.38 special is not a small bullet, it is just moving slower.

 

"smaller" than .357

 

357 has more energy. Compare energy (ft/lbs.) The energy needs to go somewhere. You pull the trigger on a 357 and you release way more energy than a 38. New gun, the energy goes into moving the bullet and into every piece of the revolver holding it in that position to fire. However, over time, repeated pounding of loads with more energy will translate into metal fatigue, strain hardening and stretching of certain parts. Stretching is what you would eventually notice as "end shake", which would be expected more in a gun subjected to more "energetic loads". Get crafty and design your own loads and you can create a load way beyond the revolver's intended design. Quicker wear results, more maintenance, and on guns with few repair people for service, you end up looking for replacement parts sooner. An apt comparison to me would be driving at 55 mph (38) or 90 mph (357); one gets you there more quickly and perhaps with more "fun", but there is a cost involved. Decide how you want to drive and have fun would be my two cents. Best regards, Coop

 

I believe silicone would be more apt to capture grit when used in a holster and would wear the finish faster.

 

I thought the same thing with suede Bianchi, but they do cause wear. The only solution I've found is to have one as a "shooter" and the other as a "collector."

 

If I remember - all Bianchi holsters are already lined.

As to bullet 'size' - .the magnum 'load' is hotter, and the case is 1/10" longer than .38 Special - the projectiles are interchangeable.

For the range - shoot the low-powered .38 Special wadcutter reloads, and you'll gain weapon familiarity without breaking the bank.

 

I've read that firing a lot of .38's in a revolver chambered for the .357 can cause premature wear to the forcing cone and cylinder due to the shorter case size. Anyone know if there's truth to that?

 

It is said that the cylinder may become fouled to the point where .357 Magnum ammunition is difficult to chamber after the use of quantities of .38 Special. I've never personally encountered this problem. Premature cylinder wear isn't a factor in the use of .38 Special in the .357 Magnum revolver unless one resorts to unnecessarily harsh methods to clean the chambers after using the revolver with the shorter .38 Special ammunition.

There is no reason that the .38 Special would cause more wear to the forcing cone than the .357 Magnum.

"My only Python [sadly] did two tours in Viet Nam with me..."

Smokey04, your Python would be worth its own pictorial thread in my view. I'd love to see it.

 

Regarding the original question of holster wear, ive read that HOLSTER WEAR IS INEVITABLE. The best way to minimize it, it cant be solved, is to keep leather as the barrier No suede, or softer materials as they collect dirt, and oil which collects dirt and ultimately scratches microscopicly.Metal against vegetable tanned leather , maybe hit with some silicon, seems to be the least offensive answer. Hope that helps.

 

You can't enjoy driving your Corvette without putting miles on it! You can't make use of your new hammer without driving some nails! So are you going to "drive" that Python or look at it? My only Python [sadly] did two tours in Viet Nam with me. And....yes, it is missing a little bluing here and there, but the fact that it saved my bacon on several occasions far outweighs a little finish missing. Besides,she is far more beautiful for her service,than for her looks! And....no,I wouldn't have Colt refinish it and make it look new again for anything. If I could I would take the old gal into the afterlife with me looking just the way she is. Shoot it or look at it? Your gun your decision, but you can't have that cake and eat it too. JM not so HO.Nick

 

Please consider starting a thread with the story and pictures of your gun. I believe the forum would find it interesting.

 

If you fully intend to carry your Python, the result is wear. A well fitted holster is more important in reducing wear than anything you can line it with. Most of the cheap suede lined holsters were produced to sell instead of buy. The soft lining gave a false sense of preventing wear where it was worse than the well fitted holster.

 

I put black electrical tape on the slides of pistols to prevent carry wear on the slide. You could do the same on the barrel sides of a Python. You could also try it on the cylinder, but I suspect the gas leakage at the forcing cone would peel off the tape. You would have to try it to see. I never have.

dyogi, how can a less powerful round cause premature wear to the forcing cone and cylinder? It can not. You are probably confusing fouling with wear. If enough .38 Special rounds are fired in a .357 Magnum chamber, there will be some buildup of fouling in the area of the case mouth. When that happens, merely cleaning the cylinder will remove it. I speculate that the majority of .357 Magnum revolvers are fired mostly with .38 Special ammunition most of the time. That ability is one of the reasons .357 Magnum revolvers are so popular. Such practice does not cause "premature wear."

 

When you say, "I assume it would be a bit easier on my gun since it is a smaller bullet." Don't you really mean that it's a small "cartridge"? I'm pretty sure that's what you meant to say because a lot of new (and some older) shooters use the term "bullet" when they really mean "cartridge."

It's an old habit most often learned from TV and the movies.

Bud

Hi all,

First time post here. I had some concerns. I just bought a Colt Python 6 inch royal blue finish. I also bought a Bianchi Leather holster to go with it. Many of you will suggest that I put it away for safe keeping, and not to fire it or holster it. Well I bought it, and I intend to use it. I would like to keep it in good condition as well. So a couple questions I had..

I heard all holsters can cause wearing on my gun. I was wondering, what if I lined the inside of my leather holster with silicon cloth? That is what was recommended to me for wiping the finger prints off my gun. So I would assume it would be easier on the blue finish, rather than leather.
Also, as far as shooting goes would it be easier on my python to shoot .38 at the range rather than .357? Its cheaper and I assume it would be a bit easier on my gun since it is a smaller bullet.

Any feedback is appreciated. I'm a noob to revolvers. View attachment 36088 Thanks!

 

Hi all,

First time post here. I had some concerns. I just bought a Colt Python 6 inch royal blue finish. I also bought a Bianchi Leather holster to go with it. Many of you will suggest that I put it away for safe keeping, and not to fire it or holster it. Well I bought it, and I intend to use it. I would like to keep it in good condition as well. So a couple questions I had..

I heard all holsters can cause wearing on my gun. I was wondering, what if I lined the inside of my leather holster with silicon cloth? That is what was recommended to me for wiping the finger prints off my gun. So I would assume it would be easier on the blue finish, rather than leather.
Also, as far as shooting goes would it be easier on my python to shoot .38 at the range rather than .357? Its cheaper and I assume it would be a bit easier on my gun since it is a smaller bullet.

Any feedback is appreciated. I'm a noob to revolvers. Thanks!

I'm glad to hear you plan to shoot it...I shoot all of my firearms regularly, including my Pythons. My two oldest revolvers that I still have (4-inch 1970 Trooper MkIII and 4-inch 1971 Python) exhibit wear, including bluing wear at the muzzle and cylinder edges. They were at times holstered for short periods...there is just no way around the wear in a holstered application since it is the microscopic particulates that get trapped inside the holster that causes the wear (and there isn't anything you can do to get around that). My 6- and 8-inch Pythons' blue finish are pristine, but that is only because I have never holstered them, but I have more than 20K rounds through each of those, too. So, if you plan to holster it, expect the bluing to wear.

 

I don't know if this will help, but here goes. A lot of what people call "holster wear" is a chemical interaction between acid tan leather, and the steel of the weapon. Some of the liners are acid taned, and even though the leather is washed to get the acid out, a small amount remains, and a little bit of moisture, and it activates again. I would consider a couple of things to help with this. First see if the liner is veg. tanned. Most of the time this is either goat or hog leather. Next, a product by the name Lexal, which helps to chemically make the leather a static PH, which means neither acid or caustic. I have many blued weapons, Pythons included, and I holster them all. Do I have blue wear, Yes, but a lot less than some. I am one that does not believe in safe queens ! I hope to post pictures of one that I am at this moment bringing back for the dead. A 1917 45 acp. It has a case of "nickel ugly" It is in the stripper as we speak. Hope this helps

 

I found this:

.38 Special - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.357 Magnum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In summary, wiki says the diameters of both are .357", but the 38 special is derived from the 38 short colt which was a heeled bullet that measured .38" at the heel. Shave the heel off and the bullet measured .36". The case of the 38 short colt was the parent to the 38 long colt and 38 special.

 

The primary reason the .357 Magnum cartridge being 0.10 longer is so that it won't chamber in a .38 S&W Special chamber. In years past they made a cartridge called the .38 HV or .38-44 that was designed for large frame revolvers. More than a few standard .38 Special revolvers were blown up using this ammo, but led to the development of the .357 Magnum cartridge. You can stuff a .357 Magnum loading in a .38 S&W Special case, but it could be disastrous if it got in an old .38 Special revolver.

 

Judge, thanks for that tip about useing electricans tape to save the blueing and wear. Normaly I would be a little afraid to try it not knowing what that adhesive would do to the blueing. I suppose you wouldnt have posted it were it harmfull. I still wont do it though. Its too ugly.

 

Judge, thanks for that tip about useing electricans tape to save the blueing and wear. Normaly I would be a little afraid to try it not knowing what that adhesive would do to the blueing. I suppose you wouldnt have posted it were it harmfull. I still wont do it though. Its too ugly.

How would adhesive damage the bluing? I know of no tape adhesives that are caustic or the like. Bluing is not a coating like paint so cannot be removed by normal solvents or the like.

I thought the goal was to reduce or eliminate blue wear from a holster. Personally, I find blue wear "too ugly" as compared to the tape, which can be removed at any time when the gun is retired to "Safe Queen" status. Black electrical tape is actually not too noticeable on a dark blue gun, like a later Python.

 

weagle99, pictures is THE project for this coming year. I think I've found someone to teach me to take the pics,post them to a host site,and transfer them to forums like this.
I really need to do this 'cause I'm getting old enough to start thinning the herd of a lifetime collection.I'm hoping these idiots in Congress don't come up with a bunch of BS that will keep me from realizing a reasonable return on my retirement sales!. Nick

 

To reduce wear the single most important thing is fit of the holster. An improper stitch line on a more universal holster will loosen with use, and the gun moving in the holster will increase wear/tear. My favorite way of making a holster is two thinner layers of veg tan which gives you a smooth lining in and out. You can always spot a lined holster by the full stitching. Good on you for planning to use a gun as it was intended and happy shooting!

 

On the cylinder would you go round and round with the electrician's tape, or lengthwise?

 

Thanks for the correction, Bud!Coop

 

Lots of useful information. Thanks for all of the responses guys. So like I said I intend to put her to good use. I spent $50 on a nice holster as well, so I'd like to use that too. Its a belt loop holster, so I wont really be walking around with it all the time. I prefer concealed carry with my Glock since it is more reasonably sized for concealment (and I don't even know if its possible to conceal carry a 6 inch python). So Ill probably only use the holster while at the range practicing my draw.

Do any of you know of any good conceal carry holsters for a 6 inch python?
Would an open tipped holster be recommended? Less wear on the barrel as I see it.

Here is the holster I have currently

 

Here are a few pics of my Pythons.