When I pocket carry it’s my S&W AirLite in a Mika holster.
The Crimson Trace grips make the gun comfortable to shoot.

airlite bernard 5.jpg

I carry the LCR 357 version but I quit carrying loaded with the 357 magnums. Between the thought of my going deaf and the bullet going straight through the BG and possibly taking out a bystander was more than what I wanted to deal with. So now I carry loaded with 38+P.
I have carried this LCR as my main squeeze since I bought it new. Goes in my jeans pocket and nobody has even noticed it so far. Even if someone would question it there is no law against printing anyway. I don't even notice it printing really anyway. Also concealed means the gun can't be visibly seen.
Shooting 357 mags through it isn't really bad IMO and I don't expect to have to shoot it more than 5 times anyway if even that in a BG situation. If five 357 magnum rounds isn't enough to stop the threat I figure I am as good as dead anyway. I still feel the same way about the 38+P but I feel less possible collateral problems with it than the 357 round.
I truly love the trigger on my LCR.

I sometimes carry a Ruger LCR with Hornady Critical Defense .357 loads, but I'm one of those guys who thinks it's a terrible .357, but a great .38 Special! Having said that, the Hornady rounds are much more controllable than hotter loads (duh!). I also have a Taurus Tracker .44 mag that is murder to shoot magnum rounds in, but is a world-beater with .44 Special rounds ...

I've found the .357, in a small J frame of any stripe, too difficult to get follow up shots with. I've stayed with +P .38 in my 340PD in either the FBI 158 grain or 135 Speer Gold Dot.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

I agree that a 2" snub nose doesn't achieve much more with a .357 than does a good .38+P load. The .357 will have on the order of about a 100 fps advantage with a faster burning powder and even less with a slow during powder.

You need 3" of barrel to get significantly better performance with a .357 Mag - and then it's still:
a) dependent on using a faster powder optimized for a shorter barrel; and
b) the velocity increase even with an optimized load is only going to be on the order of 200-250 fps over a good .38 +P load in a 3" barrel.

----

I also agree that there are some fine short barrel .38 +P loads available. It's hard to go wrong with either the Speer 125 gr or 135 gr Gold Dots, as both expand well in bare gel and heavy denim and give at least 13-14" of penetration even out of a 1 7/8" barrel.

-----

On the other hand, I don't have any objection to a properly loaded .357 Magnum either. For example I'll load 8.5 grs of Unique under a 125 gr XTP and get 1,250 fps in a 3" revolver. If I bump it up to 9.0 grs the velocity is just under 1300 fps.

That compares to 1,030 fps with a .38 +P load using 7.5 grs of IMR 800x, and it compares to only around 1,150 fps using 20.0 grs of Win 296.

Now, does an extra couple hundred feet per second make a difference? Possibly, particularly in heavy clothing, and while the FBI's standard's call for at least 1.5x expansion and between 12" and 18" of penetration, I'm not opposed to being on the long side of the penetration envelope.

----

The critical factor however is still shot placement and thus is directly related to how well someone shoots his or her snub nose revolver. I have yet to meet a snub nose Smith and Wesson that won't do one hole groups at 7 yards.

However, it's not nearly as common to find a shooter who can do that consistently, even single action, with two hands while shooting standard pressure .38 Special.

Increase the pressure with a +P round and an infrequent shooter will shoot even less accurately, and load it up with .357 Magnums and accuracy often goes right out the window. And that's even before the person is put under stress. Worse, since it isn't comfortable to shoot, the shooter won't practice much.

Finally, J-frames are just not made for a steady diet of .357 Magnum, and shooters who carry it, are almost by definition shooters who are not practicing with their carry load (or a round with similar recoil), and/or they are not practicing much.

In that regard, the .38+P makes a lot more sense for most people who are considering a .38 or .357 for self defense.

My every day carry is a Model 60-15 -3" barrel with 357 hollow points, plus two 5 round speed strips. Very concealable Summer and Winter , Inside the waistband Holster.
Right on target !!

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Be Safe & Shoot Straight

Mostly I carry this 340M&P .357 Mag with 135 gr Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel ammo or Remington 357 125 semi-jacketed hollow points. I also load it with the Gold Dot 38+P as well. I have big hands so I also have the factory Uncle Mikes extended grips. These grips really help me keep the 357 mag ammo controllable.

Harry:

That 135 gr Speer Gold Dpt Short Barrel is my choice too. I know it's expensive, but hey, what's your life worth?

My sons talking at my funeral:

My first son: "Gee, it's a shame that dad lost the gun fight with that bad guy!"

My second son: "Yeah, but he saved 50 cents a round on that self defense ammo that he bought!!!"

The problem I'm having is finding it at any price. I have a few boxes squirreled away, but I've had some back ordered at midway for 6 months now, and still looking. Was able to find the 38 +P version in the 50 Rd box for about what the 20 Rd box of 357 costs, and grabbed some of that. Still looking for the 357 though. Good stuff.

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

1987 S&W 586 4inch Combat Magnum. Great Gun.. It was a Trooper 'Trade In' when they switched to the 9mm. Their Loss my Gain! Gun handles great & is always on target. It's a "L" Frame so very large for your hands. It went out of timing once in 25 yrs. Easily fixed. I have shot 38s & 357s thru it from 158 grain to 125 Blazers & 110's Works everytime! If I had to stake my life on any gun, this would be the one..

Yes it's not cheap.

I bought four 20 rnd boxes of the 357 135 gr gold dots back in February from Able Ammo. But I just checked and it's out of stock there. Also ammoseek.com wasn't able to turn up any of it anywhere.

Four boxes will last me a while, I guess. I've been practicing with Blazer 357 magnum -- both the Aluminum and Brass case version as I figure it's probably similar in terms of recoil -- and it's very economical.

Both the Blazer and 135 gr Gold Dots are low-mid range 357 rounds.

640. But carry .38 +P's. Used to old 60's, in .38 Spc only. Changed to the 640. Now the Holster. I Like a secure, (Inside Thumb Break), their is NO, (ITB), which works with a 640/642/442, etc, Hammer-less , (DA only). So I had one made, then another, then another. And then a bunch of people I know, who want the same thing. ALL, ITB holsters. if a DA (no hammer), will easily pull/drop, out of a, 'hammer', "J" frame, ITB holster. . The ITB holster for the 'J', frame hammer-less, moved the strap back a bit, so the firearm is, SECURE. Now most people don't need that. I do. But Carry a 357, You got 3 types of ammo you can use. (Two most common), if a .38 only, and if you need more, and someone else throws you some 357's, you are SOL.

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Write your Representatives !!

My everyday carry is the S&W 60 w/2.125" barrel, with Crimson Trace LG-350G laser grips (nice, comfortable grip that allows full 3 finger grip), with Mitch Rosen OWB Pancake holster made for CTG-excellent conceal and very comfortable. Actually prefer to carry the 60 carry vs my S&W Shield 9mm.

When I want to carry a 357 Magnum I carry this. Usually in a small trailer that I clip to my back belt loop.

IMG_1338.jpg

Only kidding. I thought this thread needed a laugh.
99% of the time I carry a well loved and worn 642. The only 357's I have are not well suited to concealed carry. Besides that, I can't imagine setting off a full blown 357 Magnum load in a car. It would probably make your ears bleed!!

Every day carry is a 386PD with what ever hollow point I find lying around the house. Seems to work for me.

regards

yashua

I'm with tjtoolbox, a M60-15 3"

But I only carry that around the house, yard work, etc. because I'm more likely to meet an ornery 4 legged creature than a 2 legged ones. I load mine with full bore soft point .357 rounds. No they won't achieve maximum velocity. On the other hand some of the larger creatures, after the first round, would be asking themselves, is that a human or a fire breathing dragon?

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Semper Vigilantes

A Model 13-3, round butt, 3 inch barrel with Federal or Remington 125 JHP's in .357 Magnum or Buffalo Bore 38 Special 158 gr. Lead SWCHP +P depending the environment

Just this guy
20150312_104857 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

with these
20150312_105428 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

in this
20150107_024807_LLS by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

which shoots like this:
Screenshot_2015-06-01-14-31-26 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

Agreed. That's a big part of the reason I carry a 4" barreled revolver I'm a fat old fart so it's not that much harder to conceal but I doubt it would have been all that different back then either.

I love my 627 v-comp but it is a little large for cc. I really enjoy my SP101 with speed loaders.

Attached Images

IMG_1944.jpg (64.1 KB, 46 views)

For open belt carry while varminting in eastern Oregon, usually an old Model 19 4" with cheap Fed or Win 158 gr jacketed flat nose, with the first two charge holes loaded with CCI .38 shot shells, as this is buzzworm country. (Sometimes I open belt carry my 6.5" Registered Magnum, allowing it to go do what it was designed for. It ain't a safe queen.)

Like others, my 2" snubby (a Model 12) is .38 Special, though I'd like a snubby 19/66 or 13/65. But would rather find them in a 3".

When I've carried a 4" .357 Mag revolver for bipedal self-defense, it was always loaded with .38 Special 158 grain LSWC +P for many reasons.

Tell Kaye I like her outfit.

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In Omnia Paratus

Somebody should tell Kaye "concealed means concealed".

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I need ammo, not a ride.

NO!!!!!!!!





My everyday carry is a 3913 9mm...... I have found the .357 is a hugely versatile cartage/gun combo..............

From my 3" 60-10 to a 3" 66 or 4" 686 up to my Ruger 77/357 "Utility" rifle (w/ Weaver 1-3x20 scope) to my Winchester Trapper.....

S&W 340PD loaded with Speer Gold Dot .38spl+P 135 gr. ammo, carried in a Kramer horsehide speed-scabbard.

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"Life is short, hunt hard"

340PD with 138gr magnum hollow points. Yes it hurts to shoot it with these loads, but I'll take that over anything else in the event I need to use it.

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

bcox:

Welcome to the forum!!! The 340 PD is my most carried gun also. I carry it with 135 gr 357 Magnum Speer God Dot Short Barrel loads, in a Galco horsehide pocket holster. I like the combination of light weight along with power. Of course the trade off is a little painful, but you are very likely to have it with you all the time than a heavier, larger gun, and that is the most important thing: having a gun!!!

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

I carry a 681 , 4" barrel open carry most of the time loaded with 158 gr gold dots. or a 642 (38spl) concealed . The slower burning powder still give the most velocity in a snub vs the fast burn powders . That info is straight from the load manuals . What the slower powders also give you is a fireball big enough to peel paint off a car .
In my airweight 38 spl . as well as 2 friends airweight we had to go to 110 gr bullets for the point of aim to equal point of impact@ about 20 yds . The range session that day was with 2 smith airweights and one ruger LCR in 38spl. Your results may vary .
A retired LEO told me once that the quickest he ever saw a guy drop dead was shot with a 22LR. out of a pistol . Shot placement is key !

For me, it was a .25 auto. I was there in less than two minutes after the shots were fired. Numerous witnesses all agreed that the deceased dropped like a sack of flour. Dead instantly (at least in their layman's perception). The perpetrator then emptied the 25 into a junkie who was involved in the initial altercation. We had trouble getting him to sit still long enough to get him patched up. No permanent damage.

The dead guy was hit in just the right place. The other guy wasn't.

As you say, shot placement is king!!

Best Regards, Les

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SWCA 3084, SWHF 495, PGCA 3064

Mod. 66-3 snubby loaded with 125 gr. JHP for two legged varmints. In the woods, or while hunting, it will be either a 3" New Vaquero Montado, or 6" 686+, both loaded with 180 gr. Castcore.

Well my favorite caliber is the .357 Magnum, my favorite type of revolver is the Smith and Wesson revolver. When I buy a gun I try to carry it for a week to get the feel of it: Springfield TRP .45, Glock 17 9mm, Colt Government S-80.
But my daily is my Colt Defender .45...



My next carry is my... S&W 686-4 + 2.5" 7 shooter with Remington 125g SJHP



Next in line is my S&W 586-7 + 4" 7 shooter with HST, or Gold Dot or Golden Saber. (it does carry well)



My 'get-back-home' car gun is my S&W M 65-1, 4" 6 shooter with Silver Tips.



I have a lot of faith in the .357 Mag in a S&W, but that Colt Defender with Crimson Laser Grip, Night sights and the big .45 Fat Boy with Ranger T, HST, Gold Dot, Saber is to die for. Sort of.

Rick_A
What did you do to remove the "internal lock" from your pistol?

I carry a snub model 19 in the winter months
loaded with 158 SWC





Chuck

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They hold no Quarter

357 mag, 50 grain, 2000 fps
Ammo is very light to carry with less recoil
But high velocity delivers same energy as
Slow heavy loads

Due to the warm year round weather here in Florida, I seldom am packing a .357 concealed. When I lived in N.C. where open carry is legal, I could comfortably carry most any revolver under a jacket or over shirt. This 66 ND served the purpose well when loaded with Speer .357 Short a Barrel HP ammo.

i use fed personaal defence 130 gr .357 in my LCR. low recoil and great stopping power

The 357 I carry is a 3" 65-5. Usually it's loaded with 158gr Speer GDHP 357's. Lately I've been fancying Buffalo Bore 158 Heavy .38's though. I'm confident either one would get the attention of whoever is trying to do something unpleasant.

When carrying my 640 or 3" 66, I prefer to carry Speer Gold Dot 135gr 357 magnum. With my 3" 681PC I like using 158 gr. JHP's of various makes, as I do in my 686 and 627.

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Dave Frost

That makes 3 of us .... Mine has the factory DAO Hammer, wears the Compac Pachs & rides in a Simply Rugged Sourdough Pancake at 4 o'clock.

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Retired & Livin' my DREAM :)

My primary for work is a Ruger SP-101, 2.25" barrel, loaded with Remington Golden Saber .357 125gr BJHP. I carried the same ammo in my 3" GP-100 when that was my primary. My backup is a 340 M&P. I normally carry it loaded with Gold Dot 135gr Short Barrel .38 Special. One of the reasons I switched to the 340 from the 640 is the ability to use .357 in the 340. I have fired a bunch of the .357 Golden Saber thru the 340, and had no problems with it.

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Wheel guns are real guns.

At times I carry a Ruger Blackhawk .357 magnum in a IWB holster.

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Riding, Shooting, and Truth

I carry a 686 2.5" with Dan Eagle grips with Speer Gold Dot 135 jhp for short barrels in a Craft Holster iwb. It's in my rotation along with a 24-3 .44 3", a 25 .45 Colt 3", Charter Arms 2.5" .44, Colt Defender .45 and a Taurus 145 PT Millenium.

Are you familiar with the Taurus Titanium 700 series?
Mine is a 7 round snub, made of a bluish titanium!
Very very light, and handles the .357 magnum explosive power very well.
Yes, a sub-nosed 357 that has 7 rounds, titanium strong and lightweight.
The rubberized handle absorbs the shock.
It is a master blaster when fired.
Yes, .357 is my favorite caliber to carry.

Groo here
When working with 38cal hp bullets there are a few things to remember.
The load "should" impact at 1000 fps or faster to insure expansion.
Barrel length and load effect this.
Most snub 38's will not meet this except with light bullets .
A 357 will.
Many bullets are used in 38 and 357 [ see rem 125gr sjhp]
The higher speed of the 357[ see ballistics by the inch]
Will cause an hp to open faster and often go Less deep[slow down faster]