357s runnin' through a J frame

[Phoenix357]

Could someone tell me if they've run a steady diet of 357 ammo through their J frame and if they have had any problems?

I've read conflicting articles/posts... etc. Usually those who wouldn't target practice w/357 ammo in their J frame because of fear of wearing it out quicker than larger frames; haven't. So how do they know if S&W's claim to re-engeneering the J frame to handle 357s is as dependable as the larger frames?

I have a M60 with the 5" barrel and I really enjoy this revolver. In fact, I won't part with it. I like shooting the 158 gr. 357s at our local club, but I would like more info. from those who have had their J frames for awhile and feed it the larger ammo. Any shared experiences would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Dan Cash]

I have a 640-1 that has had perhaps 2000 158 grain PMC and 175 - 200 grain full house hand loads through it over the years. It is a tough little sucker as it shows no sign of end shake or other loosening. I would not shoot the 125 grain barn burners as they are hard on any gun and to me, are painful to shoot from little guns.

 

[sunday bill]

Don't know how it would compare to the toll heavy 357 loads take on a J-Frame, but my 60-9 likes a gas checked Lyman 358156 driven to just over 1000 fps so well I don't run much of anything else through it. No appreciable signs of resulting wear after much use.

 

[GF]

"... are painful to shoot from little guns." DC

I think he's nailed it. If you can shoot enough 357's through a J frame to tear it up, your a tough ol' boy.

I posted on another forum that this is the most "snappy" recoiling 357 mag. revolver I've ever shot.

60-10

Instead of YOU shooting magnum rounds in it, load 2 and skip one and let someone at the range shoot it.
You can see how bad they flinch. Everyone does.

GF

 

[tmbrcruizr]

all I shoot in my 340 is .357, because thats what S&W designed it for.
around 1000 rounds thru it, no problem
come on America--Man Up.

 

[Pitdog02]

I burned up the cylinder on my 340 pd with 357 158 grn. I can confirm that the titanium can and will be defeated if you feed it a steady diet of 357. The titanium would be ok for just carry but Ive switched over to stainless cylinders on both of my 340's and my 360.

 

[roaddog28]

Hi,

All I can say is that you guys are brave folks shooting any 357 round through a little J frame. I shoot on occasion 158 gr 357s through my K frame magnums. That is enough for me. I would say shooting alot of 357 rounds through a J frame will wear the revolver out sooner or the person will have to send the revolver back to Smith for repairs. Common sense will tell a person your trying to shoot the same rounds that are used in a L frame or N frame revolver. So what I am saying is the L and N frame Smith were made to take 357s all the time and are much stronger.
The answer I feel to the post is of course shooting 357s in a little J frame will wear the revolver out sooner.

roaddog28

 

[P&R Fan]

I've got a 640-1 I've had for about 13 years and a 340PD I bought last year. I rarely shoot .38s in either. Can't really see any appreciable wear at this point but my feeling is I'm not sure I can afford enough ammo to find out.

 

[NiklasP]

For serious use I use 158 grain SWCHPGC from Rimrock Bullets at 1200 fps using Blue Dot and my M60 with 5 inch barrel does not seem the least bothered with these loads. I do need to have Pachmyar Gripper grips on gun to have acceptable control and comfort.

With Unkle Mike's combat-style grips I have to reduce power to 950-1000 fps with Blue Dot for similar performance on target and comfort.

With dinky but pretty little rosewood grips that came on gun, I have to back all way down to 158s at 800 fps or so or, better yet, to 148 grain HBWCs at 800 fps, both with Green Dot powder.

Effect on gun seems same with any of these loads, all are among best grouping loads in my gun. I expect to continue using these loads for forseeable future. I may add a 170-180 grain hard cast flat nose at 1000-1200 fps at some point, primarily for woods carry in areas that have large bear populations.

Niklas

 

[JC4013]

For years I carried a Model 60 with a two inch magna-ported barrell and pachmyer grips. I shot a steady diet of 125 grain JHPs without problems. My wife eventually made me sell it. Anybody know what I can get for a used wife?

 

[Bullet Bob]

What's her condition? NIB? 99%?

 

[Cashdog]

Usually stick with the 158 grain loads in my 640-1, thou I have shot some barn burners thru her over the years just to check it out. Still nice and tight. I'll have to admit, I do prefer the Pachmayr Compacs being on when I do this at the range. I work with my hands, so there not exactly soft, but I don't enjoy shooting a lot of 357's with the pretty wood grips on.

 

[JC4013]

Cashdog:
The grips make a world of difference, don't they? I preferred factory wood grips with a Tyler-grip adaptor, but when the magnums came out I almost had to go to rubber grips of some sort, so long as they didn't compromise concealability. I shot a three inch 65 with 158 grain magnums so much it actually tore the skin of the web between my thumb and first finger. When I went to qualify the next day I had to reshoot the course with a six inch Mod 19 with .38 specials and I lost some of the bluing because I got blood on it. Okay, so I wasn't that smart, but that was a long time ago.

 

[Cashdog]

You got it JC. Once I picked up a 442 to fill the pocket (and most iwb) duty, the 640 has pretty much lived in the Compacs.

 

[Phoenix357]

Thank you everyone for your replies.

When I bought the M60 w/j frame it said 357. And with the light weight for carry, (I hardly even know that it is there), I couldn't resist.

I heard that someone read an article where S&W President (I believe) stated that they were pleased with the results of a difficult engineering feat of making the J frame capable of handling the 357s; words to that effect.

Trying to find information out there on people with actual experience firing 357s through a J frame as a steady range diet and over an extended period of time, is impossible. What I found was people saying it wasn't a good idea to fire 357s through a J frame, 'assuming that' with no personal experience.

I bought a J frame M60 w/the 'word' 357 on it and that should mean that I should be able to shoot them as frequently as I would out of a larger framed gun. More sting? Yes possibly. Less dependable? It sure as hell shouldn't be less dependable. Especially if you engineered this revolver for the heavier ammo and you are going to 'call' it a 357.

Thanks again everyone for sharing your experience. I'll shoot a little more relaxed knowing that I indeed own a 357... and not a 38 that I am privledged to only shoot a few 357 rounds through once or twice a year due to fear of wearing my revolver out overnight.

One last 'goofy' question: The M60 is stainless steel... the cylinder is also stainless steel isn't it?

 

[Topspeed]

Yes. The cylinder is also stainless steel.

 

[bsms]

My theory - if you bought it new and it eventually has problems, let S&W fix it for free. If you bought it used...well, I'm not driving the same car I drove 35 years ago. J-frames are not so expensive that one couldn't be replaced if it wore out after 5 K of 357 ammo - which, unless you load your own, would run around $2000+. If I can afford the ammo, I can afford the gun...but I bought new, and will let S&W worry about it if it shoots itself to pieces.

 

[Phoenix357]

Yes. The cylinder is also stainless steel.

Thank you Topspeed. I thought so but wasn't 100% sure.

 

[Phoenix357]

My theory - if you bought it new and it eventually has problems, let S&W fix it for free. If you bought it used...well, I'm not driving the same car I drove 35 years ago. J-frames are not so expensive that one couldn't be replaced if it wore out after 5 K of 357 ammo - which, unless you load your own, would run around $2000+. If I can afford the ammo, I can afford the gun...but I bought new, and will let S&W worry about it if it shoots itself to pieces.

Couldn't have been said any better. I hate to admit it bsms, but perfect logic eludes me sometimes. It's always great getting input from other people and when a flawless perspective comes along... well thank you. Bit embarrased I haven't been looking at the situation like that all along.

I did get the M60 new and even if it wasn't new... hell there should be no worries.

Thanks again.

 

[FirebirdV8]

To me, if a gun is designed to shoot .357 mag, you should be able to shoot .357 mag. That being said, you should shoot the hottest ammo that you are accurate with out of a particular gun. Usually, I won't be that accurate if the round is uncomfortable to shoot. Now, I have not shot an airweight J frame, but my 640-1 has had some 125 grain magnum rounds and I can still hit what I need to with it. That being said, that round while not uncomfortable isn't very comfortable, so I don't shoot that load a lot, but I figure when I do, the gun will out last my hands.