[McD]

Some would contend that shooting (and properly cleaning after shooting) 38 specials is GOOD for 357 revolvers. I would make mention of older S&Ws, Colt Pythons, all the Tauri, Rossi, Llama, and I suspect the Ubertis (although I don't have any experience with them). 38s help these wheelguns going.

When S&W rolled out the 586 in 1981 we were very impressed with the big frame strength and the full lugged barrel. Heavy and confidence inspiring, we felt we could shoot full power 357s all the time. Never thought it could get better until the GP100 came out...

Reminds of the 44 specials being used in the 629, although that was equally for the shooter's sake.

 

[McD]

Just a note: a lot of rounds have bullet dimension that does not equal their popular name. For example: the 44 mag is actually .429 - .430; The 45 ACP is .451-.452; etc.
Some rounds are name for the max dimension, between rifling, in the bore rather than the bullet size... History of the development of ammo has no iron clad criteria for naming cartridges.

Naming rounds is sometimes puzzling. The current puzzle seems to be the 300 Blackout, which is (Hornady says) interchangeable with the older (early nineties) 300 Whisper, both of which work in the same AR style guns. Some brass makers are now naming brass Whisper/Blackout.

The stories of load names is sometimes a good little tale of history. All the 45's 38's and the 25's and 30's. Fun stuff.