110 grain ammo? Bodyguard 649 J frame

[evanrn1983]

Recently purchased a 649 Bodyguard, after reading the manual it says DO NOT USE Magnum WITH BULLET WEIGHTS OF LESS THAN 120 GRAINS- THIS WILL REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF PREMATURE EROSION IN TITANIUM ALLOY CYLINDERS. I recently purchased a box of windchester .357 MAG 110 grain ammo, is it safe for me to shoot this out of my firearm? I am not sure if my cylinder is titanium alloy, it looks like it is nickel plated steel. My owners manual is generic I got online; it's not specific to the bodyguard so I am not sure what my cylinder is made of.

 

[xcop]

110 gr

Well if you really do have a 649 the warning doesnt apply. The 649 is stainless steel and has no titanium in it.

 

[stiab]

xcop is correct, if your gun is a 649 you have a steel cylinder (and the rest of the gun as well) and the warning does not apply. You can call S&W at 800-331-0852 and they will send you the correct owners manual. The reason that warning exists for the ultra light weight guns is because of bullet pull on the short 110 grain rounds dues to recoil, and should not be a problem with your gun.

 

[GatorFarmer]

The same owners manual comes with all Smith and Wesson revolvers. They don't print model specific manuals any more. Thus your manual has the warning that applies only to certain guns with more exotic composition. The all stainless 649 shouldn't be harmed by 110 grain ammunition.

 

[flop-shank]

The reason that warning exists for the ultra light weight guns is because of bullet pull on the short 110 grain rounds dues to recoil, and should not be a problem with your gun.

The warning is because lighter than 120 gr. .357 rounds will literally sandblast the face off the titanium cylinders. A 649 will have no such issues.

 

[stiab]

Here's a thread where you can learn more about the bullet pull problems in titanium cylinder revolvers. It can be a problem in all light weight revolvers, and is potentially worse with the smaller bullets...

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/125356-titanium-cylinder-issues.html

 

[thedogfather]

My 649 shoots the 110 grain really well. I've shot both Winchester white box and Remington Express SJHP. They seem to target well and the recoil is very manageable. Your revolvers should be all steel. No worries.

 

[Win]

I purchased some of this WW white box ammo (says personal defense on the side of the box). Over the chrony, I got 1150 fps from a 4 inch barrel. That's about 200 fps over a 38 special +p load with that bullet.

So your shooting a reduced load in your .357 with this ammo....I don't think you will hurt your gun in any way.

 

[P&R Fan]

I've had a 640-1 .357 Centennial for over a decade. It is always loaded with the Winchester 110 grn loads. The info I've read bears out what Win said, good velocity, plus it recoils less than 125 grn loads. But this is also a stainless revolver like your 649. I have a 340PD i carry 125 grn loads in for the reasons mentioned. By the way, they hurt to shoot in a sub 12 oz. gun.

 

[Greenbeanie67]

I always go with the old Rule of the Thumb, that the shorter the barrel, the lighter the bullet. Mfg's warnings taken into consideration. I've also found the Speer 135G Gold Dot works well in the shorter barrel weapons.

 

[Sebago Son]

I've had a 640-1 .357 Centennial for over a decade. It is always loaded with the Winchester 110 grn loads. The info I've read bears out what Win said, good velocity, plus it recoils less than 125 grn loads. But this is also a stainless revolver like your 649. I have a 340PD i carry 125 grn loads in for the reasons mentioned. By the way, they hurt to shoot in a sub 12 oz. gun.

+1 and +2.

I have two 640-1 Car Guns that I load with R-P 110 magnums.

Factory Magnas and a Tyler-T on each. Shoots to POA out to 15 Yards and is alot easier on the paws while pretty devastating on soft targets.

Drew

 

[Stu Honea]

I always go with the old Rule of the Thumb, that the shorter the barrel, the lighter the bullet. Mfg's warnings taken into consideration. I've also found the Speer 135G Gold Dot works well in the shorter barrel weapons.

The Speer 135+P Gold Dot is head and shoulders above any other factory 38 snub load in terminal performance. Not fun to shoot in an airweight J frame,tho.

 

[bmcgilvray]

My rule of thumb is +P 158 grain SWCs for all .38 Specials, snub or not, and don't worry about it.

 

[sheriffoconee]

My rule of thumb is +P 158 grain SWCs for all .38 Specials, snub or not, and don't worry about it.

the force is strong in this post....
the 158 grn +p is the only loading with an effective, verifiable track record on holdup men, bandits, stick up artists, kidnappers, and highwaymen during the last half of the last century...
it worked then, it will work now