handgun ammunition

Question
QUESTION: I don't know much about firearms, but I recently purchased a Sig Saur P229 that fires .357 sig ammo. The ammunition is rather expensive, and I've heard that I can fire .38 ammo with the .357 barrel. Is this true? If so, do I need to purchase special .38 ammo? If I can use .38 ammo, it would be a lot cheaper for target practice. Thanks for your expert answer.

ANSWER: Yes, a gun made to fire .357 magnum cartridges can also fire .38 special cartridges.  But a .38 special gun cannot fire a .357 magnum cartridge.

There is nothing "special" about a .38 special cartridge, that's just it's name.  The .38 special has a lower power and a shorter case length than the .357 magnum.

The .38 special is good for target practice, but most people would choose the .357 magnum cartridge if they were hunting deer.  The most popular .38 special cartridge for general use and for target shooting is one with a semi-wadcutter bullet.

Hope this helps!

Dave



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Just for clarification... You say a .38 special cartridge will work in a pistol designed to shoot .357 magnum ammo, but is this also true for a pistol designed to shoot .357 SIG ammunition? I know the two cartridges have different dimensions. Just want to make sure before I attempt the switch. Thanks again for your answer.

Answer
Oops!  I started thinking about .357, and I forgot that you asked about .357 Sig.  Unfortunately, the .357 Sig is a different cartridge altogether.  No other cartridge type will fit in your .357 Sig gun.  You cannot use .357 magnum or .38 special cartridges.  

SORRY!

Hope this helps!

Dave