Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Confusion about .38 special .38 and .357

I read another thread in this forum asking why .38 special wasn't called .36 or something since, in fact, it's a .357 caliber.
The following question is probably going to sound very ignorant but I'm still learning about all this (handguns and ammunition etc)
I know I can put .38 special in my .357 magnum revolver but I kinda was under the impression I could put .38 in there too.
Now I'm starting to think that I probably can't since .38 is obviously a larger caliber than .357. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />
I thought .38 special was just a .38 with a longer cartridge and some more powder in it. I'm now starting to think I've been wrong.
Could someone please clarify this??

/confused

whoo boy, here we go.

In a .357 Magnum revolver, you can safely fire:

.357 Magnums
.38 Special +Ps
.38 Specials
.38 Long Colts.

These all fire the same diameter bullets, roughly .355 to .358 diameter.

You cannot safely fire, and in fact, they will not load:

.38 S&Ws, as the .38S&W is actually a .38 caliber, not a .35 caliber, round.

The .38 Special is a longer version of the .38 Long Colt, (which, IIRC, but don't quote me on it, was just a longer version of the very long dead .38 Colt), and the .357 Magnum just a longer version of the .38 Special.

The .38 S&W was an entirely different round and is compatible with only the .38 S&W.

Well, there you go then. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
I've been wrong all along up untill just recently hehe.
Thanks for a quick and precise reply.