Shooting 357 magnum in an Airlight.

[22-rimfire]

This is what has kept me from buying the 357PD. I just can't see myself ever shooting it more than a couple of times and it would be bought to shoot not look at. I'll stick with 38's in my 442. But (the infamous 'but'), it would still make a good pack gun for out in the woods for bruins to be shot only when you just have to.

 

[mavracer]

I like remmi Golden Sabers in my M&P340, I have the Crimson Trace 405 grips on it and while not exactily fun it's not a problem.

 

[Mr. Designer]

I have a model 360 with CT grips without the backstrap and shoot 125 grain .357s some of the time. It's not fun but I try to keep the gun more forward in my hand (toward my fingers) so the palm, not the web of my hand takes most of the recoil. Also putting the thumb of the non-firing hand over the backstrap helps control the recoil (see Jerry Miculek in the pic below).

 

[dhoomonyou]

BTDT, you may as well just hold the cartridge in your hand and hit the primer with a hammer.

MUCH too MUCH.

 

[DAdams]

Here is some chrono data from JFH (Jim H.) he posted on the M&P 340 thread.
I concur with his observations. I find the M&P 340 at 13.3 ounces a good balance and compromise between the 12 and 16 available in the Sc/Ti and X42s.

Chrono test--M&P340, Factory Speer 357-GDSB135gr.

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I found a box of the Speer 357 Short Barrel 135gr cartridges. They went over the chrono this afternoon in the 340:

Velocity: 1031.5
High: 1061.1
Low: 969.9
SD: 35.8
MAD: 24.6
ES: 91.2
FWIW: Here's (one of) the 340 results again for the Speer 38+P Short Barrel 135gr.

Velocity: 895.3
High: 916.0
Low: 849.8
SD: 26.3
MAD: 18.2
ES: 66.2

Buffalo Bore range results:

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Item 20A--"Heavy 38 SPL+P:" 158-gr. LSWHC, factory spec'd at 1000 fps/M.E. 351 ft. lbs.

five shots, from an S&W 640 (2 & 1/8" barrel): Average, 1020.3 fps.
five shots, from an S&W 340 (1 & 7/8" barrel): Average, 1010.0 fps.

Item 20B--"Heavy 38 SPL+P:" 125-gr. L.V. Gold Dot, factory spec'd at 1050 fps/M.E. 306 ft.lb.

five shots from the 640: Average, 1061.1 fps

I've had trouble believe the 20A advertised specs--but they are true. Further, compared to the hand-loaded .38Spl+P loads I've been doing with various powders and a 140-gr. lead bullet, the recoil is NOT harder, and the shot has a noticable "38 Spl" feel to it. Anyone well acclimated to a 340 should have little trouble shooting it.

It is a bit stiffer recoil than the Speer 38+P 135-gr GDSB load, but it's also 'shorter'--and given the historical performance of the 38 Spl 158-gr. LSWC-HC round, it should be a super defensive load in 642s-442s.

As far as the 20B load goes, that's a real light load in comparison. I didn't bother to shoot it in the 340, I feel that confident about its managability

Data supplied by Jim H.

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I agree with the open backstrap. Both my J frames, 642 and M&P 340s currently have Crimson Trace 405s. If you really want to tame those beastie snubs and don't care about grip length, put on a set of Hogue Monogrips. A world of difference in terms of felt recoil and control.