Standing Wolf
Member in memoriam
I don't always carry a .357 magnum snub-nosed revolver. Some days, I carry a .44 magnum snub-nosed revolver.
Is a 357 mag snub worth it?
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Ben Shepherd
Member
Old Fuff and others interested- I carry the *heavy lightweight* specifically becuase I want magnum preformance in a snubby package that's controllable, and durable. The sp101 has not dissapointed me. That's also why I use the houge grips, so all three fingers fit around the grip, rather than 2 on, 1 under.
I've fired one of those ultralights with full-snort 158grain ammo. Won't do it again, recoil is atrocious. Follow-up shots, or a decent double tap? Yeah, right.
George Hill put it best in a CCW magazine review article last year:
"Want to know what it's like? Go slam your hand in the hood of Your car. HARD! Then you'll know."
I've fired one of those ultralights with full-snort 158grain ammo. Won't do it again, recoil is atrocious. Follow-up shots, or a decent double tap? Yeah, right.
George Hill put it best in a CCW magazine review article last year:
"Want to know what it's like? Go slam your hand in the hood of Your car. HARD! Then you'll know."
MCgunner
Member
I like the SP101 specifically the 3" model. I found this at a gun show, though, and figure it's a suitable substitute. It's a little over 30 ounces, outweighs the SP by some ounces, but it sure shoots sweet even with full power eyelash burners. 
And, I picked it up for $180. I can carry it IWB under just a loose T shirt. Holds an extra round, too, at the expense of being a little thicker. But, it's my answer to the question of what to shoot the .357 out of and it fit the budget. I've toted it all day and it does get a little heavy at the end of the day, but it's no worse than my Ruger P90 or my old Ruger P95, really. That P95 was a little lighter, about the same weight as the SP101 unloaded, but when you stuck a 15 round magazine in it, it caught up to the weight of this Taurus pretty quick, LOL.
And, I picked it up for $180. I can carry it IWB under just a loose T shirt. Holds an extra round, too, at the expense of being a little thicker. But, it's my answer to the question of what to shoot the .357 out of and it fit the budget. I've toted it all day and it does get a little heavy at the end of the day, but it's no worse than my Ruger P90 or my old Ruger P95, really. That P95 was a little lighter, about the same weight as the SP101 unloaded, but when you stuck a 15 round magazine in it, it caught up to the weight of this Taurus pretty quick, LOL.
The Lone Haranguer
Member
Agreed, if you're going to shoot magnums out of it. I have had another magnum snubnose in the past, a S&W 640-1, and found it intolerable with magnums. The Ruger is much better due to its weight and larger cushioned grip, although some magnum loads are real fire-breathers, blowing the target around with the blast from 15 feet away. I still have and shoot my Ruger, but I find myself preferring subcompact autoloaders to any small-frame revolver - a topic for another discussion.
MCgunner
Member
I've made that point before.
357 Snubs
I have 3 357 Snubs that I carry. 617 Taurus, 605 Taurus, and Ruger's SP101. The 617 is a 7 shot, kinda big, and easy to shoot. the SP is a little smaller and not bad to shoot. The 605 is about the size of a J frame. When you pull the triger on this one, you know what full house 357 means. I shot 150 rounds of American Eagle 158grn. at the range yesterday. It's like a little cannon in your hand. I would not whant to shoot a gun any lighter in 357. In self defence I use 125grn. This is a bit easyer to control for follow up shots and recoil is more mild. I carry Corbon 125grn. 357 and feel I can handle it and it will do the job.
I have 3 357 Snubs that I carry. 617 Taurus, 605 Taurus, and Ruger's SP101. The 617 is a 7 shot, kinda big, and easy to shoot. the SP is a little smaller and not bad to shoot. The 605 is about the size of a J frame. When you pull the triger on this one, you know what full house 357 means. I shot 150 rounds of American Eagle 158grn. at the range yesterday. It's like a little cannon in your hand. I would not whant to shoot a gun any lighter in 357. In self defence I use 125grn. This is a bit easyer to control for follow up shots and recoil is more mild. I carry Corbon 125grn. 357 and feel I can handle it and it will do the job.
Dravur
Member
People, People, People...
You seem to forget one thing... If you carry a snubbie .357 and you actually have to fire it, the flame-thrower/fireball effect will probably scare the bad guy, alert the astronauts on the space station and light the area up like the surface of the sun...
I have to say, I would be impressed.
You seem to forget one thing... If you carry a snubbie .357 and you actually have to fire it, the flame-thrower/fireball effect will probably scare the bad guy, alert the astronauts on the space station and light the area up like the surface of the sun...
I have to say, I would be impressed.
fastbolt
Member
If I want to shoot .357 Magnum ammunition in a 5-shot short-barreled revolver, I use my 2.25" SP-101 DAO. Yes, it weighs more than an Airlite Magnum, and it's not ever going to replace my Airweights as 'pocket holstered' off-duty weapons. Aside from fitting into the exterior cargo pocket of an insulated vest, it's almost always a 'belt gun' for me.
It's also been Quad-Ported, which introduces some considerations when it comes to defensive application ... the vented gasses and potential shaved jacket fragments can present a safety hazard ... but which also makes it very controllable and makes for fast recovery between shots. The felt recoil is still present, delivered into the palm of my hand, but the muzzle rise is virtually nil, allowing me to keep the sight picture on target and cycle the trigger as fast as necessary.
FWIW, when running it through the qualification course (designed around service pistols) during night sessions, passing in & out of light & shadow, the muzzle flash directed upward through the vents, from the full power Remington 125gr SJHP Magnum rounds I generally use, occurs so quickly I barely see it. The combination of the back lighting and directed light sources seem to mitigate, for me, any potential night vision disadvantages ... while negotiating and completing the course of fire. Might be different if I were expected to suddenly test my vision in near darkness ... but so would it likely also be if I'd simply exposed my eyes to a bright light source, like any of my flashlights.
Anyway, there are a number of considerations involved in the use of short-barreled revolvers for lawful defensive carry and usage, of which overall weight and felt recoil are only a couple. Important ones, obviously, but there are others ...
Regardless of caliber, most of the attributes often considered as advantages in short-barreled revolvers are also potential disadvantages.
Short barrel? Ease of concealment carry, draw and presentation ... but short sight radius and difficult to discern and see rudimentary fixed sights.
Small grip? Again, ease of carry & lawful concealment ... but difficult to consistently grasp, especially depending on mode of carry, and it can make for some controllability issues for folks with larger hands.
"Safer" DAO trigger? Sure, the trigger stroke is heavier and longer than some other handguns, and it's often mentioned by some folks as being inherently less likely to be involved in a negligent/unintentional discharge situation ... but it also makes for a potentially more difficult intentional trigger stroke when needed.
I've often felt that safely, accurately and effectively shooting a short-barreled revolver requires some refined revolver skills. Developing such skills is one thing, and maintaining them through proper, frequent training and practice is another ...
Over the years I've seen enough results from various chronograph testing to be confident that many .357 Magnum loads offer increased velocities over .38 Spl +P loadings. Velocity is only part of the story, though, and bullet design and construction is perhaps even more important from some perspectives. I happen to prefer Remington's excellent 125gr SJHP, as well as their more difficult to find 140gr SJHP and the excellent Winchester 145gr STHP (which is more of mid-range load, velocity-wise, anyway, but which offers a nicely done cavity design).
That being said, however ... I don't often carry my SP-101 anymore. Why? Simple. My 642-1 & 37-2 Airweights are more convenient to carry, and they offer me the overall balance of features I desire in a diminutive off-duty revolver ... as long as I maintain my skills and do my part. They aren't 'easy' to accurately and effective use. Never said or meant to imply that they were. Takes a reasonable amount of range time to keep my skills sharp enough for me to feel confident carrying them ... but I've spent a fair number of years developing DA revolver skills, and carried a DA .357 as an issued revolver for a number of years, as well.
The bright orange paint I keep on my J-frame front sights seems to make it much easier for me to acquire them under various light conditions, even when moving in & out of shadow and in some reduced light conditions, as long as enough light is available to reflect off them. Practicing to pick them up in reduced light situations involving silhouetted/back-lighting (of threat target) helps, too.
I've handled and fired several of the S&W Airlite J-frame Magnums, too. I've demonstrated I can perform accurate, fast doubles & triples out to 10 yards, using full power Magnum ammunition ... but's never going to be anything I'd consider enjoyable, that's for sure. I have no desire to personally own an Airlite Magnum J-frame for the exclusive use of Magnum ammunition, either. (Aside from the felt recoil & controllability issues involved, I also happen to dislike titanium cylinders because of the potential for increased erosion from hot gasses in some loads, and maintenance issues revolving around taking care not to damage the surface hardening, but those are other issues.)
After dancing all around the issue ...
Yes, I'd say that depending on someone's specific preferences, anticipated needs and desires ... a snub-nosed revolver chambered in .357 magnum can 'be worth it'.
For some folks this may mean going from ultra-light frames to steel frames, and/or from 5-shot platforms to 6-shot platforms.
Being able to safely, accurately, consistently and effectively shoot whatever platform is involved is important, after all ... right?
If I had it to do over again, I'd opt for the 3" SP-101 in traditional DA (for the benefit of the 3" tube's advantages), and/or a 3" GP-100 ... since they quit making the Speed-Six.
I know another instructor who's been involved in a couple of lawful shooting situations, using semiauto pistols, and his favored off-duty weapon is a vintage 2 ½" model 19 revolver ... although he's expressed more than a little interest in picking up a basic .38Spl caliber J-frame after watching me run through our courses of fire with my J-frames, and trying one of mine.
Practice, practice, practice ...
But they aren’t for everybody ...
It's also been Quad-Ported, which introduces some considerations when it comes to defensive application ... the vented gasses and potential shaved jacket fragments can present a safety hazard ... but which also makes it very controllable and makes for fast recovery between shots. The felt recoil is still present, delivered into the palm of my hand, but the muzzle rise is virtually nil, allowing me to keep the sight picture on target and cycle the trigger as fast as necessary.
FWIW, when running it through the qualification course (designed around service pistols) during night sessions, passing in & out of light & shadow, the muzzle flash directed upward through the vents, from the full power Remington 125gr SJHP Magnum rounds I generally use, occurs so quickly I barely see it. The combination of the back lighting and directed light sources seem to mitigate, for me, any potential night vision disadvantages ... while negotiating and completing the course of fire. Might be different if I were expected to suddenly test my vision in near darkness ... but so would it likely also be if I'd simply exposed my eyes to a bright light source, like any of my flashlights.
Anyway, there are a number of considerations involved in the use of short-barreled revolvers for lawful defensive carry and usage, of which overall weight and felt recoil are only a couple. Important ones, obviously, but there are others ...
Regardless of caliber, most of the attributes often considered as advantages in short-barreled revolvers are also potential disadvantages.
Short barrel? Ease of concealment carry, draw and presentation ... but short sight radius and difficult to discern and see rudimentary fixed sights.
Small grip? Again, ease of carry & lawful concealment ... but difficult to consistently grasp, especially depending on mode of carry, and it can make for some controllability issues for folks with larger hands.
"Safer" DAO trigger? Sure, the trigger stroke is heavier and longer than some other handguns, and it's often mentioned by some folks as being inherently less likely to be involved in a negligent/unintentional discharge situation ... but it also makes for a potentially more difficult intentional trigger stroke when needed.
I've often felt that safely, accurately and effectively shooting a short-barreled revolver requires some refined revolver skills. Developing such skills is one thing, and maintaining them through proper, frequent training and practice is another ...
Over the years I've seen enough results from various chronograph testing to be confident that many .357 Magnum loads offer increased velocities over .38 Spl +P loadings. Velocity is only part of the story, though, and bullet design and construction is perhaps even more important from some perspectives. I happen to prefer Remington's excellent 125gr SJHP, as well as their more difficult to find 140gr SJHP and the excellent Winchester 145gr STHP (which is more of mid-range load, velocity-wise, anyway, but which offers a nicely done cavity design).
That being said, however ... I don't often carry my SP-101 anymore. Why? Simple. My 642-1 & 37-2 Airweights are more convenient to carry, and they offer me the overall balance of features I desire in a diminutive off-duty revolver ... as long as I maintain my skills and do my part. They aren't 'easy' to accurately and effective use. Never said or meant to imply that they were. Takes a reasonable amount of range time to keep my skills sharp enough for me to feel confident carrying them ... but I've spent a fair number of years developing DA revolver skills, and carried a DA .357 as an issued revolver for a number of years, as well.
The bright orange paint I keep on my J-frame front sights seems to make it much easier for me to acquire them under various light conditions, even when moving in & out of shadow and in some reduced light conditions, as long as enough light is available to reflect off them. Practicing to pick them up in reduced light situations involving silhouetted/back-lighting (of threat target) helps, too.
I've handled and fired several of the S&W Airlite J-frame Magnums, too. I've demonstrated I can perform accurate, fast doubles & triples out to 10 yards, using full power Magnum ammunition ... but's never going to be anything I'd consider enjoyable, that's for sure. I have no desire to personally own an Airlite Magnum J-frame for the exclusive use of Magnum ammunition, either. (Aside from the felt recoil & controllability issues involved, I also happen to dislike titanium cylinders because of the potential for increased erosion from hot gasses in some loads, and maintenance issues revolving around taking care not to damage the surface hardening, but those are other issues.)
After dancing all around the issue ...
Yes, I'd say that depending on someone's specific preferences, anticipated needs and desires ... a snub-nosed revolver chambered in .357 magnum can 'be worth it'.
For some folks this may mean going from ultra-light frames to steel frames, and/or from 5-shot platforms to 6-shot platforms.
Being able to safely, accurately, consistently and effectively shoot whatever platform is involved is important, after all ... right?
If I had it to do over again, I'd opt for the 3" SP-101 in traditional DA (for the benefit of the 3" tube's advantages), and/or a 3" GP-100 ... since they quit making the Speed-Six.
I know another instructor who's been involved in a couple of lawful shooting situations, using semiauto pistols, and his favored off-duty weapon is a vintage 2 ½" model 19 revolver ... although he's expressed more than a little interest in picking up a basic .38Spl caliber J-frame after watching me run through our courses of fire with my J-frames, and trying one of mine.
Practice, practice, practice ...
But they aren’t for everybody ...
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sig228
Member
Coolness Factor
It's worth it, just for the coolness factor. What can be cooler than a stainless steel .357 Magnum 5 shot J frame snub nose revolver?
+1 on the flash. If you don't kill 'em you'll at least blind 'em.
If you only get one snub in your life, make it an S&W 640.
It's worth it, just for the coolness factor. What can be cooler than a stainless steel .357 Magnum 5 shot J frame snub nose revolver?
+1 on the flash. If you don't kill 'em you'll at least blind 'em.
If you only get one snub in your life, make it an S&W 640.
sig228
Member
Good point, Old Fluff. It does take a LOT of practice with a snub to be accurate. This ain't a 9mm.
PS - I actually went back and reread this thread. Lets all remember one thing: a snub is not a sniper rifle. I would NEVER attempt to shoot it in a defensive situation at 100 yards. Too much risk for everything near the target.
A snub is a belly gun, probably most effective at 7 yards, up to maybe 25. I'm sure there are some of you that will argue otherwise, but for me, a snub means close up self defense, ccw, probably should be a BUG, not a primary gun.
PS - I actually went back and reread this thread. Lets all remember one thing: a snub is not a sniper rifle. I would NEVER attempt to shoot it in a defensive situation at 100 yards. Too much risk for everything near the target.
A snub is a belly gun, probably most effective at 7 yards, up to maybe 25. I'm sure there are some of you that will argue otherwise, but for me, a snub means close up self defense, ccw, probably should be a BUG, not a primary gun.
jim640:
I wouldn't argue with you, but the fact is that there are a fair number of folks that can keep their shots in the K-zone of a B-27 silhouette target at 100 yards using a snubby. And they can do it consistently. In my younger days I was one of them, and I'd often demonstrate just to put the myth to rest that a snubby wasn't anything but a belly gun.
There are a lot more who used to shoot the FBI's old qualification course with a snubby, and it ran from 7 to 50 yards.
So why was it that others and I had what some thought was such a remarkable skill? The answer is simple - it was because they dared to try it and practiced. You've decided on a 25-yard limit so that's likely to determine the extent of what you can do.
I don't often carry a backup gun on my person. Therefore whatever I am carrying becomes a default primary one. I think most civilians with a carry permit match this description. Anyway I believe in being able to use whatever is being carried to its maximum limits. Avoid self-imposed limits unless you're willing to live with nothing better.
I wouldn't argue with you, but the fact is that there are a fair number of folks that can keep their shots in the K-zone of a B-27 silhouette target at 100 yards using a snubby. And they can do it consistently. In my younger days I was one of them, and I'd often demonstrate just to put the myth to rest that a snubby wasn't anything but a belly gun.
There are a lot more who used to shoot the FBI's old qualification course with a snubby, and it ran from 7 to 50 yards.
So why was it that others and I had what some thought was such a remarkable skill? The answer is simple - it was because they dared to try it and practiced. You've decided on a 25-yard limit so that's likely to determine the extent of what you can do.
I don't often carry a backup gun on my person. Therefore whatever I am carrying becomes a default primary one. I think most civilians with a carry permit match this description. Anyway I believe in being able to use whatever is being carried to its maximum limits. Avoid self-imposed limits unless you're willing to live with nothing better.
Essex County
Member
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2005
- Messages
- 1,247
I own two snubs Model 60 with 38+p's and a model 66 21-2" with .357s. Can't imagine a .357 J-Frame.......Essex
Boxhead
Member
I regularly shoot this Security Six out to 50 and 100 yards at a 12" gong and hit with regularity.
The same goes for this snubbie which has taken deer and hogs out past 50 yards. Practice, practice, practice....
The same goes for this snubbie which has taken deer and hogs out past 50 yards. Practice, practice, practice....
I agree with ol Fuff..
I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of someone shooting at me at 100 yards with a snubby..
I went to a SWAT school and just for giggles and grins the instructor put on a shooting exhibition.. A 24 inch gong at 150 yds.. First out M-14 with a scope
2 shots two hits.. next a Winchester Mdl 94 30-30 same thing.. next a 1911 45.
again the same results.. Then a 38 snubby.. You barely hear the two little plinks, but they were there..
Now it is obvious, this guy did this continually and knew exactly how much hold over was required, but the bottom line is he hit the target with each firearm.
You may need to use that handgun in a defensive situation at more than 15 yards, and you better know what that gun and you can do.
I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of someone shooting at me at 100 yards with a snubby..
I went to a SWAT school and just for giggles and grins the instructor put on a shooting exhibition.. A 24 inch gong at 150 yds.. First out M-14 with a scope
2 shots two hits.. next a Winchester Mdl 94 30-30 same thing.. next a 1911 45.
again the same results.. Then a 38 snubby.. You barely hear the two little plinks, but they were there..
Now it is obvious, this guy did this continually and knew exactly how much hold over was required, but the bottom line is he hit the target with each firearm.
You may need to use that handgun in a defensive situation at more than 15 yards, and you better know what that gun and you can do.
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wildburp
member
.357 Carry
I would not mind carrying my S&W model 19-4 with a 2.5" bbl if I had to, either that or some kind of 1911. The 19 is my oldest pistol, and it has served me well. It kicks like a jack hammer, the muzzle bloom is awesome in the dark, and the sound is devestating. I've fired thousands of rounds through it. If I don't hit the bad guy on the first shot, the sound will deafen him, and the flash will leave him sightless. Then, I could just saunter up and punch him in the nose , thus avoiding serious blood shed.
Additionally, the terrific kick and noise makes most other short arms tame by comparison. I fired a friends .44 magnum with both target loads and hot ones, but it was a heavier weapon, seeming not so bad to me after the short .357. He warned me it really kicks with the hot loads, but being macho and young, I launched a full wheel one handed rapid fire (about 1 per 2 seconds with his Ruger SA) with no trouble one handed, killing the sillouette BG six times over. Piece of cake! It was a 6" bbl, I think (this was decades ago).
But, to each their own. Carry what you are comfortable with, and make the first shot count.
wb
I would not mind carrying my S&W model 19-4 with a 2.5" bbl if I had to, either that or some kind of 1911. The 19 is my oldest pistol, and it has served me well. It kicks like a jack hammer, the muzzle bloom is awesome in the dark, and the sound is devestating. I've fired thousands of rounds through it. If I don't hit the bad guy on the first shot, the sound will deafen him, and the flash will leave him sightless. Then, I could just saunter up and punch him in the nose
, thus avoiding serious blood shed.Additionally, the terrific kick and noise makes most other short arms tame by comparison. I fired a friends .44 magnum with both target loads and hot ones, but it was a heavier weapon, seeming not so bad to me after the short .357. He warned me it really kicks with the hot loads, but being macho and young, I launched a full wheel one handed rapid fire (about 1 per 2 seconds with his Ruger SA) with no trouble one handed, killing the sillouette BG six times over. Piece of cake! It was a 6" bbl, I think (this was decades ago).
But, to each their own. Carry what you are comfortable with, and make the first shot count.
wb
MontanaVet
Member
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2006
- Messages
- 1
It is worth it? I carry a S&W Model 60 under my from seat and I have a Model 360 for my CCW.
When I am in a store I think about shoot, don't shoot situations because of the penetration a .357 magnum has. If you get the medium size Hogue grips, both revolvers are not horrible to shoot. I can hit a man-size target at 100 yards because I have shot an empty antifreeze container at that distance before.
I will say the noise will get everyones attention causing people's bladders to empty and women to pass out. That said, if you are going to kill something, then kill it. I hope I never have to find out. I use the new 158 grain Fusion Ammo in both of mine. MV out!
Fusion Ammo Home
When I am in a store I think about shoot, don't shoot situations because of the penetration a .357 magnum has. If you get the medium size Hogue grips, both revolvers are not horrible to shoot. I can hit a man-size target at 100 yards because I have shot an empty antifreeze container at that distance before.
I will say the noise will get everyones attention causing people's bladders to empty and women to pass out. That said, if you are going to kill something, then kill it. I hope I never have to find out. I use the new 158 grain Fusion Ammo in both of mine. MV out!
Fusion Ammo Home
wildburp
member
I once had access (through a person with a key) to a private range near the mouth of the Carmel Valley, south of Carmel, California. You drove in on a private road to an informal outdoor setting - a primitive weather shelter at the end of a meadow, perhaps half again the size if a football field, backed by the steep terrain typically found in coastal California. Long story short. At the opposite end stood a 3 x 6 foot steel plate, some 100 yards off. With my little .357 stubby, I could ring that thing all day, if someone supplied the ammo. Two hand, one hand, bench rest, whatever - don't make anyone with a so-called "snubby" angry.
wb
wb
What is the hardest kicking handgun you have ever shot? How much practice and training are you going to get? I personally only know one person who carries a scandium 357, he played college football as a center & still lifts wts 5 or 6 times a week, he didn't listen to my advice before he bought his. First time he shot it it drew blood from two different locations on his hand. He called me & said he should have listened to my advice. He still carries it but he doesn't shoot it except with a PAST glove. And he doesn't shoot many round at a time thru it.
BTW this is a guy who can shoot Federal Cast cores out of my 4" S&W 629 DA in comfort. Or shoot his brothers 460 S&W.
The 357 in guns under 20 oz are probably the worst gun your going to find for recoil with magnum loads. There are plenty of people who don't mind shooting 460 S&W or 454 Casull that don't want to ever shoot a scandium j frame snub again.
Now if you go to a 20 oz steel j frame or the Ruger SP101 it is a different story.
***
You said this was for ankle carry. Have you ever used ankle carry before?
Have you considered pocket carry yet? With a good setup you can carry a 20 oz snub all day in a front pocket holster with fair comfort.
Honestly 38+P or 9x19mm is a lot better choice for most people if they need a gun under 20 ozs. Or step down to a P3AT in 380.
BTW this is a guy who can shoot Federal Cast cores out of my 4" S&W 629 DA in comfort. Or shoot his brothers 460 S&W.
The 357 in guns under 20 oz are probably the worst gun your going to find for recoil with magnum loads. There are plenty of people who don't mind shooting 460 S&W or 454 Casull that don't want to ever shoot a scandium j frame snub again.
Now if you go to a 20 oz steel j frame or the Ruger SP101 it is a different story.
***
You said this was for ankle carry. Have you ever used ankle carry before?
Have you considered pocket carry yet? With a good setup you can carry a 20 oz snub all day in a front pocket holster with fair comfort.
Honestly 38+P or 9x19mm is a lot better choice for most people if they need a gun under 20 ozs. Or step down to a P3AT in 380.
The Colt Magnum Carry is a dandy lil alll steel 6 shot wheel gun but loaded up with those Remington 125's its downright unpleasant to shoot... and according to the chrono... that's a 125 gr bullet at about 1200 fps, pretty much the same as a full sized 9mm. But the difference in flash and bang and recoil is amazing. I still have 10 rounds out of the box I bought laying around, don't plan on buying more.
I prefer to hand-load it with heavier lead bullets.. like a 158 SWC HP and drive them around 900 fps. Federal's 158 gr Hydra shock would be my 'off the shelf' load of choice.
Botton line for me, a 357 snubby loaded 'hot' is about the eq. of a 9mm loaded warm. You can make the snubby better with heavier bullets, less flash and recoil. I think the optimum is a 158 @ 900-1000 fps, depending on your pain threshold.
I prefer to hand-load it with heavier lead bullets.. like a 158 SWC HP and drive them around 900 fps. Federal's 158 gr Hydra shock would be my 'off the shelf' load of choice.
Botton line for me, a 357 snubby loaded 'hot' is about the eq. of a 9mm loaded warm. You can make the snubby better with heavier bullets, less flash and recoil. I think the optimum is a 158 @ 900-1000 fps, depending on your pain threshold.
MCgunner
Member
Well, I was at the range the other day shooting my 3" Taurus and my Ruger P90 in .45 (which is no slouch for horsepower in .45ACP) and I'm thinkin', ya know, why do people think this .45 is so bloomin' powerful? LOL! I mean, the old lunk just kinda pops, the steel falls. But, the .357 go WHAAAAM, fireball from HELL, the steel SLAMS down. Grows hair on your chest, gives you that Tim the tool man Taylor syndrome, knuckles start draggin' the ground.
It's kind of addicting, but I'll admit the .45 is more practical in a dark room at 2am.
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=11149&d=1078014713
If you haven't seen one, they are hard to find these days.
If you haven't seen one, they are hard to find these days.
Lonestar.45
Member
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2004
- Messages
- 1,077
I had a 340pd for a short time and loved the light weight, feel, etc. I could NOT hit a barn with it though, and practicing enough to where I could get good with it seemed like a long and painful prospect, so I traded it at a loss. I don't like getting rid of guns, I usually regret it, but not in this case. The only way to know if you'll like one is to shoot one. They work for some, but not others.
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