[10-Ring]

I've suddenly added a lghtweight snub to my wish list, but now all the comments about recoil have me thinking (as dangerous as that might be). All my experience is w/ te 60 & 640 steel framed snubs. So, how bad are the lightweights...really?

[Kahr carrier]

Not bad at all for me but I am not recoil sensitve I have shot my friends 340Pd and did not mind the recoil ,but when he shoots it he whines a little.:)

[ACP230]

For me recoil isn't the problem with my Smith M38. I can shoot it OK with Core-Bon 158 grain LSWC +P. My problem is the cylinder latch grinding on the inside of my thumb with "abrupt" loads.

I am using 125 grain Winchester Leadfree ammo in it now. Not because of recoil, but because it hits closest to center from the M38. I need to try some different ammo.

[Jim March]

There's more problems than just recoil:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10130

[Wildalaska]

Nasty..."stop I have a gun, PLEASE dont make me shoot you"

WildouchAlaska

[CZ-75]

I have a Detective Special that stings w/ +P .38 loads.

[Gordon]

Try Federal 180 grain .357 loads in 360 kit gun and tell me it's not bad.:what:

[Min]

I have a Smith 360 PD Scandium. +P are no prob really, but the .357 magnums will sting your hand a bit (in other words - I didn't like it). A glove might help.

[firestar]

I have not shot the Scandium guns but I have shot the the 16oz ones and the all steel subbies. I can't tell the difference. It seems like the grip makes all the difference. A good grip and it won't hurt.

[AC]

than what you are used to. I notice a marked difference between even the 19 oz. M60 and a 16 oz. M642. The M 642 is what I usually have handy so I make a point of practicing with it. This amounts to 50 rds a week. It always hurts, but I do it anyway. The load is a slow handload with a 160 gr bullet (probably only moving about 600 fps.), yet it still hurts.

The problem with 'comfortable grips' which I'm assuming means rubber is that they aren't as good for a concealment gun, so for a J frame I like the factory wood splinter grip, sometimes sanded to a rounder configuration for comfort, and a Tyler adapter.

If you don't find your heavier J frames a hindrance to carry, they are a lot better once the shooting starts.

[badgerrr]

Shooting the older model S&Ws can be a bloody affair with heavy loads. That blasted @*!!&% S&W cylinder release latch can draw blood (and hide) from your thumb. I routinely lost more blood than anything I shot at.

This problem can be corrected with a file....take down them sharp edges! Maybe you can replace the old model release with a new one....but I have never tried this, so perhaps it won't fit. :cuss:

[whiskey]

I guess "recoil" and "hurt" are relative to the shooter. I have shot +P 125's out of my buddies Taurus Ti Ultra light at a scant 13.5 oz and to me it was not any worse than the all steel 650CIA he had. I am used to heavy magnum loads out of Single Action revolvers and the light snubby was not as bad to me. It is not like shooting a model 617 with 22LR, but it ain't bad enough to not practice.

[dude]

even with the full-ish sized Taurus 'ribber' grip, the recoil shooting full powered .357 loads can be a bit rude..................no to bad though. The grips are no good for CCW.

.38s are quite plesant though and I mostly shoot them out of my 13 oz titanium sunb, keeping a speedoader or two of Silvertips handy for outdoor activites and things that go bump-in-the-night

[Mark IV Series 80]

This problem can be corrected with a file....take down them sharp edges! Maybe you can replace the old model release with a new one....but I have never tried this, so perhaps it won't fit. Hello Badger,

I tried replacing the old-style cylinder release latch with a new one.

The new cylinder release is made much more cheaply than the old ones. I believe that the new ones are MIM or cast.

When I replaced the old one with the new one, I noticed that the new cylinder release was touching the frame, and it would scratch-up the frame with use. I changed back to the old cylinder release immediately.

[M1911]

Bad. I've got a 642 that I shoot with 158gr +P .38Spcl. It's not fun. My trigger finger tends to get hit by the trigger guard. No way would I go lighter than that gun.

[10-Ring]

Sounds like receipe for some bad shooting habits. I do plan to shoot this gun to become proficient w/ it, but if it's not gonna be at least managable, I'll pass and get another all steel snub instead.

[Old Fuff]

So long as you're smart enough to match the cartridge and it's relative power to the revolver recoil shouldn't be a problem. The greater issue I see is when a potent round is fired in an ultra-light gun and bullets start pulling the crimp.

[10-Ring]

I've shot 357's from newer mod 60's & snub 686's w/ no problems. I'm thinking now that I'm better off trading weight for function...hmmmm.:scrutiny:

[44]

I can shoot the full power Fed 357B 125gr load in my 340PD, but only with the S&W grips that cover the backstrap. The S&W number is 220860000. You can get them at Ajax Custom Grips for about $15. They are either Uncle Mike's or Butler Creek J-frame grips.

These grips add a couple ounces and a little bulk, but they make a world of difference compared to the Bantams that come with the gun. Surprisingly, they carry OK in a front pocket.

Most people use 38+P ammo, and this is fine with the Bantams. But if I was going to use 38+P, I'd get a 442 and save some money. Besides, the 442 is a proven gun and the 340 is new.

But there is a big difference between .357 and 38+P stopping power. I quit the 38+P for this reason. I like the 340PD, but shooting full-power loads is dreadful. Still, the 340 is what I carry, with the Fed 357B.

[Sox]

I have alot of experience with these little snubs and love 'em. Let me say it's a love/hate relationship actually. Now, I like to shoot my guns. What I have found is this: for every 5oz. change in weight there is increased perceptible recoil. These little snubs can be had in frames that weight 11oz,12.5oz,14.5oz,19oz,23oz, and a variety in between,but you get the picture. My bottom line is the 60 snub at 19oz is comfortable to shoot. The 442 at 14.5oz is a nice trade between comfort to carry and comfort to shoot. The Titaniums are painful and no fun. Comfort in the little guns boils down to a few things: grip that covers the backstrap, load selection, shooting gloves, and finally, for some perhaps porting. Good luck, and enjoy.:cool:

[colorado4570]

I've found that recoil from 125 gr. 357 factory loads (Golden Sabre, Hydra-shok) is not bad out of the 340PD. A good 357 midrange load is even better for me, causing even less muzzle flash. The .38 and .38+p are very comfortable to shoot and I could shoot 50+ rounds in practice with no problem.

I would definitely not to go too heavy with the 180 grain hunting loads or anything like that. It's just too much recoil and muzzle flash out of such a light gun. You just have to recognize the limitations of such a small and light gun. It is a fine gun for it's intended purpose, as close last ditch self defense. As the manual states, experimenting with your ammo selection is very important with the 340PD, making sure the bullets do not jump the crimp, and that you are comfortable with the recoil and muzzle flash.

The thread Jim March quotes is a poor example. The 'problems' in this case rest squarely on the shoulders of the user. The user was trying 60 grain RCBD ammo when the 340PD manual explicitly states not to use ammo with bullets less than 120 grains in the gun. In fact, it is also written RIGHT ON THE BARREL. I quote, reading the barrel of my 340 pd, "NO LESS THAN 120 GRAIN BULLET". Excessive muzzle flash and bullets jumping the crimp would be expected with that kind of specialty ammo. In the end, the user reported good results with normal 125 gr. ammo. No suprises there.

[longspurr]

This weekend they had a "factory shoot" where all the rental guns + what the factory reps brought with them were available to shoot. Range was 15ft to 25 yds. indoors. Of the 8 guns I shot the one that impressed me the most was a Taurus 45lc titanum 2.25" ported snubbie! It went bang with a nice fireball out front but the gun did NOT jump about or loosen my grip. Yes it has the rubber grips that may not be great for CCW but the gun is great for shooting. 10 shots fired single-double action, 1 handed and 2 handed at 15 ft. all landed in a hole about 1.125'

For me this gun is a should buy. This is the first snubby I've shot that was accurate and shot close to point of aim.

I also shot a desert eagle 44. 3 jams (dirty gun) and the grip is too big for me. P22- nice but so-so accuracy. Smith m99 - feels good but so-so accuracy. Sig 45 - yes, nice gun etc.

[22luvr]

My 340SC has some fierce recoil shooting .357's but is a real pussycat with .38 spcls. I experimented with RBCD TFSP's with a 60 gr projectile thinking that the laws of physics would be on my side with bullets jumping crimp. (my rationale: seemingly, a heavier projectile would tend to "stay at rest" a little longer and be subject to pulling from the casing over a much lighter projectile) Not so! Shooting standard pressure 125 gr SJHP's Atlanta Arms range reloads, they shot easily, accurately, and none of the bullets jumped crimp.

Again, while recoil is snappy, it does not hinder my accuracy, handling security, and repeat shots. No problem here but as far as recoil sensitivity, I'm dead from the neck-up; it just doesn't bother me a whole lot.

[jimmy]

FWIW, I find that my Model 342PD is surprisingly easy to shoot with standard pressure .38 cartridges, specifically Federal Nyclad HP's. The recoil is there but is not a problem. I think this is largely due to the 342's Hogue Bantam grips, because in contrast my Model 37 with its original walnut service stocks is no fun at all to shoot with the same load.

I don't enjoy shooting the 342 with +P's, however. This feels about the same as shooting my walnut-stocked Model 37 with standard .38's.

[BigG]

The scandiums are not for the frail, elderly, or recoil shy but they are a nice tool for someone who knows their snubbies and work well for me. I got used to snubs using steel and alum j-frames and Colt snubs. A lot of it I believe is psychological as it's a rude surprise at first having a loud boom go off so near your hand. Like an M80 firecracker perhaps. Once you get past that, it's really not a big as people say.