Recent content by Writer_Ron

I had to send my 41 back to S&W when the accessory "recoil buffer" I'd installed (so I could fire hotter rounds) "locked" the slide -- it felt like the slide was welded to the frame. In any case, S&W promptly fixed the problem. The exceptionally amiable tech called me to advise against future...

You'll get a mountain varied opinions on what is REALLY needed. A simple Lee hand press, a set of dies, a cheap balance-type scale, and an inexpensive micrometer has served me adequately for lots of years. I've never used a tumbler to clean brass. And as for "literature," there are lots of free...

I bought mine about six months ago, use Hornady CD .38 Special +P, and did indeed fire a few .357 rounds just to say I did. (My advice: wear a shooting glove and choose lower-power .357s.) The only problem I've had is a strange tendency to occasionally call it a 340PD in forum posts. I...

I've loaded quite a few 9mm Makarov rounds, which are virtually the same size as .380s. I found reloading straightforward -- although I took lots of care to measure the comparatively small powder charges. The biggest challenge I had was to achieve a tight crimp. If my crimp didn't emulate a...

I used to own a 617 10 shot (bought new in about 2002). I unscrewed the adjustable rear sight and installed a Weigand SWHPMNTS/B mount in a few minutes. It did a fine job of mounting a holographic sight. Ron

The the double-action trigger pull and hammer pull on my 351PD can be annoyingly heavy during a range session (I may try a lighter spring eventually), but the single action trigger pull is great. It seems the "price" for firing rimfire ammo. Ron

Ouch indeed! I wore a shooting glove at the range when I fired the short-barrel 357 magnums, which helped a lot. Even so, the "snappy" recoil got my attention. Have you had an opportunity to chronograph the full-house loads? I wonder if the velocity increase over +P 38s or "lower power" 357...

LOL. I did the same thing ... BUT, I chose Speer Gold Dot "Short Barrel" 357 mag rounds, which are far more gentle than full-house loads. They are produce hefty recoil -- but can't be described as brutal. FWIW, my 340PD loves Hornady Critical Defense rounds (110 grain, 38 Special +P). Tiny...

My relatively new 340PD locks up very tightly and has zero cylinder endshake. It requires a considerable push on the "thumb piece" to unlock the cylinder. The thumb piece goes all the way forward and I have to give the cylinder a leftward push to compress what I call the spring-loaded detent pin...

I chose a 360PD rather than a 340 -- chiefly because I've grown used to the exposed hammer on my 351PD. I also like the option of single action fire, although I appreciate the virtues of the snagless Centennial design. After trying eight or nine different cartridges, I found that Hornady...