Question on case capacity vs barrel length

[627PCFan]

Im in the market for my 1st handgun, as carry for my wife. She prefers a .357, and a light one at that. A Taurus TI tracker or a Ruger SP101. I like the 4 inch barrel but she wants light for carry so I havent ruled out 2inch barrels. The question is the bullet getting full powder burn in a .357 case using a 2 inch barrel? Seems to me with a barrel that short you would get alot of muzzle flash and a loss in velocity? Anyone?

 

[kludge]

Seems to me with a barrel that short you would get alot of muzzle flash and a loss in velocity?

Yup, but a .357 out of a snub is still going faster than a .38 SPL out of the same gun, or probably even a 4" gun.

Before buying a titanium framed .357 your wife should try to shoot one. Really.

If you flinch when you pull the trigger you will miss.

Misses don't count.

If you like the SP101, also look at the new .327 Mag.

 

[jjohnson]

You can do it. Check ammo types.

Yeah, you do tend to get lots of flash in a short barreled .357. You can do a couple things to mitigate the problem, though.

Particularly for people who don't shoot a lot - you may want to get your lady a bunch of .38 wadcutters for target practice so she can get used to the piece before you unleash her will full house 357 ammo

Then give her some lighter 357 stuff - like 125 grain HPs - so she knows the difference.

You can get the "designer" premium self defense loads for .357 with short barrels, or even the same for 38 short barrels, that won't flash so much and still provide real protection. Just for fun, if your lady is comfortable with the hot stuff, make sure you let her shoot some 357 hunting ammo near dusk. The foot long blue/orange fireball will surprise her.

By the way - Kludge is right - if you both don't have much experience with handguns, try before you buy, and make sure you try mild target 38 ammo AND the 357 ammo your wife thinks she wants to carry. A titanium 357 snub is more gun than a lot of people think.
Don't turn her sour on handguns by surprising her with more gun than she wants to use.

 

[627PCFan]

We have shot the Taurus TI's in 357, and my lady well... shes 6 foot and plays hockey. Shes not worried about the .357 being too much and she is a fan of the fireball. I was just wondering if a certain percentage of the powder was a lost cause. Sounds like a non issue.

 

[kludge]

Cool then! Yes, the shorter barrel is a non-issue with the right ammunition.

Give special consideration to the ammo you carry for self defense. A big fireball is fun at the range, but in the dark it's hard to get off a second shot when you're blind. Select self defense ammo that uses "low flash" powder.

 

[Majic]

She prefers a .357, and a light one at that. A Taurus TI tracker or a Ruger SP101.

She may need to rethink the light weight issue with a SP101.