I see allot of discussion on different forums about loading for a 357 utilizing 38 special cases. I am curious as to why this is done. What exactly is the benefit over standard 357 cases. It also wonder if this would cause erosion of the chambers?

This is one of those things that just sounds like a very bad idea to me. Downloading a .357 case to .38 Spcl is not a problem usually, but the other way just makes no since to me. Erosion is just one of the problems that may be encountered. With .357 Mag. brass as cheap as it is now a days, I can see no reason to do what you mention. What I am referring to is taking .38 spcl brass and loading it up to .357 mag. vels and pressures.
If you are just referring to loading normal .38 spcl loads in .38 spcl brass and shooting them in a .357 Magnum, then that is not a problem. The pressures are so low in the .38 spcl that you would have to shoot countless thousands of rounds to do any eroding to the .357 magnum chamber, or at least do enough to cause a problem. For shooting target loads, I have put a ton of .38 spcls through various .357 Magnums without incident. By shooting the bullet in the smaller case, you can reach the desired velocity with less powder and with less air space than by shooting the same target load in the longer .357 Magnum brass. Reduced target loads in the long .357 magnum can cause ignition problems on very light loads, and accuracy suffers, not to mention stuck bullets if reduced too far. Much better to load them in .38 Spcl brass when wanting to shoot reduced loads.

Josh, if you are just talking about using standard .38 Special ammunition or reloads in a .357 revolver, there is no problem with this. There could be a lot of reasons, having some .38 Special brass that you have no other use for, a handy way to separate your light practice loads from your magnum loads, etc., etc.

Now.... full-power (ie. .357 mag level) loads in .38 brass were done years ago when mag brass could be harder to find, or much more expensive. There are a few bullets that can be loaded to the proper length in either. Most bullets you get now, if you loaded a .357 mag powder charge in a .38 special case, would cause rather hideous pressures. The cannelures are in the wrong spot and the bullets would be seated much too deep. That topic comes up time to time as well, and it is not a good idea.

There is no acceptible reason at the present time for loading .357-level ammunition in .38 special brass, unless you inherited a dump-truck full of it and lived a hundred miles from anyone with a .38 special revolver. If anything .357 brass is easier to find than .38 special brass. The practice is horribly dangerous.

With the .38 special loads in the .357 chamber, you do need to clean the crud that builds up at the front of the chamber from time to time, but other than that there is no real drawback. Some .357s are more accurate with the lighter (ie .38 special power level) loads in .38 brass, and some are more accurate with the light loads in .357 brass. Generally speaking, you won't go wrong using .38 special load data in .357 brass for practice loads, and it will help keep the chambers cleaner. That's my habit, also don't have to change die adjustments as much, either.

Hope this helps.....

Thanks guys. I could not think of any reason to do this and had often wondered why others were doing it. Thanks for the info.

I would worry that some one could get their hands on some of the overloaded (to .357 magnum levels) .38 specials and try to shoot them in a .38 special (only) revolver. I predict massage damage, mayhem, posissible serious personal injury and lots of law suits. Just not prudent.