Defense Gun....

[Mike-Acer]

Just visited a thread that said a S&W model 13 might be the perfect dresser drawer gun...Hmmm...I recently bought a S&W model 60, 357, stainless...(5 shot)...This J frame with the stock grips fit my hand better than ANY hand gun I have ever owned...There was a comment saying that a 357 has too much penetration...If there were an intruder in my home or where ever that was aggressive and not scared off at the sight of a gun then I want all the power I can get in a small hand gun...Then again I guess there is something to be said for the fire power of, say, a Glock 17...Mike

 

[sidheshooter]

...This J frame with the stock grips fit my hand better than ANY hand gun I have ever owned...There was a comment saying that a 357 has too much penetration...

The first statement above says a lot; a gun that fits is a good thing.

I am a big fan of the 13/65 series, and have had one in my nightstand fairly regularly over the years. That said, these days I usually just have my 3" 36-1 J handy, since I don't feel like climbing into the safe each night to swap guns around. I admit that I am trading one round for extra convenience.

So far as penetration, the border patrol (among others) figured that one out decades ago: the 110-gr .357 rounds are among the least penetrative handgun rounds you can find that are still worth a darn (IMHO). The WWB version is cheap to practice with (by .357 standards) as well. All evidence I am aware of says that any good SD handgun round will also be pretty hard on walls, so I don't sweat that much.

JMO.

 

[oldfool]

I vote with those who say anything (handgun caliber) best suited to stopping an aggressor in-home when direly needed is highly subject to over penetration issues, wall penetration issues.

It's the flash-bang that is the #1 drawback to the 357 in-house, and in low light.
The good news is that there is no shortage of varied loads in 38Sp and 38+p that can get the job done, and shoot real nice out of those 357 revolvers.

Hi-cap autos have their merits in street fights, but how many determined killers do you really figure to shoot coming down the hallway to your bedroom.


Welcome to THR, Mike

 

[jimniowa]

By the time you fish out your .357 to defend your self and worrying about your neighbor being hit also is insane. #1 defend your self and family if being attacked. #2 shoot to kill or at least stop all progress of the attack. #3 a tricked out (relieable feed system by most component gun smiths) in a .45acp using 200 g jhp bullets at about 900 fps is a #1. A .38 sp shooting 125g jhp or 158 g swcrn will work also, just empty the gun on the perp and reload.
Jim

 

[rcmodel]

A snubby .357 would be about my last choice of firearms for indoor fun & games.

The muzzle blast & flash of a 2" .357 will peel the paint off the bedroom hallway walls, and set the paint flakes on fire!!

If you gotta use that gun, use +P .38 Spl JHP in it.

rc

 

[mes227]

You can address the over penetration issue by loading the revolver with a variety of ammo choices (one has already been suggested), including .38+P, the modern high-expansion .357M SD rounds or the .357M light-loads developed for just this scenario.

 

[PabloJ]

Just visited a thread that said a S&W model 13 might be the perfect dresser drawer gun...Hmmm...I recently bought a S&W model 60, 357, stainless...(5 shot)...This J frame with the stock grips fit my hand better than ANY hand gun I have ever owned...There was a comment saying that a 357 has too much penetration...If there were an intruder in my home or where ever that was aggressive and not scared off at the sight of a gun then I want all the power I can get in a small hand gun...Then again I guess there is something to be said for the fire power of, say, a Glock 17...Mike

View attachment 161228

Short barrel, low capacity, and no provision to mount tactical light for low light use make that less then ideal HD gun. The ideal wheel gun is Smith & Wesson M&P R8.

 

[PabloJ]

The m60 will make very good ccw belt or hang gun with .38 or .38+P ammo.

 

[788Ham]

rc, I've never heard the .357 flash and blast put quite like that! Especially setting the paint flakes on fire, my gawd man, what powder don't I use? I don't want to use any of what you did! LOL

 

[medic_guns]

I love my 13-2 3" gun, but the 12 gauge shotgun is what I will pick up if something is out to get me or my family.

 

[19-3Ben]

The ideal wheel gun is Smith & Wesson M&P R8.

Perhaps that's the most ideal for you. The OP stated that his j frame points better than any other gun for him. If that's what he feels comfortable with, and what points naturally for him then G-d bless him.

Then again I guess there is something to be said for the fire power of, say, a Glock 17

There is an AWFUL lot to be said about the firepower of modern semi-autos. It's one of the reasons why even though I love wheelguns, my bedstand gun is my M&P9.
That being said, I wouldn't consider myself undergunned if all i had was a revolver. There was a good long while that I used an SP101 on my night stand even though I already owned that M&P9.

 

[Mike-Acer]

Thank all of you for your input....I'm going to do some shooting with the "60" using all the variables and will report back....

 

[Mike-Acer]

A follow up...I have to laugh about the comment RCMODEL made regarding the fire in the hallway...In all seriousness, my wife has shot one of my 38s with very light loads and I have for-warned her about the dramatic difference stepping up the 357...She is going to give it a try and based on how she can handle it we will decide what is best...It may be the 357 in the drawer and 38sp under the mattress...

 

[MichaelB]

The comments on flash and blast indoors are to be taken seriously. Consider the complaints one gets on the firing line with a snubby .357; indoors at night one will be deafened and possibly temporarily blinded. Look for a load at least with low-flash powder.

 

[451 Detonics]

I see nothing wrong with a short barrel revolver for HD. The short barrel means less for a intruder to grab or shove aside, no light means you are not making a target of yourself, 6 rounds should be enough...if not you need to use those six rounds to get to a prepared position with a shotgun in place.

 

[TarDevil]

My friend won't even look at my Ruger SR9c, but keeps asking me to help her learn to shoot my Colt revolver.

There's a place for everything. Lots to do getting an auto into action. Point and click has its place.

 

[eldon519]

Mike, here is a link with a little data regarding .357 penetration on bare ballistic gelatin and clothed gelatin. If memory serves, the FBI recommends 12" minimum with I think around 14 or so being preferred. The 145-gr Winchester Silvertip always seems to do well from short-barreled weapons if the recoil doesn't bother you. The slightly heavier bullets offer a bit less blast than the 110 and 125 loads in my experience.
http://www.firearmstactical.com/ammo_data/357magnum.htm

It sounds like you love your Smith like I love my 3" SP101. There is something satisfying about a little .357 to me.

 

[Salmoneye]

Don't want flash, noise, and over penetration in an HD scenario?

Use a .38 S&W...

 

[19-3Ben]

Lots to do getting an auto into action. Point and click has its place.

The M&P9 that I mentioned above sits on my nightstand in a holster with a round in the chamber.

All I have to do it point that gun (unholstered, obviously) and pull the trigger. No different than a wheelgun. Let's not turn this into an autoloader bashing thread.

 

[TarDevil]

Let's not turn this into an autoloader bashing thread.

Did you get the impression I was going down that path? My auto looks intimidating to her, it has a safety... my revolver doesn't. Why is that bashing?

Sheesh....

 

[19-3Ben]

Perhaps I misinterpreted what you wrote, or jumped the gun.
Apologies all around.

 

[Mike-Acer]

OK, MichaelB ETAL..Tell me about "low flash powder". I can hand load...Mike

 

[Mike-Acer]

You know folks I've been shooting for 54 of my 63 years...To say that makes me just a little aged...I was and am still really into shooting...I know that a 2.125 inch barrel will never develop the velocity or accuracy of, say a 6.5 inch. This little M60 is not intended nor expected to shoot a 1" group at 25 yards. I have never had such a short barreled gun. always thought they were useless...I'm still sure there not for targets but I just kind of fell in love with this small revolver...Mike

 

[slow2run]

Well if its for the walking dead, then any 22 JHP head shot will work, + the ammo is easy found ,in your travels.

 

[JFrame]

If you couldn't guess, I am a J-frame fan...

My nightstand guns are usually either a S&W Model 65 (3") or Model 10 (4") K-frame -- loaded with .38 +P hollow points -- but I would feel just as comfortable and well-protected with my Pro-60 (3") J-frame revolver.

My wife's nightstand piece is a S&W 640 (.38-only) J-frame snub -- tuned to an absolutely butter-smooth 7 pounds. And if that was my fall-back piece, I still would not feel terribly handicapped in any HD situation I could reasonably expect.

I think I just like revolvers -- period.


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