Found a 649-3 (no lock) over on GB the other evening with "only" 20 rounds fired thru it. Should be in toward the end of the coming week. I'm used to the 686 recoil on 357 ammo. The 649 is a steel frame but in a J-Frame. What are your suggestions please regarding 357 through it ? Steady diet or stick with the 38+P ? Thanks
Carl
Moderate 357 loads of 125 and 158 grain are not bad in this gun. Warmer factory 357s are a little more of a handfull, especially the Speer 125 grain Gold Dots. Any 38s are much easier to handle, almost pleasant. I don't think you can hurt this gun with any factory 357 ammunition. My hand starts to hurt long before I worry about hurting the 649 with 357 loads. Hope you enjoy your new 649, thay are really nice J frames.
For most of my range shooting I shoot 158 grain .38 special in standard pressure and +P hollowpoints in my 649-3. This is a little easier on my hand and I have a fairly plentiful supply of .38 special rounds. Of course I will fire several cylinders of .357 mag as well. Currently I'm carrying the Speer 135 grain short barrel GDHP. The CorBon 110 grain JHP and Remington Golden Sabre 125 grain JHP also shot well and recoil was manageable. The steel frame does help to absorb the magnum recoil.