I’m not getting rid of any of my .357’s, I just load .38 Specials in my 340PD & SP101 (& my 19-4). It’s mostly about bullet placement anyway.
Last edited:
357 Magnum in Snubs
- Thread starter pantannojack
- Start date
I’m not getting rid of any of my .357’s, I just load .38 Specials in my 340PD & SP101 (& my 19-4). It’s mostly about bullet placement anyway.
No to take this off course it is still a 357 out of a snub thread so I feel appropriate....
This is what I found with PP to duplicate speer gold dot 135gr factory loads:
357 (990FPS -COAL 1.590): 8.8 grs of Power Pistol, 8.4 grs of VihtaVuroi 3N37, or 7.6 grs of Unique
As reference:
38+P (860 FPS): 6.4gr of power pistol, 6.8gr AA#5
I do this because I like to train with what I carry....
Hope this provides a good data set. I just picked up a 2.5" model 19 from a member here, as soon as Nelson Ford kicks it back to me I will get data on that too.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2005
- Messages
- 9,070
- Reaction score
- 11,281
You're certainly correct about bullet placement. While very simple, many have yet to understand the importance of this factor.
My take is if you can't to it:
One handed
Two handed
Stationary
On The Move
Weak hand
Than try a different caliber that you can do it with. No shame in that. Everyone has different: eyesight, hand strength, coordination, etc.
Me? I will carry the most powerful calibers I can do that with. Right now I can still do it with 357 magnum as video demonstrated. One day in the future maybe not.
Rule #1 will always be: have a gun however.
Last edited:
IrishFritz
Member
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2020
- Messages
- 130
- Reaction score
- 257
In my opinion:
(1) K frame 357 Smith's are not that fragile. The impulse pressure curve of full house 125 grain loads is assumed to be the cause of the forcing cone failures. I believe that issue is still not fully understood. However, other grain weights are presumed to be safe at magnum velocities.
(2) 2 1/2 " is not a lot of volume in which to burn powder so the utilization of faster burning powders should help minimize muzzle flash. Speer at least produces a 135 grain load for "short barrel" guns.
(3) Muzzle report is best managed by effective hearing protection.
(4) Recoil can be managed by good shooting technique and properly designed and fitted grips that fit the shooters hand.
(5) the object of self-defense is to immobilize your opponent so they cannot hurt you. This can only be accomplished by maximum energy dump to the CNS or a major blood vessel. More energy and well designed bullets are always better! Why carry a 38 special when 357 can give you more of what you need?l
(5) Train with what you carry and carry the most powerful handgun that you can conceal and manage.
(6) My opinion and $2.50 will buy a cup of coffee almost anywhere.
(1) K frame 357 Smith's are not that fragile. The impulse pressure curve of full house 125 grain loads is assumed to be the cause of the forcing cone failures. I believe that issue is still not fully understood. However, other grain weights are presumed to be safe at magnum velocities.
(2) 2 1/2 " is not a lot of volume in which to burn powder so the utilization of faster burning powders should help minimize muzzle flash. Speer at least produces a 135 grain load for "short barrel" guns.
(3) Muzzle report is best managed by effective hearing protection.
(4) Recoil can be managed by good shooting technique and properly designed and fitted grips that fit the shooters hand.
(5) the object of self-defense is to immobilize your opponent so they cannot hurt you. This can only be accomplished by maximum energy dump to the CNS or a major blood vessel. More energy and well designed bullets are always better! Why carry a 38 special when 357 can give you more of what you need?l
(5) Train with what you carry and carry the most powerful handgun that you can conceal and manage.
(6) My opinion and $2.50 will buy a cup of coffee almost anywhere.
Last edited:
hannstv
Member
Ballistics by the inch.com is a good place to compare velocity from one barrel length to another.
Bill In Texas
Member
My go to .357 mag carry round for my j frames and my 3" and snubby k frames is the Speer 135 grain Gold Dots Short Barrel version. I really like this round for personal defense.
Low flash, and the recoil is very manageable. I know the ballistics do not necessarily measure up to a true .357 mag round, but I think that the positives outweigh the negatives. It gives just a little more velocity than a .38 Special round without the flash and muzzle flip of magnum round especially in a short barreled, light revolver.
I know it's darn near impossible to find, but I stock up every time it's available.
Low flash, and the recoil is very manageable. I know the ballistics do not necessarily measure up to a true .357 mag round, but I think that the positives outweigh the negatives. It gives just a little more velocity than a .38 Special round without the flash and muzzle flip of magnum round especially in a short barreled, light revolver.
I know it's darn near impossible to find, but I stock up every time it's available.
Biggfoot44
Member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2013
- Messages
- 2,060
- Reaction score
- 1,596
I'll partially agree , and partially disagree .
From a Medium Frame 2.5- 3 inch .357 , full power .357 is certainly far from impossible . Sure , you can tell something just went off , but if your skill level and state of practice is sufficient to control those loads in the coresponding 4 inch gun , the 2.5 inch ie only incrementally more challenging . ( If you do comparison , and prefer to use a 110gr or mid level 125 , that's also valid) .
OTOH , even in the days when I practiced religiously , and at the top of my game , a .38+P 158gr in an Airweight J frame was the extreme ragged edge or rapid control ( and level of hand pain) for me . ( And at the the I also did 180gr .44mag from a snub , more pleasantly than the 158 in Airweight) .Thank you , I'll pass on .357 J frame . M940 is my desired upper level for actual J frame .
* For Me * , the crossover point is a Ruger SP-101 being smallest practical revolver for full power .357 .
From a Medium Frame 2.5- 3 inch .357 , full power .357 is certainly far from impossible . Sure , you can tell something just went off , but if your skill level and state of practice is sufficient to control those loads in the coresponding 4 inch gun , the 2.5 inch ie only incrementally more challenging . ( If you do comparison , and prefer to use a 110gr or mid level 125 , that's also valid) .
OTOH , even in the days when I practiced religiously , and at the top of my game , a .38+P 158gr in an Airweight J frame was the extreme ragged edge or rapid control ( and level of hand pain) for me . ( And at the the I also did 180gr .44mag from a snub , more pleasantly than the 158 in Airweight) .Thank you , I'll pass on .357 J frame . M940 is my desired upper level for actual J frame .
* For Me * , the crossover point is a Ruger SP-101 being smallest practical revolver for full power .357 .
Transamconvert
Member
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2020
- Messages
- 109
- Reaction score
- 118
I like mid power .357 loads in the K frame size snubs. 135 Gold Dot going 1150-1200 FPS. As mentioned above, about 8.7 of power pistol will do this, as will about 8.0 of BE86 with less flash and noise. This is well above the performance of .38+P and I can put them on target better and faster than 38+P gold dots from my J frame. This was a big driver in my generally switching from carrying a J to a K.
I carry the Hornady 125 grain Critical Duty in my 340 PD . . .
Not my circus, but I doubt S&W has M19 replacement barrels any more
in the late 1970s, I qualified every 6 months with a 2.5 Model 66-1 using various full house 357 158 grain loads with no problems. At the 2 year mark, I dropped down to the 158 gr lead SWCHP in 38+P. There were 4 reasons for my change: 1. The 38 ammo was free. 2. The shorter case ejected and reloaded smoother & faster. 3. Follow up shots with 38s cut my time on each stage with the same or better grouping. 4. The same round fit both my primary duty K frame and J frame BUG.
Ammo in those days was much cheaper but my income was way less. I practiced with what I carried a lot. I served a lot of high risk warrants and dealt with some serious felons in other ways in those days. At 69, my muscle memory is still there but my reflexes aren't as good. I don't think I could do as well with the full house magnums but that 38+P load is still my friend.
Ammo in those days was much cheaper but my income was way less. I practiced with what I carried a lot. I served a lot of high risk warrants and dealt with some serious felons in other ways in those days. At 69, my muscle memory is still there but my reflexes aren't as good. I don't think I could do as well with the full house magnums but that 38+P load is still my friend.
Last edited:
I am certain that they do not have replacements . . . TODAY
However, we have no idea if that occurred Today or 30+ years ago
When Smith & Wesson stops keeping inventory of parts for older guns, all those left over parts are sold off to places like Numerich or Jack First.
On top of that you have the auction sights like eBay and GunBroker
If we spent an afternoon working all the sources I bet we could come up with at least 3 or 4 replacement barrels
I have had to change barrels for folks due to squibs as well as cracked forcing cones and other issues. All on Smith & Wesson revolvers that were manufactured over the last 1/2 century. I have always been able to source a replacement barrel
Last edited:
Having fired hundreds of rounds of full power 110 and 125 grain 357 Magnum through my S&W 640-1, I can honestly say that I really appreciate the Speer Gold Dot 135 grain 38 Special +P Short Barrel ammo. Less flash, less bang, a lot less recoil.
Last edited:
While it's true that the 110-125 JHPs do seem to be hard on forcing cones, replacing a barrel isn't that big a job for anyone with decent skills and a couple special tools.
I had to do one a couple years back as a result of someone firing a second round into a squib and bulging the barrel. Annoying and detracts from the collector value of the revolver, but far cheaper than buying another gun.
I do back off the throttle on those lighter bullets a bit when reloading for the K-frame just out of respect for the forcing cone.
Similar threads
