Is it safe to employ 38 Spec or 38 Spec +P loads in 357 Mag cases (to be shot in a 357 revolver), and to use 44 Spec loads in a 44 Mag case (to be used in a 44 Mag revolver)?

Yes. Or you can just use reduced load data commonly available from many sources. I would suggest that you not use jacketed bullets for this evdeavor, lead being far better. Not as likely to stick in the bore, depending upon how reduced your load is. SR 4759 is also a very good powder for this, no doubt Blue Dot as well. Luck to you.

Using the super fast (Bullseye, for example) powder .38 loads in a .357 case has always made me nervous. Too many stories of detonation and/or double charging I guess. I stick with the full power .38 (or .357) loads using medium speed powders so I can get a little better fill (load density), and have good results.

Many thousands of rounds later I have yet to have a problem. YMMV, all the usual cautions apply.

Have fun!

I haven't loaded 44 mag for years, but I am an avid 41 mag loader. I also feed my 357's. My reason for citing the 41 mag is these have similar charactoristics to 44 Magnums.

I like Unique Powder for reduced loads with lead bullets. With lead your not trying to get the most performance out of a handgun and if you chase this it becomes a exercise in cleaning lead out of your barrels.

A good load will be around 8 grs of Unique with a 240 gr bullet. Other powders of not in the 44 mag are:

IMR 4227: use on hot magnum jacketed bullets for hunting, muzzel flash issue with hot loads
H110: Probably the best powder for performance loads
W296: Good powder has a lot of muzzel flash with hot loads though
AA9: good powder works well on reduced loads and high velocity
2400: This and H110 are two of the best all around powders for the 41/44 mags

If I was feeding a 357 and a 44 mag I would stock 2400 and Unique. These powders work up excellent loads for both rounds well and you have powder loads for both lead and jacketed bulets. All bases covered.

I will also mention that I have not had good success with Blue Dot or Bullseye. They work better in light bullets (which I never shoot) and I have had poor results with accuracy and pressures on hot loads. If you plan on using light bullets solely that might effect your decision, but I use heavy projectiles and I am not impressed by either of these powders in my application. and this has been consistant with both the 41 and 44 mags. Not as critical on the 357, but I still think there are better choices of powders on the 357 mag, 2400 and W296 are my favorites in the 357 mag with jacketed bullets, and good old Unique for lead 158 gr semi wad cutters.

I would also suggest you do some serious looking into your lead bullets for the 44 mag, I used to cast my own because I didn't like the factory stuff. I don't cast for my 41 aanymore as I don't have time, but the best lead bullets I have found are Williams out of St Maries, Idaho. These are excellent really accurate lead bullets and I feed three pistols with them and they all like them. 357 bullets you don't need to get so picky about and there are a lot of good lead bullets for these.

For a good load in your 44 try 7.8 (8) grains of Unique using a Williams 240 semi wadcutter.

I think you will end up substituing another 240 gr bullet for the Williams as they are a bitch to get outside the N Idaho area, Speer or Hornady are a way behind second best.

“Skeeter Skelton†used to recommend a plus P load in a 38 Special case: 13.5 grains 2400 with a 158 grain bullet. I use lead or Jacketed. I use that in 357 cases instead and get about 1100-1200 fps depending on the revolver I shoot it in. It is superbly accurate and it is not a powder puff load either. I don’t like shooting 38 special cases in my 357 because I get leading ring in the chamber. And then when I stick a 357 case in there it becomes difficult to extract.

As for 44 Specials in a 44 Magnum. Sure. Let me recommend a fine and powerful load in a 44 Magnum case. Try a 240 Lead with 8.5 grains Unique. Was shooting that this weekend. It is in the 900 fps range, so it is no powder puff load, but is plenty accurate.

If you are looking for some nice mild loads in the .357 Mag and .44 Mag, check out some of the cowboy action shooting reloading data. They list lots of 700 to 900 fps loads using various lead bullets and small charges of fast burning powder, i.e. Bullseye, Hodgdon's Clays, Titegroup, Universal Clays, and Unique. They are mild, yet tested safe. .44 Mag Cowboy loads
.357 Cowboy Loads