best .357 snub.

[rnpollard]

I've carried a ported SP101 2.25

for about a month now and love it. It is the "Tame the Beast" model from Jack Weigand Customs. It is a sweet gun.

I sold a Smith 65 years ago and regretted it until I got the 101.

I just took it to the range and shot 125 magnum loads through it with absolutely no problems.

I generally carry Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel .38+p loads in it but don't hesitate to stoke it with magnum loads in the woods or while traveling. I'm happier with the .38s in a home defense situation.

 

[pappi]

If you get a chance check out the Smith & Wesson 340PD .357 Mag Airlite on Buds Gun Shop.

Retails for around $800 or so but, is a great ccw firearm.

 

[Gunner4h1r3]

For .357's I use a 3 1/16" SP101. As a BUG it is pretty big. If you are looking for a BUG I would recommend a .38 as many have mentioned. My BUG for over 2 years has been a S&W 638 Airweight Bodyguard. Light enough for pocket carry,snag-free, has the option for SA shooting and the trigger is smooth with the single action downright scary. I keep it loaded with +P Gold Dots. I have fired .357's in light guns and they hurt. A lot.With .38's they are manageable but I am not fond of the titanium/scandium models on the market. But that is my personal opinion.

 

[Prosser]

I have the 360PD. I load it with Fioochi 148 grain JHP that go 1131 fps out of that gun.
I could also use .38 Plus P by Buffalobore, 1040 fps, 158 grain LHP, and the recoil is the limit I can shoot decently out of the gun. I have big hands, and pocket carry grips have to be small. I find at 7 yards I can hit center of mass, but, no head shots consistently.
Anything over that level is unshootable. I did the recoil numbers, using buffalobores
loads:
360PD recoil figures:
180 gr. L.F.N. -G.C. (1,400fps/M.E. 783 ft. lbs.)
Recoil Energy of 41 foot pounds, and Recoil Velocity of 60 fps.

158 gr. J.H.C. (1,475fps/M.E. 763 ft. lbs.)
Recoil Energy of 37 foot pounds, and Recoil Velocity of 57 fps.

125 gr. J.H.C. (1,700fps/M.E. 802 ft. lbs.)

Recoil Energy of 35 foot pounds, and Recoil Velocity of 55 fps.

Anytime the recoil velocity goes over 35 fps, your entering a wrenching, horrible recoil
area, that hurts a LOT.

I shot ONE round each of the first two loads, and never again.

The recoil of the 148's is:

148’s @ 1131 fps
Recoil Energy of 13 foot pounds, and Recoil Velocity of 29 fps.

The problem with the scandiums is that light weight, while making the gun a REAL pocket carry BUG, also allows it to reach recoil velocity that other guns only dream of.

Also, keep in mind, I calculated these figures with a fully loaded gun. IIRC, my Scandium weighs 12 oz, unloaded.

That effects recoil considerably.
The Fioochi 148’s @ 1131 fps
Recoil Energy of 13 foot pounds, and Recoil Velocity of 29 fps.
With the last shot, and a near empty gun, it weighs 12 oz. This changes the recoil to Recoil Energy of 16 foot pounds, and Recoil Velocity of 38 fps.

That last recoil velocity figure shows how much of a difference, nearly 25% in recoil speed, gun weight makes with very light guns.

Stepping up the the Model 60, and you cut the velocity speed in half, and, it can take far heavier loads, and recoil velocity stays at a bearable rate. It also weighs easy twice what the 360PD does.

At BUG ranges, I figure the .357 has some advantages and disadvantages over the .38.

I shoot reasonably well Flat point, 130 grain @ 950 fps .38's. They recoil at:
Recoil Energy of 7 foot pounds, and Recoil Velocity of 21 fps.
That's about the only .38 load I'd like to carry, since any of the HP loads are really marginal on penetration, except Buffalobores 158 grain, 1040 fps heavy 38 load, and, that recoils the exact same as the Fioochi 357 mag ammo.

Hope this helps.

Merry Christmas