Anybody Not Like Shooting .357?

[D-Man]

Maybe I'm in the minority here, but I just don't enjoy shooting the .357 round. As much as it's fun shooting .38 out of a 6" 19-4, the .357 round isn't any fun. Yes, I understand the ballistic numbers out of it and know it's a proven stopping round, but I much rather stick to 9MM or .45ACP.

Without this becoming a 'which round is better' argument, does anybody else feel the same way? Maybe I'm just not a revolver guy......

[vito]

I have two 38/357 S&W's, a 4 inch Model 19 and a 2 inch model 640. I find the 357mag round really uncomfortable to fire. I use 38's at the range, and load them at home with 38+p. I think the 38+p would be an effective personal defense round, and lets me avoid having to practice with the 357mags.

[Vern Humphrey]

Good grips and practice make a big difference -- as does the weight of the gun. My 6" barreled Colt M357 and my 5 1/2" barrled Colt SAA are very easy to shoot. Some of the modern flea-weight revolvers are brutal, though.

Two things you might try are PAST shooting gloves and good ear protection. The sonic shock wave is a big part of the unpleasantness. I wear both ear plugs and muffs when shooting.

[MrBorland]

I'm not crazy about shooting .357mag, either, even when I shoot them out of the larger L-framed 686. 'Course, grips likely play a big role, and I'm currently using Miculek grips, which are known to not handle bigger power factors well. In my hands, shooting .357mag with these grips is best described as "vicious".

At any rate, it's prudent to fit the round to the application, and to stick to what you're capable of shooting. My interest is mostly paper punching, but If I were hunting, or carrying my 686 in the woods, I'd load it with .357s and not worry about recoil. At the range, I shoot .357mags occassionally to remind myself how the round shoots, but otherwise, I generally stick to .38 or .38+P.

[1911Tuner]

I very much like the .357 cartridge, but I don't really like shooting the full-powered ammo in anything lighter than an L-Frame Smith...for two reasons. One is that it's hard on the guns, and two is that after about a hundred rounds...the concussion starts to make my head hurt.

I use a handloaded 160-grain home cast SWC and 14.5 grains of 2400 for those times that I want the downrange punch of the "magnum" without all the fuss and stress on the gun. It's about a 90% top-end load that's extremely accurate in every revolver I've fired it in with one notable exception. If you're a handloader, I suggest that you give it a try. It's actually fairly mild as .357 goes. Of course, it goes without saying that the charge should be approached carefully, reducing it by a grain-point-five and working up to it. It's better suited to heavier revolvers, though.

[freakshow10mm]

I hate .357 Mag in snubbies.

[teknoid]

I don't see much difference between my 4" 65-5 using .357, and my SP101 with 38+P. Recoil is comfortable enough that I usually go through a box of shells when it goes to the range. Maybe it is a grip thing. I use Hogue rubber grips, and they take the sting out of things pretty well.

[MrAnteater]

Totally depends on the firearm.

Out of my old S&W model 65 its a load of fun. Out of my S&W 340PD its torture and once the novelty wore off I went to Gold Dot 38+P. :)

[rocinante]

I have a pair of ruger new Vaqueros and usually shoot the 38 special loads appropriate for cowboy action shooting but BROTHER shooting 357 magnum is a RUSH in comparison. The noise and the muzzle rise tells me it is a whole different animal. I thought it was fun but truthfully because of the ammo cost difference I don't do it often. I can't imagine enjoying and/or controlling in a lightweight stub nose.

[buck460XVR]

I use a handloaded 160-grain home cast SWC and 14.5 grains of 2400 for those times that I want the downrange punch of the "magnum" without all the fuss and stress on the gun. It's about a 90% top-end load that's extremely accurate in every revolver I've fired it in with one notable exception. If you're a handloader, I suggest that you give it a try. It's actually fairly mild as .357 goes.

pretty close to the 14 gr. load I use with 158 JSP. Nice shootin' load that still gives one the "magnum" feel, but is easy on the gun and on your hands. I have a nice little load with 7 grains of Unique that's fun for all day also. Me and the youngest shot almost three hundred rounds thru the 686 today. Only 50 of them were the plinkers, the rest were the 2400 loads. The youngest is just 15 and neither of us will quit shootin the 686 till we run the 'ell outta shells........it's just that much fun to shoot. We mostly shoot clay pigeons that we stack against the berm' and continue to challenge each other on the pieces till there are no pieces left. Of course compared to the .460, the .357 is just a peashooter. We 'peck away" at the smallest of pieces with the .22 pistols while the barrels cool down on the canons. Then we set up another 10 and do it all over again.

[SaxonPig]

Full loads from my 2.5" M19 are a handful, but from larger guns like N frames or I frame Colts I enjoy the bark and bite of the Magnum.

Who wouldn't enjoy shooting this 1st year Highway Patrolman?


http://www.fototime.com/3C9C61CB328E402/standard.jpg

[loneviking]

I'd guess you either have a .357 in a light frame, or a type of grip that doesn't fit your hands well. I shoot full house loads from a Colt Peacekeeper, and a S&W 65-6---both medium frames with Pachmayer grips and have no problem.

The other thought may be your shooting technique. A semi-auto recoils by pushing back at you, a revolver kicks up. You need to 'ride the recoil' and let the gun bounce up and then drop the barrel back down again to get it on target. If you fight the recoil you will get stung! If you don't understand what I mean, go and find a good handgun instructor that can show how to handle a big wheelgun. They are a very different animal from the semi-autos.

[Squidward]

Federal Premium Personal Defense Low Recoil Ammunition 357 Magnum 130 Grain Hydra-Shok Jacketed Hollow :D

[Prepster]

I don't care for .357 either. As loneviking said, it's a very different experience compared to any semi auto I've fired. I try to use my standard grip on powerhouse revolvers and usually I'm sore in no time. I've heard the "let it roll" technique, but my autoloader voice screams "You're limp-wristing!" and my attempts to do it correctly seldom go anywhere. However, I believe I don't like it just because I'm not used to shooting revolvers of any kind.

[pps]

On the contrary, it's my favorite round to shoot.

In my 340pd, I practice with handloads (in .357 cases) that launch a 158gr jhp at 1000 from the 1 7/8" pipe. This approximates the 38special +p offering from buffalo bore that I carry.

In my Ruger Service 6 and S&W 627 I shoot everything from mild (158gr swagged at 850fps) to wild (158gr Double Taps at 1500fps or my handload 185gr LFNGC at 1200fps).

For me, the .357 seems to be the perfect balance between power and control. The 6" model 19 you describe sounds like a near perfect platform for a .357mag round.

[The-Fly]

with the right grips and enough weight, full power 357 isn't a problem.



http://www.btfh.net/shoot/porn/little_dirty_harry.jpg

[vanilla_gorilla]

This handgun goes with me to the range more than any other I own.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b53/vanilla_gorilla911/wood017.jpg

[mauiglide]

Of all the handguns I own, I find my 686 Plus 4" barrel the most fun range gun I own. It is accurate and easy to shoot. The recoil is the best part of shooting the beast! I also get a kick when it is a bit overcast and you can see the flash it puts out, wow!

[Prince Yamato]

Not out of my Taurus snub-nose! But out of a regular sized barrel (2-6 inch), no problem.

[TCW]

It's fun in my 4" GP100!

[nwilliams]

I usually buy .38 instead of .357 because I can usually save a few dollars going that route. I don't have any problem with the .357 and if I were going to carry my Ruger Service Six or S&W 28-2 then I would want to carry .357. However for target shooting I'll stick with .38 since I don't need stopping power against paper targets.

[KI.W.]

I don´t care .357 Mag because have .357 Rem Max Dan Wesson and T/C Contender.

[denfoote]

I don't enjoy shooting the original magnum round out of my Taurus 605 snub. :what:
Shooting it out of my N-frame Smith 28 is somewhat less punishing. :evil:

[DMZ]

Things like grips, weight and practice are important to shooting .357's, but I think the key to really enjoying shooting the .357 Mag, be it a large frame revolver like a GP100 or a snub, is reloading. One can develop anything from inexpensive plinking/target loads to higher velocity (158 gr JHP @ ~1,200 fps) loads that have much less recoil and muzzle blast than commercial loadings.

[ozwyn]

Comapred to shooting .45 or 9mm, it does feel like .357 punishes you more, but on the other hand, the "ride the recoil" advice is spot on.

If you try and take the recoil the same way you handy a semi-automatic, you're going to feel the difference in a "less than good" way.

[Walkalong]

I have never cared for the muzzle blast of full .357 loads. I like the .44 Mag better for power. I do shoot plenty of light to medium .357 loads at the range.

[XDKingslayer]

I have a Rossi 2" snubbie. I love shooting full house .357 rounds through it. However, my carpal tunnel doesn't. After about 18 rounds my wrists really start feeling it.

I always take at least a dozen .357 rounds with me along with the .38 because you just have to do it. It makes the stress go away.

[ToeRag]

I shoot both .38 and .357 outta my 4" 686.

If I'm trying to focus on sight picture and grouping, and steady hold.. I load up the .38's.

But I always bring a box of 50, .357 to feel the kick. A natural smile just starts to appear on my face, as soon as the first round leaves the barrel.

I don't know if it's the gun or what, but it's alot of fun to shoot.

[gregormeister]

I'd enjoy shooting my Taurus 650 if it cycled properly...

[Checkman]

It's not my favorite load, but since I went with Pachmayer Presentation grips I've noticed an improvement. But I also grew up with Pach grips so I might be biased.

[DWARREN123]

It is going to come down to how the firearm fits you and what type of grip is on it. Changing grips out can make a lot of difference.

[cerberus65]

I like .357 Magnums out of my J frame snubbie. But maybe that's because it's stainless and weighs 22-23 oz. I haven't had the opportunity yet to try them in an Airweight. I suspect that might be a completely different experience. :-)

[Deanimator]

I don't mind shooting .357, but preferably out of a reasonably heavy gun, like a Dan Wesson, Ruger Security Six, or best, an N frame S&W. Model 27s and Model 28s are very comfortable with any reasonable .357 round.

[sargenv]

Out of my 10" Contender they are pip squeaks..Not much recoil.. out of my 4" 686 they are somewhat of a handful but not too punishing since I use the Hogue grips. I wouldn't shoot full power 357 magnums out of anything smaller than a 4" 686 or GP100.

[Butter]

I have a 4" 686 (7 shot) and a 640 snubbie. I think I still have half the second of two boxes of .357 ammo that I purchased to put down range through either. I was also gifted two other boxes of 5 year old .357 ammo that may take another 5 years to see the light of day through these revolvers. Mostly shoot .38 special gets abused through them, especially the 640. But, after changing the grips on the 686 it does feel better to hang on to. But two cylinders worth is about all this guy generally wants to shoot of357.

[Nero_Atrum]

I actually feel more recoil from my PX4 in .40 than my dad's six inch .357 S&W (dont remember the model...). On the other hand the .357 out of his 2 inch S&W is just plain annoying to shoot.

[Reddbecca]

I like everything about shooting .357s, except for the price.

[Zip7]

To me it's the gun. I have a blackhawk with the stock grips that I hate to shoot 357 out of - but the standard blackhawk grips don't fit me well. Beats my middle finger up.

And then I have a N Frame S&W 27 with about an 8" barrel, and out of that gun it's no big deal, but carrying that gun around without a wheelbarrow can get tiring...

[rhubarb]

I've shot some "hot" .357 out of my nephew's 6" Taurus and a bunch of different loads including some "hot" handloads from a friend's 4" GP100 and I don't see what the big deal is. Neither the recoil nor the sound really impressed me more than a full power 9mm. I never felt the grip sting or muzzle rise like when shooting a .44 mag or larger. I'd say my little KelTec .380 is a lot more violent than a full-size .357.

The only thing I dislike about the .357 is the limited number of rounds that'll fit in a cylinder.

[tipoc]

.357 Magnum is just a caliber. There are many loads for this caliber. The one load that many shooters find obnoxious to shoot tends to be a 125 gr. bullet at between 1300-1400 fps. and higher. This load produces a great deal of muzzle flash (which contributes to felt recoil) and noise.

But there are other loads. Some for hunting and some for self defense. For the latter both Speer and CCI Blazer make a 158 gr. jhp load at about 1200 fps out of a 4" barrel. This can be a good load for self defense.
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=271149

There are also a 140 and 147 gr. load at about 1250 fps which also has a good record and is more pleasant to shoot than many 125 gr. loads.
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=268014
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=412571

Look for either of these and give them a try. And there are plenty of others.

tipoc

[machinisttx]

Blasphemy!

The .357 isn't bad at all with cast bullets. Recoil isn't bad and neither is noise. Jacketed bullets, OTOH, are obnoxious to fire(noise). I find that I have more problems with the noise than with actual recoil...

Only reason not to shoot the .357 is because you're busy shooting a .44 mag or warm-hot .45 colt. :D

[tipoc]

The .357 isn't bad at all with cast bullets. Recoil isn't bad and neither is noise. Jacketed bullets, OTOH, are obnoxious to fire(noise). I find that I have more problems with the noise than with actual recoil...

I figure you realize that this makes no sense. LSWC, JHP, semi'jacketed, hard cast lead or soft makes no difference as far as noise goes or felt recoil or actual recoil. Bullet weight, charge, pressure, etc. have more to do with it than the type of bullet fired.

tipoc

[mewachee]

Hot 357's out of my sp101 have a little bite, but it puts a smile on my face.

[makarovnik]

As long as it isn't a light weight snub-nose I don't mind them. I like shooting a Colt Python though.

[Defensory]

Posted by D-Man:
Maybe I'm in the minority here, but I just don't enjoy shooting the .357 round. As much as it's fun shooting .38 out of a 6" 19-4, the .357 round isn't any fun. Yes, I understand the ballistic numbers out of it and know it's a proven stopping round, but I much rather stick to 9MM or .45ACP.

I agree. I don't enjoy shooting it, and let a guy with a .357 show up on the range, and there'll be a number of people around him who don't enjoy it either.

Several guys I've talked to at my range have sold their .357's, especially the snubbies.

The .45 ACP has less recoil, less muzzle blast, less muzzle flash and less muzzle rise. It can be used in weapons that fire and reload faster, and is near the top of the rating charts for stopping power.

[MCgunner]

God, what a bunch of girls.....357 is okay, but hot .45 Colt is mo bedda, at least until I can get a .454 Casull.:evil:

Out of a K frame, 14.5 grains 2400 behind a Lee gas checked 158SWC is a pleasure! I really had fun with the little SP101 with 180 grain XTPs at 1302 fps with 13.8 grains AA#9. That one will wake you up. :evil::evil::evil: I shoot the lighter 158 grain load for 99 percent of my shooting same reason as 1911Tuner does, it's easier on the guns. Actually, it puts down deer quite well, too, ain't THAT mild, just a tick off the fire breathing hot of some of my other loads. It puts up 1470 fps or so out of my 6.5" Blackhawk and is quite accurate. It puts up something around 1850-1900 fps out of my Rossi 20" M92 carbine, deadly on deer to 100 yards. I like the 180 load for hunting, but it's kinda warm and I can't afford to be bustin' caps on store bought bullets anyway. That 158 grainer I cast from range scrap for the price of a gas check. Absolutely no bore leading even out of the rifle.

The .45 ACP has less recoil, less muzzle blast, less muzzle flash and less muzzle rise. It can be used in weapons that fire and reload faster, and is near the top of the rating charts for stopping power.

But, it ain't no .357. :evil: If all you do with a handgun is self defense or small game hunting, nothing wrong with lesser calibers. I carry a .38 and a 9mm a lot, more compact pocketable guns. I have a .45, but it's frankly easier to carry the more powerful .357 magnum and if I carry IWB, that's usually what I'm totin'. It's lighter, more compact, easier to tote IWB, and I shoot it well. I have always liked magnum revolvers. Nothin' like horsepower to get the job done. Needs a 3" barrel or better, though. That's one bane of the .357, the snubbies are neutered. I sold my SP101, will get a 3" if I get another. I have a Taurus 3" M66 and it shoots harder and with the extra sight radius, I can shoot it better. It's not a whole lot harder to conceal than the SP101 was.

[MCgunner]

Quote:
The .357 isn't bad at all with cast bullets. Recoil isn't bad and neither is noise. Jacketed bullets, OTOH, are obnoxious to fire(noise). I find that I have more problems with the noise than with actual recoil...




I figure you realize that this makes no sense. LSWC, JHP, semi'jacketed, hard cast lead or soft makes no difference as far as noise goes or felt recoil or actual recoil. Bullet weight, charge, pressure, etc. have more to do with it than the type of bullet fired.

tipoc

There's lots of 158 lead SWC on the market, store bought ammo, that's mildly loaded. Probably where the confusion lies. I've fired some off brand factory stuff over my chronograph that barely beat or DIDN'T beat good .38 +P. Loaded like a MAGNUM, bullet construction makes no difference, only bullet weight and powder charge matters to recoil.


I like everything about shooting .357s, except for the price.

Well, 14.5 grains of 2400 ain't THAT much more expensive than 2.7 grains of Bullseye. But, yeah, the .38 WC loads are a little cheaper to shoot. A box of 50 .357 sets me back maybe three dollars. That's a real budget killer. ROFL! If you ain't reloadin', you're screwin' yourself.

[springmom]

Heh, heh, heh. No, I love shooting my 66-3 with .357's. The gun's so heavy that even the .357's are no big deal.

And when else do you get to make enormous fireballs, anyway? :neener:

Springmom

[JohnL2]

I tried out my new 3" SP101 the other day. I loaded it up with .38 Special first just to get the feel of the pistol. It felt really good in the hand. The recoil wasn't bad at all.
Then I loaded up with some DoubleTap .357 magnum. Talk about brisk. But it was manageable. Before I knew it I was a little bit more than halfway through my box of 50 rounds. I was feeling fine. I was at an indoor range and my head received a rapping by the concussion even though I was wearing earplugs.
I can see why people may be turned off with full-power .357 mag. The SP101 handled it well though and this pistol will NEVER be sold. I love it. I think .38 Special +P may be perfect for most applications; and be more comfortable to shoot.
One pistol that can shoot 3 different loads. ALL reliably. As I was shooting my 1911 (a whole different feel), those familiar doubts arose in my mind. Will it jam? Failure to extract? Am I limpwristing? With the revolver that all disappeared.

[Marlin 45 carbine]

I enjoy shooting my GP-100 4" but prefer my 9mm and .45acp's and other calibers, namely .32acp and .380acp and Makarov.

[zxcvbob]

I like .357 in a SAA or my old Security Six. They are both pretty heavy.

I load them kind-of-hot (max loads but not 2400, #9, 296, H110, or Lil'Gun) and use 158 grain cast bullets.

Probably 8 grains of Herco is my favorite load. I never found a Blue Dot load that I really liked, but that NATO surplus power (similar to AA#7) is better and a lot cheaper.

[foghornl]

Heavy Duty .357Mag loads??

Easy to shoot out of my Vaquero and Blackhawk.

Not so good out of a Shooting Budd's "Ultra-Lite-Tanium" S&W snubby...I don't remember what model it was, but that snubby was way less than 1Lb empty. The 158-gr Gold Dots were absolutely brutal to shoot out of that gun :what::eek::what::eek:

Although a full cylinder of them about doubled the weight... :evil: :D

[BlindJustice]

I have a S&W 686P 4" Bbl. with Hogue Grips
WIth full house .357 Mag ammo it has a LOT of recoil
Muzzle blast and repeat shots are decidedly slowed
I think a better platform is the original S&W N frame
with a minimum of a 5" Bbl. if one were to carry it
on the belt, or for hunting a 6" or longer Bbl. with a
shoulder rig.

I also have a Model 60 3" Bbl. .357 Mag. - I limit it to
.38 SPcl +P 125 gr. Speer Gold Dot and it's much more
manageable in all respects than the aforementioned
combination.

I prefer my 1911/.45 ACP & CZ 75B 9MMx19

Randall

[Cosmoline]

I think part of the dislike of the .357 comes from the absurdly tiny and lightweight magnums on the market. Out of an SP-101 or a Speed Six with good grips the round is a lot of fun to shoot. I also find that the "high vel" 120-ish grain magnum loads are a lot less pleasant than the standard loads in the 158-grain range.

[grimjaw]

I love shooting .357 out of a larger framed revolver. You can keep the snubs, though.

jm

[ArmedBear]

let a guy with a .357 show up on the range, and there'll be a number of people around him who don't enjoy it either.

What range would that be?:rolleyes: Do those people want some cheese with their whine?

Never been to such a place, myself. I've seen people whine about things like really heavy magnum rifles indoors with muzzlebrakes, but not about a mid-range handgun caliber like .357! Actually, people even tend to laugh, not whine, when I dump a cylinder of black powder .44 as fast as I can shoot it, and the targets aren't visible for a half minute or more. Maybe the sulfur smell improves people's sense of humor or something.

Hell, I shoot .22's a lot, but I sure don't complain if someone is shooting a big centerfire on the same range. It's good training for focus and concentration.

I don't much enjoy .357 in an Airlite, but in a steel gun 4" and up, it's a great round, fun to shoot, not too loud, not too much recoil.

Unless you have an injury or something, if you think .357 is hard to shoot, you haven't tried a serious round. (Again, I'm not talking about an Airlite, here.)

BTW this exercise is excellent, but I do it both ways (rolling the stick overhand and then underhand, several sets) and I use a larger piece of PVC pipe so it doesn't get too easy.

http://bodybuilding.com/fun/exercises.php?Name=Wrist+Roller

[machinisttx]

I figure you realize that this makes no sense. LSWC, JHP, semi'jacketed, hard cast lead or soft makes no difference as far as noise goes or felt recoil or actual recoil. Bullet weight, charge, pressure, etc. have more to do with it than the type of bullet fired.

tipoc

Actually, if you shoot cast bullets and jacketed bullets side by side, the jacketed stuff has a sharper muzzle report. I don't know why that is, but it's there. Recoil won't be any different between the two, no, but that's not what I said anyway.

[weisse52]

It's a pain in snubbies...and I do mean PAIN! It is fine in the big N frames .

[williamthedog]

i love em!
snubbie
long barrel
i dont care.
i also reload so i make all sorts of different loads .
but i do always end up whipping up a batch of full house loads.
i like recoil!


i better shoot em now while i can before i get too old.
that was my reasoning behind the impulse buy .454casull raging bull.
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l272/billhedges/sp1015shot001.jpg
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l272/billhedges/Siri569.jpg
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l272/billhedges/zzzzsw003.jpg



last saturdays toys
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l272/billhedges/zsmithwesson27-2022.jpg

[Hawk]

Most of my .357s are big kerlumphing things that absorb recoil well - N frames, 1 Python, that sort of thing.

It is decidedly less pleasant in the "K" frames and my singular "J" predates the time when magnums were even an option.

I suppose there's a certain joy in shooting .357s out of a weightless gun but I got most of that out of my system with a lightweight .416 Rigby rifle. Now, I like comfort. 686s and Pythons in .357 are pretty comfy.

[anotherinkling]

I agree that barrel length and weight make a world of difference, but WHERE you're shooting makes a big difference, too. Shooting .357Mags at an indoor range is not so much fun, but outdoors it's not a big deal. Same goes for many guns.

[Meowhead]

I rather hate it.
Mine is a Smith 65 with 3" barrel... the recoil doesn't bother me much but the blast, oh man.

[Pat Cannon]

When I got my first 1911, I took off my earmuffs and fired a round, just to hear the report of a .45 ACP round really sounded like. I have no temptation to do that with my .357s!

Nonetheless I love the .357. I did go buy the Hogue Monogrip for my 2.25" SP101, the day after I first fired Magnum rounds through it. That, and 32 dB NRR earmuffs, make shooting the 'full-house' loads a breeze. There's still a definite thump, but that's fun, especially at an IDPA match where almost everybody's shooting 9mm or .45, and you hear people behind you say, "WTF was that?" :)

[Feanaro]

My usual shooting range is indoors and has four stalls. Ain't very big. Touching off a .357 Magnum, even with my hearing protection doubled up, produces an annoying blast. Outdoors, it's a pussycat.

[easyg]

I can shoot a .357 well enough in a 4" or longer barrel revolver, but I really dislike snubbies.
And out of all the pistols and revolvers that I've fired, the .357 magnum is probably my least favorite.

[Youngster]

I can take hot .357 all day long {in an L frame or heavier} as far as recoil goes but that piercing blast starts to gnaw on me after awhile.

[Vern Humphrey]

Custom fitted earplugs worn under quality ear muffs.

[tipoc]

It's discouraging at times to see that there are so many who don't know that the .357 comes in a variety of commercial loads from the mild, just above 38 Spl. +P, to the full power which are best used in lever action carbines or Ruger Redhawks. Not to mention handloading which allows one to get the same.

Hunting loads or the hot 125 gr. loads, don't work well out'a alloy framed snubbys at least not on the shooters end. It's a little discouraging to have'ta tell folks that.

tipoc

[HM2PAC]

.357RM?

In my snubby SP101 it is not so fun.

In a large revolver like my brothers S&W or a friends King Cobra, I could shoot the things all day.

[Sun195]

I can shoot .357 out of my 4" S&W 686 (6-shot) all day long. When it comes to my 3" S&W Model 60 steel j-frame, I can go maybe 20 rounds before I want to do something else. 38's out of the Model 60 are just a pleasure.

[halfbreed808]

I personally love shooting .357 rds. Not out of snub nose though. But a full sized revolver, ahhh what a feeling.:D I love shooting smei autos too. But the dependability, solidity and power of a .357 is just simply something I can't get tired of, and wish I could shoot 'em all the time :neener: Aloha.

[Orange_Magnum]

The .357 magnum is not healthy for your cartilage, period. For self defense, sure. Practice with, no. And I don't understand hand gun hunters. Why don't you guys just chop off your wrist with an axe and have it over with?

[Archer1945]

Used to have a 4" Model 19 and never could get used to the recoil of full house 357 loads and don't even want to think about 357's in any of the small or lightweight guns, such as the Scandium frames from S&W. For what it's worth my CCW instructor, who eats and breathes big guns with heavy loads, said the most uncomfortable gun he shoots is the light weight 357 snubby he carries as a backup. I would like to try a 357 in either a Model 27 or 28 Smith with a 4" or longer barrel or a Ruger GP100.

[Defensory]

Even Massad Ayoob avoids the "airweight" type snubbie .357's. They're simply brutal when firing "full house" defensive loads.

If I had a job that required me to own a .357, I'd probably get the large (N) frame Smith Model 627. Stainless steel, 9 5/8" long overall, 4" barrel, unloaded weight 42 ounces, rubber grips.

[sixgunner455]

Depends on the gun. I don't like shooting it out of anything shorter than 6" barrels, and will only shoot it out of all-steel frames of at least Kframe size. I like the GP100, Lframe, Nframe, and Colt Python best.

Even on a GP100, a 4" barrel takes a lot of the fun out of shooting .357.

Oh, the Blackhawk with an 8" barrel is a lot of fun, too!

[Youngster]

Custom fitted earplugs worn under quality ear muffs.

Done and done, the problem is the shockwave hitting me in the face, not so much the noise. Within reasonable load levels I prefer shooting the bigger Magnums because they hit me with more of a Boom instead a piercing Crack.

[Snapping Twig]

I like .357! For me it's 1/2 (or damn near) the powder and lead of my first love - .44 mag. I Shoot N frame S&W's, so an L frame feels about the same and it's my economy training tool.

I've found that jacket rounds flash more than cast - way more. If I want to make a bright flash, I use a jacketed bullet.

I have several loads for various calibers, but typically I seperate them into a "special" and a "magnum", using W231 and Unique for the light to medium and W296 or 2400 for the magnums. Specials generally run @ 900fps and magnums @ 1200 or so.

I wouldn't shoot a magnum through a lightweight pistol unless I was forced to.

[DistantHorizon]

I'm ok with fairly strong .357's from a 2" snubby (not lightweight!!!), & strong loads from my 3" sp101. Haven't tried full-house in it yet; don't know if I ever will.

Now I'm not a tough guy by any stretch - just some people are way more sensitive to certain stuff. My dad says Winny White Box .357 in the sp101 hurts his hand; I can't comprehend it.

Now full-house .44 mag I can do without.

[texas bulldog]

mixed bag...

i really like it out of my 6" S&W 586. not uncomfortable at all with plenty of weight to the gun to soak up the recoil.

out of my 2.25" SP101, i can do it, but it's rather uncomfortable after awhile and i struggle to get through a box of 50 in one session. i tend to practice with .38s and load it for SD with .38+p. i've decided that i don't want to carry it with .357 if i find it so uncomfortable to shoot. follow-up shot times are much improved with .38, even of the +p variety.

as some others have suggested, good hearing protection helps. i tend to double-up when i know i'm gonna be shooting magnums. (plugs under muffs)

[hemiram]

Since I really messed up my right shoulder last year, .357 loads, especially the 158 gr. ones just kill me to the point I start flinching from the pain. It seems to be the recoil from the bullet weight, as it's about 10 times worse with the 158 gr loads.

I had some 110gr Remington's hiding in a drawer, and they hurt too, but nothing remotely as bad as the heavier bulleted ones. I'm shooting a 6" Dan Wesson Model 15, shooting a friend's S&W 66 is much worse.

I'm ok with 9mm in my Bernardelli P018, and Astra A-100, and 45 shot from my EAA Witness, but .40's from my Astra A-75 are pretty unpleasant, not only does my shoulder hurt, my hands hurt like hell after about 1 magazine's worth of shooting. Too many fights when I was a bouncer, I guess.

[tipoc]

Since I really messed up my right shoulder last year, .357 loads, especially the 158 gr. ones just kill me to the point I start flinching from the pain. It seems to be the recoil from the bullet weight, as it's about 10 times worse with the 158 gr loads.

158 gr. or 158 gr.?

tipoc

[welldoya]

I hadn't shot a .357 in a few years when I bought a Colt Python. I took it and a few others to my hunting camp to do a little plinking. I shot a box or so out of my S&W 642, then loaded up the Python. I was disappointed. I was looking for a big kick and didn't get it. My 642 with +P kicked more.
So, I guess it just depends on the gun. I never did warm up to that Python. It sure tamed the recoil but I couldn't hit with it worth a darn and it was too heavy for concealed carry so I sold it.

[Rexster]

I find it exhilarating to light off a few rounds of .357, but my right wrist is getting tired of being bashed. I used to shoot .41 and .44 mags, but set those aside long ago. I do most of my sixgunning with a .22 LR K-frame these days, which keeps me in practice for my carry .357 revolvers, and does a decent job of providing practice for my duty/carry SIG P229 DAK-trigger autoloaders. I shoot enough .357 to stay used to the recoil.

For those who know I am a lefty, and are wondering why I mentioned my right wrist, I have always tended to shoot DA sixguns best in my right hand. :) Also, to be clear, I am not blaming the .357 for my right wrist issues. If anything, the .41 did more damage, but I suspect things other than shooting. It hurts to shoot my .40 duty pistols in my right hand nowadays, too.

[10X]

It depends more on the gun than being 357.
An N frame with target grips make shooting very enjoyable.
If the grips don't fit you and the gun is light, it is not fun for more than a few rounds.

[jetrecbn]

I just shot some 158 Truncated cone (jacket) with W231 going about 1250 fps in a 586S&W. I think my commander loaded with WWB recoils more. I have not shot any 158 gr going 1500 fps yet. Those rounds might make me change my mind about the harshness of the .357 but as of yet I find the 357mag a pleasure to shoot.

[dvcrsn]

If you are shooting a snubby--there are distinct disadvantages to going for absolutely minimal weight in 357, 41 or 44mags--a SP101 or snub Security Six/GP makes sense since they are substantial guns--airweight Smiths are punishing. If you don't have after market grips that fit your hand well, try those, if it is noise--plugs under muff, also if it is pressure wave--hat and neckkerchiff over face with eye protection

[Fishman777]

I think that it depends on the gun. I feel comfortable with all of the .357 magnum loads I've shot through my GP100. I use the hogue grips, because I think that they fit me better than the old Ruger-style grips. I haven't shot 180 or 200 grain loads from it, but everything else doesn't seem too bad. The nice thing about the different GP100 grips is that you don't have metal slamming into the web of your hand during recoil.

I struggle with .44 magnum a lot more. .44 magnum can be pretty rough. I bought my .44 magnum for shooting .44 special and the occasionally magnum round, here and there.