Just a couple of thoughts to add to the conversation. Lyman makes a mold for the .38/.357 (Thompson design?) that is a SWC with two distinct crimping grooves. The bullet is a gas-check design and weighs 155 grains, IIRC. It was designed specifically for the .38 Special case and can be used to duplicate .38 Special loads or .357 Magnum loads. Which cartridge you choose to duplicate is regulated by the crimping groove used and, of course, the powder load. This is a setup that Skeeter Skelton wrote up several times. It's a great bullet that allows using the common .38 Special case for magnum loads rather than the more expensive .357 case.
There is a difference in the length of Colt and S&W .357 Magnum cylinders and loads that will work in a S&W may be too long for the Colt.
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