DaltonSpringfield
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Will a Scandium .44Mag stand up to daily target shooting? Do they last? Are they a worthy carry gun?
Scandium questions.
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Tom C.
Member.
I have one of the scandium .357's. While it is a very nice gun, and very light, the recoil with even moderate loads is pretty extreme. It has a greater pounding to the hand than my .500 S&W. While it is probably strong enough to take the pounding, I suspect the aluminum frame will stretch over time with full loads. I consider my .357 a .38 with extra strength margin. I also consider it a carry much, shoot little gun.
Your mileage will vary.
Your mileage will vary.
SAWBONES
Member
I agree.
I have two scandium S&W 340PDs, and with premium factory 125-158gr+P .357 Magnum JHP loads, they are neither fun to shoot nor especially accurate or precise.
I'm not recoil-sensitive, but I've found that my examples of these little pistolas shoot more precisely with certain examples of .38 Special+P JHPs rather than any type of .357 Magnum (of which I tried ALL available factory examples in 125gr+P JHP), though a friend's 340PD (in my hands) did better with .357 loads than did mine, so it may well be specific to the particular gun.
In any event, I neither shoot nor carry .357 Magnum rounds in these little guns anymore.
I haven't shot the .44 Magnum S&W scandium version(s), but the only way to know if it hits consistently to POA in your hands is to shoot it.
I have two scandium S&W 340PDs, and with premium factory 125-158gr+P .357 Magnum JHP loads, they are neither fun to shoot nor especially accurate or precise.
I'm not recoil-sensitive, but I've found that my examples of these little pistolas shoot more precisely with certain examples of .38 Special+P JHPs rather than any type of .357 Magnum (of which I tried ALL available factory examples in 125gr+P JHP), though a friend's 340PD (in my hands) did better with .357 loads than did mine, so it may well be specific to the particular gun.
In any event, I neither shoot nor carry .357 Magnum rounds in these little guns anymore.
I haven't shot the .44 Magnum S&W scandium version(s), but the only way to know if it hits consistently to POA in your hands is to shoot it.
Boarhunter
Member
DaltonSpringfield,
I have Smith Scandium revolvers in .357, .45 acp, and in .44 mag, and I like them all. Great guns. I have put a good number of full-power rounds through both the .45 acp snubby and the .44 mag without any complaint regarding the function or durability of the guns. (I probably have less than a box of .357s through the j-frame snubby...downright painful to shoot.) I am not an engineer, but I suspect the guns will long outlast whoever is doing the shooting! (The recoil can get your attention....).
Boarhunter
I have Smith Scandium revolvers in .357, .45 acp, and in .44 mag, and I like them all. Great guns. I have put a good number of full-power rounds through both the .45 acp snubby and the .44 mag without any complaint regarding the function or durability of the guns. (I probably have less than a box of .357s through the j-frame snubby...downright painful to shoot.) I am not an engineer, but I suspect the guns will long outlast whoever is doing the shooting! (The recoil can get your attention....).
Boarhunter
dairycreek
Member
Have a S&W 329 - a TiScan 44 mag
It handles well, is accurate to a fault, and, at 26 ounces is a decent sized CCW. Scandium guns are exceptionally tough and lots of shooting for target purposes will do no harm. Can't say the same for the shooter though
Recoil on 44 mag stuff is substantial and a lot of shooting just makes my hands ache. Other than that - shoot it all you want.
It handles well, is accurate to a fault, and, at 26 ounces is a decent sized CCW. Scandium guns are exceptionally tough and lots of shooting for target purposes will do no harm. Can't say the same for the shooter though Recoil on 44 mag stuff is substantial and a lot of shooting just makes my hands ache. Other than that - shoot it all you want.
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mag
Member
I have a 325 - 45 and a 360 - 357. I have Pachmayr Gripper Decelerator grips on both that reduce felt recoil a good bit. The S&W page call them the "stongest and lightest" 357 and 45 ACP revolvers made. If these are indeed the "stongest" then I suppose they should stand up to full loads. I know that I have shot alot of 255 grain handloads at 1000 fps through my 45 with no problems, and I shoot 180 grain loads at 1040 fps through the 357, again with no problems.
Mike G.
Mike G.
double0757
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Scadium very light and very strong
I carry the 340 pd regularly and shoot it once or twice a month. Last year I used .357 mag loads and even though I don't practice with a full box of it I shoot about 10 to 20 rounds of it every month, the rest were .38 sp+p or just spl. I still shoot about 50 to 100 rounds a month with it. however, I now carry .38sp +p with it. I haven't notice any significant wear on the gun, other than carrying scratches here and there.
On my 329pd, which I practice twice a year with it, I run about 50 rds of 44mag and 100 rds of 44 special every time I shoot it. I have had it for a year and still like new. If I recall correctly the last batch of mag was 240 grain. It was hard on the hands. I may increase it this time around with a 280 grain bullet .
I love them both for their light weight, portability and accuracy. I think the jury still out if they will last as long as their steel counterparts. I believe they will and may be surpass the steel durability.
Double O
I carry the 340 pd regularly and shoot it once or twice a month. Last year I used .357 mag loads and even though I don't practice with a full box of it I shoot about 10 to 20 rounds of it every month, the rest were .38 sp+p or just spl. I still shoot about 50 to 100 rounds a month with it. however, I now carry .38sp +p with it. I haven't notice any significant wear on the gun, other than carrying scratches here and there.
On my 329pd, which I practice twice a year with it, I run about 50 rds of 44mag and 100 rds of 44 special every time I shoot it. I have had it for a year and still like new. If I recall correctly the last batch of mag was 240 grain. It was hard on the hands. I may increase it this time around with a 280 grain bullet
. I love them both for their light weight, portability and accuracy. I think the jury still out if they will last as long as their steel counterparts. I believe they will and may be surpass the steel durability.
Double O
orionengnr
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there was a posting about a guy
who had put 26k rounds of full power 357 Mag through his 340PD. That guy is one bad dude.
Every Scandium revolver I've shot (340PD and 360PD--both 357, 396SC--44Spl, 325PD--45 acp) delivered a solid wallop to the shooter's hand. I can't imagine the 329--44Mag being any gentler
If you plan on running a lot of rounds through a 329, the limiting factor will likely be flesh/blood/bone related.
who had put 26k rounds of full power 357 Mag through his 340PD. That guy is one bad dude.
Every Scandium revolver I've shot (340PD and 360PD--both 357, 396SC--44Spl, 325PD--45 acp) delivered a solid wallop to the shooter's hand. I can't imagine the 329--44Mag being any gentler
If you plan on running a lot of rounds through a 329, the limiting factor will likely be flesh/blood/bone related.
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