using 357 mag in 360 pd air lite what ammo do you use?

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Bugbottle

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Just got a 360 pd air weight 357 mag. Recoil with 357 is brutal. Anyone using 357 mags in their 360 pd or do you stick with 38 +p? What ammo do you like to run in this gun? Do you use 38 special for practice and 357 for carry? How effective is it to practice with 38 and carry with 357? will practice with 38s be valid when using 357? What Caliber bullet weight, manufacturer ect do you recommend in 38s and 357s Thanks folks.
 
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With a short barrel I would stick with +P .38 Special for self defense and .38 Specials for plinking.
Now if you reload you can load your Magnum brass to lower levels for same needs and load up some nice Speer Gold Dots or the 158 gr. "FBI" load using the Rim Rock 158 gr. SWC HP.
 
I'll tell you what folks! I don't know what a "360 pd" is, but the combination of "air weight" and "357 mag" has to get your attention----it just has to!!

Now "air weight" makes for comfy carry---even in a pocket---at least until you load it. Then it's not so much "air weight" anymore, but it's most certainly better than the non-"air weight" alternatives. Chapter next: I suppose, in my blissful ignorance, that an "air weight" 357 costs more than an "air weight" .38 Special----seems like it should anyhow. Now given that, and given that you paid the extra, I have to ask why? Tell you what---we'll come back to that.

I'm reminded somehow of fishing tackle here. Most folks will tell you fishing tackle is made to catch fish----just like I reckon most folks would tell you "air weight" 357's are made to shoot. On the other hand, some of the other folks might tell you fishing tackle is made to sell to fishermen.

I hope I've given you something to think about. I hope you think.

Ralph Tremaine
 
Closest thing I have to that 360 is my LCR .357 and have shot factory .357 and it's a hand full and not what you want to plink with.
My wife likes to shoot it also so I keep it stoked with +P loads in .38 Special that I put together.

Now I also load for .357 Mag and load those down a few clicks to shoot in my S&W 66 and in the LCR.
 
Bugbottle said:
Just got a 360 pd air weight 357 mag. Recoil with 357 is brutal. Anyone using 357 mags in their 360 pd or do you stick with 38 +p? What ammo do you like to run in this gun? Do you use 38 special for practice and 357 for carry? How effective is it to practice with 38 and carry with 357? will practice with 38s be valid when using 357? What Caliber bullet weight, manufacturer ect do you recommend in 38s and 357s Thanks folks.
Click to expand...

I purchased my 360 PD used. It had been fired exactly twice and came with a box of 48 357 mags (federal hydroshocks if memory serves). The previous owner said it was like slamming his hand in a car door.
I added larger (405CT) grips and have been content shooting it with 38+P since.
 
murphydog said:
Most settle on .38 + P for lightweight .357s, but two loads to try (kind of .357 - P?) are the Short Barrel Gold Dot mentioned above and the Remington Golden Saber.
Click to expand...

Might also want to try the Hornady Critical Defense round. Seems to feel close to the GDSB and usually easier to find.
 
My water jug test of the Rim Rock 158 gr. SWC HP bullet loaded over 6.3 gr. of Power Pistol...the so called FBI load.
Brass used was .38 Special and speeds were 935 FPS out of Ruger LCR 1.87 barrel and 1060 FPS out of S&W Model 66 with 4 inch barrel.
YouTube
 
attn OP

Make sure you obey the warning on the side of the bbl, where it says not to use magnum loads with bullet weights of less than 120 grains. This is gospel. The above posters have provided some excellent loads for this gun. I would follow their guidance.

Should you use magnum ammo in the 360PD? Depends on your experience and/or tolerance to recoil, and, I regret to add, pain. You also have to make certain that the loads you use, either .38 or magnum, do not incur "crimp jump" (bullets in unfired rounds pulling forward under recoil). This can jam up the gun at the worst possible time.Whichever path you choose, good luck!

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
 
I used to have a 360PD. Great little gun. Got rid of it mainly because of the lock and I wanted the hammerless 340. Still looking:rolleyes: I would shoot a cylinder or two of full house SD .357 on occasion, but mainly practiced with WWB 158 grain because it hit closest to the same POA as the .357s. I always carried corbon .357s when it was my EDC. In my opinion, there’s no point in carrying a .357 if you’re not going to take full advantage of the rounds capabilities. And for those who think there’s not much difference between .38+P and .357 out of a snubbie, then watch Paul Harrell’s video that proves there is a substantial difference in power levels. IIRC, he was seeing over 400fps difference between the two.

[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=27wDLjY5JSs[/ame]
 
.357 magnum ammo in an Airweight J-frame? Better you than me!

Closest revolver I have is an old Model 37 Airweight Chief. I stick with standard velocity .38 Specials, and even those require lots of concentration for consistently accurate repeat shots.
 
For the folks with LCRs (like me), note that the scandium frame 360PD weighs 11.7oz, while the KLCR357 weighs 17.1oz - yes, the KLCR weighs almost 50% more than the 360PD.
 
My EDC is a 340PD and I keep it loaded w/the old FBI 158 grain +P and avoid magnum rounds b/c follow up shots are too difficult w/them. I also like this load b/c when I used it one the street it did the job.
 
Old cop said:
My EDC is a 340PD and I keep it loaded w/the old FBI 158 grain +P and avoid magnum rounds b/c follow up shots are too difficult w/them. I also like this load b/c when I used it one the street it did the job.
Click to expand...

I got pretty good with follow up shots after I modified my grip somewhat. The trick for me was to keep my trigger finger inside the trigger guard. First few times I shot it, the recoil would kick my finger off the trigger and scrape the heck out of it as it exited the trigger guard. Once I figured that out, it went much better. I just liked the option of 1250fps as opposed to 850fps in a SD load for guaranteed expansion. If used in a SD situation at the bad breath distance most likely to happen, I don’t think you’ll even notice the recoil and your follow up shots will just stitch a pattern up the torso if you start low enough.
 
Old cop said:
My EDC is a 340PD and I keep it loaded w/the old FBI 158 grain +P and avoid magnum rounds b/c follow up shots are too difficult w/them. I also like this load b/c when I used it one the street it did the job.
Click to expand...

Glad to hear that load worked in real life !
 
tlawler said:
In my opinion, there’s no point in carrying a .357 if you’re not going to take full advantage of the rounds capabilities. And for those who think there’s not much difference between .38+P and .357 out of a snubbie, then watch Paul Harrell’s video that proves there is a substantial difference in power levels. IIRC, he was seeing over 400fps difference between the two.

In the video he shoots 4" & ~2" bbl revolvers. With the 2" bbl's The 38+p gave an ave of 840 fps with 125 gr bullet, while the 357 gave an ave of 1250 with 125 gr bullet. Using those numbers- 38 = 195.8 ft/lbs while the 357 had 433.6 ft/lbs- More than Twice as much energy- So a 357 in a 357 has significantly more energy ( 2X ), than a 38, so there is a reason to carry a 357 loaded with 357's. So if I have the 638 it has Speer GDSB +p, while the 640 has Speer GDSB 357. If you have arthritis, hand injury, or other deficit, or do not like recoil go with the 38, If you want the most power that it can give, and you do not have the problems above ( YET ), than use the 357, twice the energy is significant at handgun levels. Be Safe,
Click to expand...
 
Grips are everything. Get the Uncle Mike's or the Pachmyers and it will change your life.
 
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