington used pistol primers.
The SuperMag has an OAL length 1/8 inch longer than the Maximum. A good heavy Bullet load in the SuperMag will not chamber in a Ruger. Bullet sticks out the front of the cylinder.
25% higher pressure and an 1/8 inch more boiler room give the SuperMag an obvious edge.
For lite loads, I dislike short brass. The case is large so you don't want to go too light with conventional powders. I plan to work up a lite load using Trail Boss.
Elgin Gates and a few others advised Ruger to chamber the SuperMag. Ruger declined. For years I wondered why, and of late think I have found the Reason. In the DW going from 44 to SuperMag was a matter of simply lengthening the frame. The Black Hawk has a taper on the frame bottom. As you lengthen it, the frame gets thinner at the front. Retaining thickness requires changing the taper which in turn may require changing the lock work.
BTW: A SuperMag fits very nicely in a S&W X frame holster.
Dans Club
February 24, 2013
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Wow that’s some impressive information!
DWF Supporters
March 5, 2024
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New here... but long time DW fan. Been away from shooting for some time and now getting back into it... and one of the key reasons is I want to shoot my .375 SM... BUUUTT, out of ammo... Then I saw this tread...
I have not yet started to search the web for a source of manufactured rounds... don't imagine there many (or any)... but if any of you know of any, please let me know.
Am expecting hand loading will be my most likely option... I have 100 rounds of used brass from ammo I bought (and shoot) 20 years ago. I will try and contact the bullet maker above. That leaves the loading press and the dies, powder, load specs, etc. I have loaded lots shotgun shells but never brass cartages, pistol nor rifle.
Looking for advice on where to begin.
(Note: just did some quick searching for ammo and loading equipment... going to be a long hall)
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Dans Club
December 4, 2011
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If you can load, then the 375 becomes feasible. There is very little loaded ammo out there so this is a reloaders cartridge.
Search my user name, I've had a few posts up recently about making brass, finding bullets and loads.
I have some older loading manuals that have a few published loads for 375.
Redding makes dies for the 375. Midway has them, though it shows as special order, the guy at Redding told me they are in stock, not cheap though.
Don't forget to lube the cased, they are tapered and the dies will likely be steel not carbide.
BTW, I've been converting 38-55 brass to 375SM using a little chop saw from Harbor Freight. 375 win would be my first choice, but brass for that seem really hard to find now. 38-55 is very similar and easier to convert than 30-30 brass.
I found some nice 38-55 235 gn cast bullets I'm loading. CAUTION, you have to resize the 38-55 bullets, they are .379. I'm sizing to .376, .377. They run well.
Hornady has sizing dies pretty cheap so it's not really a problem.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
My father
If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
My grandfather
DWF Supporters
March 5, 2024
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unspellable said
What seems to have been forgotten over time is that the 357 Maximum and the 357 SuperMag were two different cartridges. The DW was chambered for the SuperMag as was the Seville. Early DW 357 SuperMags were marked as chambered for 357 SuperMag and 357 Maximum both.
And WOW! So, I have a .357 Maximum because that is what is says on the barrel shroud (& serial number is 357MS00xxxx) VS. if it was a Super Mag it would say .357 Super Mag on the barrel shroud (& serial number would have been 357SMS00xxxx)?? All for .005 of an inch?? (and 10K extra pressure)
Also, the head stamp will/must read 357 MAX or Sup Mag as appropriate?? Have to double check as I know I have Remington Max brass... will have to double check for SM stamping.
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Dans Club
December 4, 2011
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I have both and older and newer Model 40 and 740 and they are all chambered for the 357 supermag. They will all chamber the 357 maximum. That .005 difference is insignificant. The trim lengths of most brass is a few thousandths less the max case length. I recently had to make brass for the 375 supermag, (Yes I typed 375) and the trim length stated for the case was 1.60 even though it has a max case length of 1.610 as all supermags do. That's a .010 difference.
It's unlikely you'll find much 357 Supermag head stamped brass, but there is plenty of 357 Max brass out there. Load and enjoy.
Also remember, the same supermag frame you're shooting 357 max/supermag from is the very same one that is safely handling 445 supermag. So the 357 SM is the baby of the supermag guns all based on the same frame.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
My father
If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
My grandfather
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