357s runnin' through a J frame

[Phoenix357]

Hey Firebird,

I got my M60 .357 w/5" back and she is shooting great.

This is my second revolver and my first J frame. I was a bit hesitant shooting the mag. rounds because of the small grips. But after I shot a box through her, I still didn't have any problems with a stinging palm etc. I could be wrong, but for me, the shape of the grip seems to direct the recoil up and not directly back into my hand. It's not like it wants to jump out of your hand neither, but kinda rolls up and out. At least that's my theory anyway.

This J frame with the 5" barrel is a keeper for me and I plan on keeping the grips just as is.

Thank you Firebird for the reply. Since I didn't have experience with the J frame, your post/logic has given me the confidence to relax and enjoy shooting the rounds I enjoy most.

 

[ENGINE18]

I fired some .357/158s from my 640-1 when I first aquired it. The little gun, equipped with the factory-issued Uncle Mike's Combats, recoiled less that I thought it would, but more than I wanted to handle as a steady diet!

The .38spl 158gr. LHPWC+P loads are much more to my liking fron the 640, almost perfect.

 

[Phoenix357]

I fired some .357/158s from my 640-1 when I first aquired it. The little gun, equipped with the factory-issued Uncle Mike's Combats, recoiled less that I thought it would, but more than I wanted to handle as a steady diet!

The .38spl 158gr. LHPWC+P loads are much more to my liking fron the 640, almost perfect.

Engine do you notice any difference in elevation of your rounds hitting down range when you go between the .38s and .357s?
I never have taken the time to see if there was any difference. I've got her sighted in with Blazer 158 gr. JHPs .357 and one of these days I'll get around to running some .38s.

 

[RHINOWSO]

I like 125gr Speer 357s out of my 640-1, w uncle mikes boot grip. It and 135gr Speer 38+Ps shoot well out of it, 158 gr group a couple inches high.

- Rhino

 

[PALADIN85020]

All of my 5-shot J-frames are .38 specials. Even if I had one chambered in .357, I would not shoot .357 or carry them in one with a 2" barrel. Here's why:

First, the recoil is horrific in such a small gun. That makes repeat shots very difficult. Shot placement is the key, and several shots placed correctly beats a smaller number of high-power shots placed erratically.

Second: ejection. The longer .357 case will not usually fully eject with the short stroke of the 2" gun's extractor rod. That means that to reload, you're gonna have to pluck them out, one by one. The .38s will usually punch free with a sharp stroke on the extractor rod, allowing you a much faster reload.

In truth, hot-loaded or +P .38s will get plenty of power for the job at hand with less recoil and faster reloading. I'm not "settling" for .38s, I'm choosing them for my 2" J-frames.

John

 

[colt_saa]

I purchased a 357 J-frame as soon as they came out. I have several at the moment.

I have around 15-20K of full power 357 Magnum ammunition through them over the last 14 years. Mostly Remington 158JSP since it was available for free until we ran out. None of them have seen a single round of 38 ammunition.

One of my 357 Magnum J-frames has at least 5000 through it. It is just fine.

Until the Job at Hand is upon you, there is no way to know how much power you need. So carry the most power that you can reasonably control.

 

[Engineer Bill]

I picked up a M&P 360 and have been shooting a mix of 357's thru it. It does group good with most that i have tried, though today I did try some Federal 38 special low recoil self defense loads, and they appeared to work well.
Federal Premium Personal Defense Reduced Recoil Ammunition 38 Special 110 Grain Hydra-Shok Jacketed Hollow Point Box of 20

 

[northslope]

I've got a J-Magnum Model 60, and I love it - gotta admit shooting .357's out of it (whether 125 or 158gr) is not pleasant -- not terrible, but the gun is so small (even with factory 'banana' grips) that after 20 rounds it just feels like you're trying to lasso a wild animal with dental floss.

Great guns, though - I read somewhere a few years ago that S&W considers the engineering behind the J-magnum one of its proudest achievements.

--Neill

 

[epj]

For years I carried a Model 60 with a two inch magna-ported barrell and pachmyer grips. I shot a steady diet of 125 grain JHPs without problems. My wife eventually made me sell it. Anybody know what I can get for a used wife?

The last item is readily available, though not necessarily any cheaper than new models.

 

[Sportsterguy]

I fired some .357/158s from my 640-1 when I first aquired it. The little gun, equipped with the factory-issued Uncle Mike's Combats, recoiled less that I thought it would, but more than I wanted to handle as a steady diet!

The .38spl 158gr. LHPWC+P loads are much more to my liking fron the 640, almost perfect.

I recently converted my daily carry weapon to a 3" 60-10 as my Colt Commander was killing my jacked up lower back from the weight. My round of choice is a Hornady XTP in 158 grains or the Speer Gold Dot, same bullet weight. I took the original and beautiful rosewood grips off and replaced em with a set of Uncle Mikes full coverage rubbers. They are the best grips I've ever used for comfortable shooting and with the rear coverage make the revolver point naturally. With the 3" barrel positive ejection of the brass is no problem. If you keep a good grip on the mini 686 it is very easy to get accurate shots off very quickly, but no way is that little bugger seeing a diet of steady .357's. It will shoot loose over time. The J frame just wasn't made for a steady of that round so I would limit my shooting of magnums if you want to keep it in time and tight.

JMO

36-6 and 60-10. My mini 686's and I love em!

 

[InTheWoods]

I shoot 125 grain magnum Golden Sabers through my 3" j-frame. This is a lighter-than-normal .357 load and seems like about the perfect compromise for the little gun. I also have SW closed-back wood combats on the gun, make for a nice hand-filling grip.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

I've got a 337 and shooting 148 grain Fiochi's almost brings tears to my eyes. If I feel the need to shoot a .357, I'm going with my SP101

 

[Maximumbob54]

No .357 J frames out there...

This thread is going to be purely subjective to each person out there...

ME... I don't believe there is such a thing after my experience. I bought a 637 and I love it dearly. I think it is the greatest thing since sliced bread. But I got to thinking on the issue of pocket carry and that hammer might get snagged. Perfect excuse for a new gun, right? I was going to get a 642 and found a sweet deal on a 640 instead. So on the next trip to the range I tried it out with some of the Winchester white box .357 that is labeled for hunting or PD. I had some yellow foamies in my ears and a firm grip on the rubber boot grips. I'm not going to exaggerate and say when I woke up or picked myself up but suffice it to say I don't believe in .357 from a snub nose. It was massive in recoil to the point that the grip took some skin, the noise level left me ringing for the rest of the afternoon, and the flame that came out would likely catch anything too close on fire. Unless it was a one in a million factory double charge I can't see dealing with that ever again. With some Pachmayr Compac's on the grip it is manageable just fine but still with the flamethrower effect and deafening noise. There has to be something said for the short barrel with powder burn lost vs some hot .38 +p instead. But again, this is just my opinion. Others are of course going to say it isn't a problem along with they won't buy them it is such a problem.

 

[JMusic]

This thread is going to be purely subjective to each person out there...

ME... I don't believe there is such a thing after my experience. I bought a 637 and I love it dearly. I think it is the greatest thing since sliced bread. But I got to thinking on the issue of pocket carry and that hammer might get snagged. Perfect excuse for a new gun, right? I was going to get a 642 and found a sweet deal on a 640 instead. So on the next trip to the range I tried it out with some of the Winchester white box .357 that is labeled for hunting or PD. I had some yellow foamies in my ears and a firm grip on the rubber boot grips. I'm not going to exaggerate and say when I woke up or picked myself up but suffice it to say I don't believe in .357 from a snub nose. It was massive in recoil to the point that the grip took some skin, the noise level left me ringing for the rest of the afternoon, and the flame that came out would likely catch anything too close on fire. Unless it was a one in a million factory double charge I can't see dealing with that ever again. With some Pachmayr Compac's on the grip it is manageable just fine but still with the flamethrower effect and deafening noise. There has to be something said for the short barrel with powder burn lost vs some hot .38 +p instead. But again, this is just my opinion. Others are of course going to say it isn't a problem along with they won't buy them it is such a problem.

Boy I can't agree more. I carry a 638 and shoot LE Winchester. I have a stainless 60 3.in. in 357 and it is actually unpleasant to shoot with lead 357.

 

[Sportsterguy]

Double ear protection is required when shooting magnums through these mini hand cannons, or any other revolver if you don't want to lose 40%-60 of your hearing like me. Between lack of double hearing protection when shooting, riding Harleys and flying in helcopters I'm now 60/40 l-r respectively.

My snub 657 with hot 210 grainers draws way more attention than the .357's if I'm at a range. Also find the heavier bullets make for less perceived noise than the light ones.

The only thing good about the hearing loss is that is does come in handy with my wife. I did have to prove it with the results of my last audiogram as she thought I was faking it for years.

JMHO

 

[MajorD]

firebird v8- Do not agree- many 357's are fed steady diets of 38 special last longer are more accurate and cost less. many reasons not to shoot full bore ammo- my jeep is designed to run 4wd but I don't go off road every day. it is kind of the same thing. full power loads for certain applications sure, but target shooting should be about quality of practice and loads that beat you up run counter to this. To only shoot one power level of load thru a revolver you are missing out on one of the great advantages the revolver has- equal reliability with multiple power levels of ammo

 

[Maximumbob54]

I now use triple flange rubber plugs and some ear muffs when shooting ear splitters. And I don't shoot them often anymore. Whip crack ammo is like riding a bike in that I don't think you forget the recoil so much as the pain involved. If you can control it and not fall down then it doesn't feel so bad. Practicing your hand hold is far more important to shooting a potent load accurately that just squeezing and flinching. Rubber takes a lot of flack but I think it helps. IMHO...