Question a about snubbies

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Black Adder LXX

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Hello to all-

I have a question for the 357 snubby owners out there.

Last weekend, I had the occasion to shoot a buddy's Rossi 357 snubby, and WOW! The closest approximation to how it felt would be like grabbing a tire iron as hard as you could and then slamming it as hard as you can into a solid concrete wall. Needless to say the grips were uncomfortable, but I can't imagine ANY grips making that feel any better (of better enough to be "ENJOYABLE").

That was my first time shooting a 357 snubby. Is that generally what 357 snubs feel like? If that's the case I'll stick with the 38 spl...

Also, I already know I'm a wuss, so we can skip past that part, thanks.
 
When I shot my Taurus 605, for the first time a while back, (about 1-1/2 weeks ago), I shot about 20/25 158 gr JHP Blazer Brass .357s. The bone at the base of my thumb is still tender. I do have arthritis at the base of both thumbs, so that might be a contributor, but this is quite a bit more than I expected. In the past, I have owned and shot several different .44 mags, SA, DA and Contender, a number of .357s, including a snubby Security-six, and several .45s, including a Star PD, which weighed ~24 oz loaded. None of these felt as harsh as the 605. I have the gun loaded with 135 gr Gold Dot SB +Ps.
 
Real men carry .454 Casull snubbies. :cool:

Seriously: snubbies are notorious for punishing recoil. The .357 models even more so. Airweights... same thing.
I have heard, however, that firing from a one-handed grip is much less painful... coulda been hearsay, though.
 
Well at the risk of being labeled a pansy, I prefer my 38spl.

I recall at the local indoor range the time a fella that stepped up to the lane next to me...and promptly launched a 357 Magnum round down range with his snubby.

KA-BLAMMY!!

I saw a muzzle blast the size of a bowling ball erupt from behind the barricade that divided our respective lanes...and what sounded like a howitzer going off right next me.

I leaned over to see what the heck made all that commotion...and the fella's eyes were wide as saucers. The snubby was brand new to him & it was his first time ever to shoot a 357 Magnum out of a snub. Judging by his expression as he slowly put that snubby down, I suggested he try shooting 38's through it for a while before trying magnums again.

He never said a word...he just packed up that gun and prettty much called it quits for the day. It can be quite a surprise shooting a Magum round from a snub for the first time.
 
The mild magnums aren't bad if the gun has some heft to it. I used to shoot and carry Remington Golden Sabres in a 3" sp101. It was alot more pleasant than shooting +p .38's out of my 442.
 
"That was my first time shooting a 357 snubby. Is that generally what 357 snubs feel like? If that's the case I'll stick with the 38 spl... "


Yup!

Rubber grips and a heavy frame help a lot but snubbies are still a beast on blast alone. They are designed for concealment not "a comfortable shooter" .

Regards,

:):):)
 
I'm not bragging but handgun recoil doesn't seem to bother me. I can shoot +P out of my Airweights all day. I can shoot enough .357mag to feel comfortable with them but I would want to shoot them for hours on end. One box is all I would be able to handle and still maintain any level of accuracy and control.

That being said, I hate rifle or shotgun kick. I don't like getting kicked in the shoulder I guess but handguns are not a problem.

What I am saying is, if the recoil bothers you, try an auto or a less powerful/heavier revolver. There is no use in trying to get used to something that you find painful. If it is painful, your accuracy will be nill.
 
I carry magnums in my SP101 snubbies; there is a learning curve involved. Premium self-defense ammo has flash retardant in the powder, and flashes MUCH less than training-grade or other cheaper ammo. Golden Sabers in the 125-grain .357 load are mild, about 200 fps slower than the hot stuff. I like the 145-grain Silvertip, another medium load, which tends to shoot nearer to point of aim than the lighter-bullet, and has very little flash. Fit of the grips to the hand is very important, plus holding it right. Nearly everyone that wants to test-fire my snubbies seems to want to hold it low on the grip, which will increase muzzle flip; simple leverage at work there. The web of my shooting hand is at the very top of the rubber portion when I shoot. The little gun then kicks much more straight back. FWIW, becuase I load the hot 125-grain stuff in my bigger .357 sixguns, I am just as likely to have that load in my snubbies, and have even shot some 180-grain Federal "Hunting" Castcore loads in the snubbies. Exhilarating, but not painful. :)
 
The recoil out of my .357 model 60 is not bad at all, it is all steel and heavier then the airweights and it makes a big difference.
 
.357 out of the 340PD is rough but not as brutal as many proclaim, IMHO. Maybe it depends on your hands....
 
Years ago I found a Model 640 Centennial in the case and to my shock and pleasant surprise it was marked .357. I managed to get a very low serial number just after they had been released. I was so taken that I called Smith and Wesson and during our discussion it was mentioned that the recoil could be, ah, er, surprising with full-house 125s. I took it to a local indoor range and loaded up some Remington full velocity 125 grain SJHPs and, yes, I was...surprised. Loved the gun but backed off a bit on the loads, moving to 110 Winchesters and 125 Remington Golden Sabers, also 158 plus P .38s (all roughly equally easy to shoot, IMO). I love small-framed .357 snubbies but to this day have a difficult time doing well with full-power loads. I'm getting better with 158s but have foresworn the 125s. Too much of a good thing in my book. These days I stick with Speer 135s, both .38+P and .357 or the aforementioned 158 LSWCHP+P .38s. Personally, I don't think I could well handle .357s from a lightweight scandium model. I mean, I could shoot them, but don't think I could practically hit well with them.
 
ditto

The recoil out of my .357 model 60 is not bad at all, it is all steel and heavier then the airweights and it makes a big difference.
Click to expand...

I just bought my model 60 and couldn't believe how little recoil there was. - There is definante recoil, but it was not painful at all and did not make me feel out of control.
 
For some reason not fully understood, these little guns are usually sighted to use 158 grain bullets in both the .38 Special and .357 Magnum.

The Old Fuff is not even slightly interested in a J-frame snubby using .357 Magnum cartridges. If he can't do what needs to be done with a .38 he'll get a Magnum, but a bigger, heavier one. ;)
 
This reminds me of a story I came across years ago in Taiwan. There was a Taoist master who was a butcher by trade and the story was he had never in his life ever had to sharpen his knives. The local warlord asked him how that could be so since all knives dulled with use and threatened to kill him if he did not supply the answer. The master replied and demonstrated that when he plied his trade, he passed the knife betweenthe joints and did not hack his way through. Consequently, his knives did not dull. Placement is everything. (Note: I am most definitely NOT a Taoist master :).)
 
Sounds like you people are afaid of a .357 mag. I have 8 of them from Ruger and Smith&Wesson. I just picked up a centennial 340 mp with a steel cylinder and shot 125 grain .357 Hornadys thru it. I had fun!!!!!!! People standing next to me asked me if I shot reloads thru it. I said OF COURSE I CAN,so I shot some hot loaded handloads thru it and yes flame came out of the barrel like my S&W 500 mag did also. My 500 Smith is a 4 inch barrel by the way. I am disabled and retired and even let my transplant surgeon fire my 500 Smith and he said OUCH!!!!!!! and I said WHAT A WIMP!!!!! Rich642z,Omaha,Ne.:cool::cool::cool::cool::cool:
 
Lots of nearly new (less than a cylinder-full shot) lightweight .357 snubnoses in the used gun counter.

I found a Hogue grip to be much more manageable than the stock panels on my SP101. Use a high firm grip...if you hold the gun loosely you will be punished for it. Also look for moderate loads. The worst I ever shot was some cheap Phillippino Armscor ammo I bought years ago and forgot about until recently. It was about the hottest stuff I ever shot.
 
I have a S&W 340PD but have yet to shoot .357. Also, I could not tell any difference between shooting .38 Spl and .38 Spl +P from it. The recoil seemed less than my P3AT maybe because the CTC LG-405 grips have nice cushioning like Hogues.
 
The recoil out of my .357 model 60 is not bad at all, it is all steel and heavier then the airweights and it makes a big difference.
Click to expand...

+1 My .357 Bodyguard with Factory rubber grips is not bothersome with Corbon .357's.
 
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