Manageable Recoil

[gharsh]

I was looking at an S&W .357, don't remember the model number, that was made with scandium(sp). It was extremely lightweight. I was wondering if anyone has fired magnums out of this pistol and what the recoil was like. It had a 2" barrel and I was thinking this would be a nice carry piece, but didn't want to get something that would make practice unbearable with the recoil. I normally shoot .45acp with a 1911 and .357 magnums out of a six inch Ruger GP100. I know that I could load the magnums to make them manageable, but what about self defense rounds. Would it be a gun that would be limited to .38s?

Thanks for any direction.

 

[Tamara]

What size was it?

If it was one of the little five-shot J-frames in .357 magnum, then know that firing one has been described as being like "shaking hands with the devil."

The L-frame guns, on the other hand, aren't too terribly bad with anything short of the heaviest 158gr loads.

 

[gharsh]

It was a seven shot pistol. I'm not too terribly familiar with their sizes. I do have a j-frame model sixty that is difficult to shoot too many magnums through. Would the seven shot be similar? I just couldn't get over how light it was. Someone could carry one of these nearly anywhere and forget it was there.

 

[Majic]

Someone could carry one of these nearly anywhere and forget it was there.

The memory comes roaring back the moment you pull the trigger.

 

[stans]

I have an all stainless J-frame in 357 (640-1), I really don't want anything lighter!

 

[Sunray]

Firing full load magnums out of a small lightweight handgun isn't so much about the felt recoil as it is the blast and noise. And you lose velocity and a quick second shot should you need one. Then there's the enormous muzzle flash.
All this assumes it fits your hand in the first place. 'J' frames tend to have small grips. Easily fixed by changing the grips, but still, if it doesn't fit your hand, you won't be able to shoot it well enough to use as a defensive firearm. I'm not sure about a steady diet of full load magnums out of it either. They may damage the crane.

 

[Sean Smith]

I think the gun in question is a 386PD. 7 shot, 2-1/2" Scandium (either K or L, I forget) frame. 17.5 ounces empty, vs. 12 ounces for the 5-shot 340PD J-frame.

http://www.swfirearms.vista.com/store/index.php3?cat=293504&sw_activeTab=1

Since it only weighs 2.5 ounces more than a 642 Airwieght Centennial J-frame, I suspect it would be pretty nasty to shoot, if not quite as evil as the 340PD.

 

[dairycreek]

Dear gharsh!

I have a S & W 386 TiScan which is a 7-shot 357 revolver with a 3" barrel. Empty it weighs around 18oz.

Recoil in 38spcl and 38spcl+P is IMHO quite manageable. Recoil in "full house" 357 loads is, to say the least, stout! But not unmanageable if you are not going to put many, many rounds through it at one sitting. It is quite accurate shooting to POA with 357 at 7 yards and is a dream as a CCW weapon because of its weight. Good shooting