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Old 09-27-2017, 01:51 PM
kaaskop49 kaaskop49 is offline
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Default 340PD magnum carry load

Can anyone recommend a magnum load for the 340PD that will not "jump the crimp?" I already use 110 gr magnum rounds in the steel-cylinder M&P 340 but these are not allowed in the Ti cylinder PD variant. Am currently using CCI Blazer 158gr 'medium' magnum rounds, but would prefer a non-practice load. Thanks.

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Old 09-27-2017, 04:16 PM
Wee Hooker Wee Hooker is offline
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My 360pd says 125gr or better.
I just shoot 125 gr 38+P in mine and am confident in my follow up shots with those loads.
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Old 09-27-2017, 04:23 PM
kaaskop49 kaaskop49 is offline
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Originally Posted by Wee Hooker View Post
My 360pd says 125gr or better.
I just shoot 125 gr 38+P in mine and am confident in my follow up shots with those loads.
Thanks for your reply. MAGNUM loads, please, out there!

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Old 09-27-2017, 05:24 PM
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I don't have any scandium guns, but I can think of a few options that may work.

Have you tried to find any of Speer's .357 Magnum 135gr SB-GDHP? I think that would suit your needs.

Another possibility would be Remington 125gr Golden Saber JHP, which is a mid-range .357 Magnum load.

I would also check out Buffalo Bore's offerings. I'm not that familiar with their .357 Magnum loads but they may have something to suit your needs.

I wish I could be of more help. Even when I had a .357 I typically used .38 Special loads for SD.
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Old 09-27-2017, 05:26 PM
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I have been using the Hornday Custom 140 grain XTP-HPs in my 340s. Unfortunately that great loading has been dropped from the Hornady lineup

I will probably switch to the Hornady 135 grain Critical Defense once my supply runs of the 140s out.
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Old 09-27-2017, 05:32 PM
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Have you tried to find any of Speer's .357 Magnum 135gr SB-GDHP?
While this Speer offering is loaded into 357 Magnum cases, this is not a full power 357 Magnum round.

It is barely above a 38 Special +P in terms of pressure and velocity. Speer's own advertising claims for this round put the muzzle velocity at 990 Fps from a 4" vented test barrel.

For comparison, Speer's full power 357 Magnum 158 grain GDHP offering is advertised at 1235 Fps from the same 4" vented test barrel
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Old 09-27-2017, 06:07 PM
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Well, I'm afraid that I must respectfully, but only slightly disagree with my friend colt saa above. He makes some valid points, and is correct that the Speer round is not a full power 357 magnum round, but I believe that it is a little better than described...

My vote is for the round that I have carried 24/7 in my 340 PD, and M&P 340, and also carry in my 640-1 Pro Series, as well as the 640-1. This is the Speer .357 Magnum 135gr Gold Dot Short Barrel round. While pricey at about $1.50 or so per round, they are excellent. As colt saa points out, they are not full power rounds. But remember, the reason that we are using them is because we can't hold onto the full power rounds in an 11 ounce revolver in the first place.

But... I believe that they are the best compromise. Remember, they are specifically designed for short barrels. Lucky Gunner, who in 2015 did an extensive test of common semi auto ammunition, recently completed tests on the .38 Special and .357 magnum rounds that are popular now.

Here is a link to the test data for the Speer SB .357 Gold Dot 135 gr bullet: 400 Bad Request .

As you can see, the round is being chronographed at 1069 fps out of a 2" barrel, and out of a 4", goes to 1184 fps. Certainly enough velocity to achieve both reliable expansion and adequate penetration with reasonable recoil.

But my reasons for trusting it are more personal: years before the Lucky Gunner tests, I was carrying this round in my M&P 340, and was called on by my FIL to shoot a running deer that he had wounded and did not have a clear shot at. I shot it, and killed it, and on dressing out the deer, I noted the penetration and saved the bullets for later examination. They had expanded to slightly over 1/2", and penetrated about a foot, and when I weighed them later had retained almost all of their 135 grains!! Almost perfect performance. I have carried this round ever since, with perfect confidence in their ability.

Would I rather have a 158 gr., reliable expanding bullet traveling at 1300 or 1400 or more fps??? Well, maybe, but not in that light a platform. I think that this is a proven and reliable compromise. BTW... When I first bought my 340 PD, I fired a couple of rounds of my old duty ammo from the pre semi auto era, 158 gr Remington .357 magnum jacketed soft points...and was able to hold onto the gun...just barely. I can actually shoot these rounds without thinking I've broken bones in my hand!!

Best Regards, Les
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Old 09-27-2017, 07:07 PM
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I carry the Remington Golden Saber 125HP in my M&P340. It chronos 1125+/- fps. I shot and jug-tested a few and, once I settled on it, I made a handload to duplicate it so I can shoot a couple cylinders full periodically.

Just curious, who's seen bullet jump with a seriously roll-crimped .357 in an airweight? I haven't. In fact, I've never seen any bullet jump a roll crimp in any load ... ever.

I was loading and taper crimping plated bullets with no cannelures in .38 practice rounds until I experienced a couple of pulls. I went back to coated and jacketed bullets that I could roll crimp. Again, never seen a roll crimp jumped.
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Old 09-27-2017, 10:09 PM
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You guys make me feel like a total wimp. In my old Model 37 Airweight Chief Special I am very careful to load only standard velocity .38 Special ammo, but here you are all talking about magnum ammo in a lighter weight revolver.

I don't even like to shoot .38 Special +P ammo in my 2" and 3" K-frame revolvers, but you guys are slamming out .357 magnums from lightweight J-frames.

Call me a woosie boy. I must deserve it.
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Old 09-27-2017, 10:11 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mike campbell View Post
Just curious, who's seen bullet jump with a seriously roll-crimped .357 in an airweight? I haven't. In fact, I've never seen any bullet jump a roll crimp in any load ... ever.
FWIW, I haven't seen it personally, but have read reports, including at least one picture, of bullets pulling forward far enough to tie up the gun. My guess is that it's probably more likely with factory ammo than handloads (FYI, I'm not a handloader, so take my guess with a grain of salt...or powder... ). It seems to happen with full power loads using light bullets, but I've also heard of it happening with FBI loads.

Again, I don't have any experience with scandium guns and, quite frankly, I don't anticipate getting one anytime soon so it's not something I keep track of.
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Old 09-27-2017, 10:45 PM
Abflyboy Abflyboy is offline
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My carry round for my 340PD is Hornady Custom 158gr XTP sku #90562. Works very well for an off-the-shelf round and I've never had one jump the crimp.

As you can imagine, there is a significant difference in energy between this and any 38spl +P down range.

Also, this particular ammunition shoots exactly point of aim in both my 340PD and my M&P340.

My $0.02, FWIW

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Old 09-27-2017, 10:59 PM
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The luckgunner people tested the 135 357 Magnum Short Barrel round in their recently published test:

http://www.luckygunner.com/labs/revo...llistics-test/

It shows velocity of 1069 fps from a 2" barrell and 1184 fps from a 4".

Good expansion and penetration from both length barrels.

I have shot the Blazer 158 gr 357 magnum in my LCR-357 -- both the aluminum case version and the brass case version.

Subjectively the Blazer Brass version is significantly more powerful than the aluminum version.

The Blazer Brass feels to me just about the same as the 135 GD 357 Magnum short barrel.

Both are low/medium power 357 Magnum rounds from what I can tell.

I had no crimp jump in any of these in the LCR, but it's heavier than the 340PD so I can't help with the crimp jump issue.

Probably worth trying, though, if you can find some. Often it's available by mail order, but I've never seen it in a store.
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Old 09-27-2017, 11:55 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mike campbell View Post
Just curious, who's seen bullet jump with a seriously roll-crimped .357 in an airweight? I haven't. In fact, I've never seen any bullet jump a roll crimp in any load ... ever.
When the S&W titanium 357 J frames first came out a friend got one and I was with him for the first shots. We were shooting Federal factory 158 Grain JSP rounds. He loaded 5 rounds and gave it to me. I shot 1 round and gave the gun back to him, enough fun for me. He shot 2 rounds and the gun locked up. The 4th round had the bullet sticking out far enough to stop the cylinder. Couldn't turn the cylinder and couldn't open it.

I tested Speer 125 Gr Gold Dots in my 340 PD, a couple years ago, and had no bullet jump problems. I don't carry it with full power 357 ammo any more though. It's loaded with Federal 38 +P Nyclad HPs. I do need to shoot these over a chronograph still.
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Old 09-28-2017, 10:39 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by les.b View Post
Well, I'm afraid that I must respectfully, but only slightly disagree with my friend colt saa above. He makes some valid points, and is correct that the Speer round is not a full power 357 magnum round, but I believe that it is a little better than described...

My vote is for the round that I have carried 24/7 in my 340 PD, and M&P 340, and also carry in my 640-1 Pro Series, as well as the 640-1. This is the Speer .357 Magnum 135gr Gold Dot Short Barrel round. While pricey at about $1.50 or so per round, they are excellent. As colt saa points out, they are not full power rounds. But remember, the reason that we are using them is because we can't hold onto the full power rounds in an 11 ounce revolver in the first place.

But... I believe that they are the best compromise. Remember, they are specifically designed for short barrels. Lucky Gunner, who in 2015 did an extensive test of common semi auto ammunition, recently completed tests on the .38 Special and .357 magnum rounds that are popular now.

Here is a link to the test data for the Speer SB .357 Gold Dot 135 gr bullet: 400 Bad Request .

As you can see, the round is being chronographed at 1069 fps out of a 2" barrel, and out of a 4", goes to 1184 fps. Certainly enough velocity to achieve both reliable expansion and adequate penetration with reasonable recoil.

But my reasons for trusting it are more personal: years before the Lucky Gunner tests, I was carrying this round in my M&P 340, and was called on by my FIL to shoot a running deer that he had wounded and did not have a clear shot at. I shot it, and killed it, and on dressing out the deer, I noted the penetration and saved the bullets for later examination. They had expanded to slightly over 1/2", and penetrated about a foot, and when I weighed them later had retained almost all of their 135 grains!! Almost perfect performance. I have carried this round ever since, with perfect confidence in their ability.

Would I rather have a 158 gr., reliable expanding bullet traveling at 1300 or 1400 or more fps??? Well, maybe, but not in that light a platform. I think that this is a proven and reliable compromise. BTW... When I first bought my 340 PD, I fired a couple of rounds of my old duty ammo from the pre semi auto era, 158 gr Remington .357 magnum jacketed soft points...and was able to hold onto the gun...just barely. I can actually shoot these rounds without thinking I've broken bones in my hand!!

Best Regards, Les
In my 340PD I do not shoot any magnum load stronger than the Speer 135gr. I have not had any bullet pull with this load, except for my reloads so I quit loading them. They are a very good load if you can control them.
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Old 09-29-2017, 12:13 AM
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If you're looking for a light magnum load the above mentioned 135gr Short Barrel Speer load is it. That load us rated @990 fps compared to the .38 Spl +P 135gr load which is rated @860 fps tithe muzzle.

If full power is what you want my favorite in a J frame is the 145gr Winchester Silvertip .357 Magnum ammo. The 125gr Speer magnum load is good to but I don't like light bullets in the 38/357.
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Old 09-29-2017, 01:38 AM
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Default More zoot 357

I carry the Gold Dot 357short barrel load daily and if your looking for something with a bit more zoot...you could try the Barnes Vor-tx 140gr 357 all copper load...lotsa pow, and hasn't jumped the crimp in my 340PD, I fill er up with these for up north in the woods. Buffalo Bore also makes a neat little offering called the outdoorsman in a 38 case that supposedly they tested in a 340PD.
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Old 09-29-2017, 07:52 AM
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I've found that the Hornady Critical Duty 135gr. FTX loading is about my limit(for continued shooting) in my 640. Should be getting about 1125FPS in my snub.
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