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340PD for bear protection
- Thread starter Bakch0w
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old pipefitter
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To my way of thinking I dont want to shoot heavy .357's out of a Scandium J frame. And for bears I for one would want a min. 180 grain hard cast or monolithic solid. And those would be really hard to shoot accurately. That being said i own a 340 M&P The shrouded hammer version. full power .357's just hurt your hands
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Rich Richardson
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I live in the woods. I carry heavy 44 magnums to get off multiple shots on target.
One good coated hardcast option is underwood 158 gr swc +p 38 special. It is very close to being a magnum, and does have some stout recoil in a 340pd, but not as bad as some magnum options. It penetrates very well. There are youtube videos of it outperforming 9mm 147 +p coated hardcast from the same manufacturer.
Edit: see post 32 below. Upon shooting these rounds out of two titanium cylinders, they are very hard to extract. I may have shot them in a 340m&p without that issue. They are somewhat snappy, probably close to low end 357 rounds, recoil wise.
Edit: see post 32 below. Upon shooting these rounds out of two titanium cylinders, they are very hard to extract. I may have shot them in a 340m&p without that issue. They are somewhat snappy, probably close to low end 357 rounds, recoil wise.
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Autonomous
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Swc bullets have a reputation for good penetration and are popular for woods defense.
Get a big can of bear spray in a good, hard holster. UDAP, for example.
Get a big can of bear spray in a good, hard holster. UDAP, for example.
You might go on Buffalo Bore website and study up on some of their options?
I have some pretty stout 38+P and 357 options from them, for my 340 M&P j-frame.
Definitely not great for extended range sessions, and not sure how effective versus a bear, but.. hard hitting!
I have some pretty stout 38+P and 357 options from them, for my 340 M&P j-frame.
Definitely not great for extended range sessions, and not sure how effective versus a bear, but.. hard hitting!
Not “recommending it,” but I think you will find some of the European brand .357s with 158-gr. FMJs will be loaded to a somewhat higher velocity than current production US brands like Federal, Winchester, etc., that are usually loaded with comparable weight bullets that are the expanding types. Whether that is a good thing or not is up to you to decide. I would certainly use them sparingly in my 340PD, if at all, but I am an admitted 340PD-recoil sissy.
Unless you are a real master with this revolver, a slightly larger, heavier gun (like a newer .357 Magnum Model 66) is a much better idea. I’d save the 340 for cityslicker duty with 125-145 gr. loads and invest in another gun. I think you will be pleased, if you do.
Unless you are a real master with this revolver, a slightly larger, heavier gun (like a newer .357 Magnum Model 66) is a much better idea. I’d save the 340 for cityslicker duty with 125-145 gr. loads and invest in another gun. I think you will be pleased, if you do.
I don't know... a short-barreled .357 seems mighty anemic if a bear decides to attack, such as a mama might if you were to inadvertently come across her cubs. Bear spray seems like it might be a much better alternative.
DixieRanger
Member
Bear spray for sure if 340's all you got. This fine snubby is best reserved for two legged dull toothed animals says me. A scream may help as deterrent too.
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@ Bakch0w
The good news is that Black Bear attacks are rare. Bear Spray is worth checking into. Also, you might want to look into pertinent info via your state of residence 'Department of Fish and Wildlife". I am sure they have an online brochure concerning tips & guidelines for black bear encounters.
Best,
Data
The good news is that Black Bear attacks are rare. Bear Spray is worth checking into. Also, you might want to look into pertinent info via your state of residence 'Department of Fish and Wildlife". I am sure they have an online brochure concerning tips & guidelines for black bear encounters.
Best,
Data
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Bear gun
I live in bear country. I have blackberries in my back yard and bear scat in my driveway this morning. I hunt bear and have seen many shot. I have killed bear with a revolver as has my son (406 lb.). I think I would get a bigger gun.
Les
I live in bear country. I have blackberries in my back yard and bear scat in my driveway this morning. I hunt bear and have seen many shot. I have killed bear with a revolver as has my son (406 lb.). I think I would get a bigger gun.
Les
cal45
Member
As others have stated, if I were to go hiking and have a chance of a bear encounter - I would change the gun I chose to carry for that activity. Either a short barrel 629 or a Glock 10mm.
A BEAR THREAD!!! Been a while since I've seen one!
Phil Shoemaker killed an Alaskan brown bear with his 9mm. Shot placement is the key. Practice and shoot what you can accurately hit with under pressure!
Phil Shoemaker killed an Alaskan brown bear with his 9mm. Shot placement is the key. Practice and shoot what you can accurately hit with under pressure!
Marshal Tom
Member
All good advice above. I recently traded my M&P 340 away that I had for many years and got a 649 instead. The M&P340 was just not that much fun to shoot even with .38+P and was terrible with .357's. I would get something a little larger with longer barrel length like a 66, 686, 669 or a 10mm.I have all sorts of choices but when I go up on the Grand Mesa here in CO which is right up the hill from my house, I take something bigger than an M&P340.
malph
Member
I agree with you. I have an M&P340 and it's great for what it is but I can't imagine shooting bear loads out of it.
Something like the new Model 66s will be easier to shoot well, aren't too heavy and won't cause as much pain to the shooter as to the bear.
I'm in the bigger is better crowd here and would carry .44 Mag at least, but still: an 8-shot .357 Mag revolver with a barrel lenght of 5" or more and proper ammo would probably have a decent chance of stopping most bears. And no matter how well you can shoot the heavier calibers, you'll still shoot that 327/627 a lot faster.
Shrek Of The Arctic
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I know of a young man who works very far out in the woods here in Alaska. He regularly encounters bears. So far all these encounters have yielded is some professional quality bear pictures. His employer does not allow for the carry of weapons, not even bear spray. That being said, guns are very common in these remote locations, and a regular fact of life to anyone who has ever ventured elsewhere than their home and a board room. It was decided that protection is nice, but discreet protection would be preferred to strapping a 10mm in a chest holster and playing policy chicken with the powers that be.
His solution for discreet protection is a Ruger LCR with 180 grain hardcast. He has put down enough injured moose and other large critters with broken legs and such to have gained confidence in it's use for big critters. He also remains cognizant of the fact that the deadliest threat anywhere is your fellow biped, and a .357 is certainly enough for that.
His solution for discreet protection is a Ruger LCR with 180 grain hardcast. He has put down enough injured moose and other large critters with broken legs and such to have gained confidence in it's use for big critters. He also remains cognizant of the fact that the deadliest threat anywhere is your fellow biped, and a .357 is certainly enough for that.
malph
Member
Another suggestion would be the Model 69.
It's an L frame 44 mag.
It would be easier to pack than the N frames but is surprisingly shootable.
It's an L frame 44 mag.
It would be easier to pack than the N frames but is surprisingly shootable.
kreuzlover
Member
If I were in the woods, where bears are, I would want the caliber of
any handgun I was carrying to start with a "4" or "5"! When I started
handgun hunting for deer sized game, I tried 357 handguns, and after
wounding a few deer, some of them never found, I started using a 44
magnum Ruger, or sometimes a Smith 29, never lost a deer after that!
any handgun I was carrying to start with a "4" or "5"! When I started
handgun hunting for deer sized game, I tried 357 handguns, and after
wounding a few deer, some of them never found, I started using a 44
magnum Ruger, or sometimes a Smith 29, never lost a deer after that!
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