6ForSure
Member
Hello, I just bought a new to me 360J. I've read all the posts here, but would like to know if there's any new info on this gun. Seems there's a lot of speculation about this...? The date on the fired case pouch is 8/08.
360J ?
- Thread starter 6ForSure
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Are you referring to the 360J with product code# 160360? What info are you looking for?
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HarrishMasher
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the 360J is a Talo special edition. As opposed to the 360PD which has a scandium frame and a titanium cylinder, the 360J has a scandium frame and a steel cylinder. So it is about 3 ozs heavier than the 360PD and a less expensive. The 360J goes for $500 to $600 in excellent condition.
HarrishMasher
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I agree with you on the exposed hammer. The closest comparable shrouded hammer model would be the M&P340. Scandium Frame with a Steel Cylinder. Weighs exactly the same 13.5 ozs. The M&P also has much better sights (XS front Night Sight and a deep grooved U Notch rear sight...best sights setup on any J Frame ever!). The excellent sights on my M&P340 enable me to shoot this gun very accurately, much more so than my other J frames:
You say the gun is fragile??? That is a baseless comment. J Frames are very durable guns. I know of several examples that have over 10,000 roiunds through them and they look and function like new. The 360J is no more or less durable than any other J Frame.
I also disagree about the 357 issue. My M&P 340 is actually not bad at all with 357s. I was quite surprised, because my 11.5 oz 360PD really hurt to shoot 357s. It seems the 2 ozs really makes a difference. It could also be the excellent Ahrends Grips I have on my that fit my hand perfectly.
OP if you are interested in a lightweight 357 J Frame I would highly recommend the M&P340, it trumps all of the other lightweight 357 Js (340PD, 360PD, 360J) because of it's excellent sights. They make a world of difference. I own a 360PD, 342PD, 432PD and several other Js and I cannot put up groups like the one above with any of the others. It is the sights. And they are only available on the M&P340. It is not just the front sight, it is the deeply cut rear groove U Notch sight too. I don't think a gunsmith can cut your frame to replicate it.
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It really would be a nightmare to shoot with full power .357 mags loads as the 360j is .38 special only.
FWIW, my initial comment was more in jest as the OP didn't specify what information he was looking for. I'm a huge fan of j-frame's and they are are the only revolvers that I feel are still relevant aside from those used for hunting.
I owned no-lock 340 M&P when they first came out and it cost a small fortune. The finish was easily scratched and it just didn't seem solidly built to me. Internet searches turned up quite a few issues with the 2 piece barrels on these particular guns. .357 magnum is doable, but I never witnessed anyone enjoying firing full loads in mine.
I absolutely hated the night sights after drawing the gun in a darkened room in response to what we thought was a break-in. I was actually backlit and found the night sights terribly distracting as I tried to see in the blackness. I sold it not long after that. These are close quarter guns self-defense and you would probably be just as well off without any sights at all WILSON DEFENSE JOURNAL: Sights-What and Why? Gabe Suarez and Rob Pincus
Civilian self-defense scenarios occur at extremely close distances, so not only are sights not usually much of a factor, but nor is the ability to fire single action either. With an exposed hammer/single action, you increase liability by allowing accusations that you cocked it if fired in self-defense. You can't fire without a high probability of the hammer snagging and the revolver jamming if entangled in clothing, fired from jacket pocket and the gun is much easier to be tied up in a close quarter grappling entanglement scenario. Even firing from retention could be an issue plus you can't take the high hand grasp you can with the centennial models. Maybe some will say none of that matters to them, but I don't know why anyone would choose a J-frame as a plinking or target gun.
I owned no-lock 340 M&P when they first came out and it cost a small fortune. The finish was easily scratched and it just didn't seem solidly built to me. Internet searches turned up quite a few issues with the 2 piece barrels on these particular guns. .357 magnum is doable, but I never witnessed anyone enjoying firing full loads in mine.
I absolutely hated the night sights after drawing the gun in a darkened room in response to what we thought was a break-in. I was actually backlit and found the night sights terribly distracting as I tried to see in the blackness. I sold it not long after that. These are close quarter guns self-defense and you would probably be just as well off without any sights at all WILSON DEFENSE JOURNAL: Sights-What and Why? Gabe Suarez and Rob Pincus
Civilian self-defense scenarios occur at extremely close distances, so not only are sights not usually much of a factor, but nor is the ability to fire single action either. With an exposed hammer/single action, you increase liability by allowing accusations that you cocked it if fired in self-defense. You can't fire without a high probability of the hammer snagging and the revolver jamming if entangled in clothing, fired from jacket pocket and the gun is much easier to be tied up in a close quarter grappling entanglement scenario. Even firing from retention could be an issue plus you can't take the high hand grasp you can with the centennial models. Maybe some will say none of that matters to them, but I don't know why anyone would choose a J-frame as a plinking or target gun.
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HarrishMasher
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It seems you have more of a problem with Night Sights and sights in general than the M&P 340 itself.
What you are reporting here is one perspective on shooting from a couple of heavily exposed authorities. it is a perspective, not one I share. I have night sights on almost all of my guns and i train with them and absolutely love them. I also train to use my sights. I can, in fact, shoot fairly well without them, but I have trained to shoot with them and find I am more proficient with sights. Just a matter of training and preference.
Kernel Crittenden
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
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MrTrolleyguy
US Veteran
Mine is a sweet heart
I have an early 360J with product code# 160360.
And all the problems have been removed.
My baby is 38 Spl only so she is less snappy than the 357 magnum version.
The internal lock has been removed and plugged.
Her hammer has been down sized perfectly so she is usable and less likely to snag on clothing.
The trigger worked and a Apex trigger installed.
The front sight were removed and replaced with the large Xcess Big Dot.
This is the gun Smith should have produced.
All this and I did not have to do (or pay for) the wonderful modifications.
ps: Thanks Jim, you're the best.
I have an early 360J with product code# 160360.
And all the problems have been removed.
My baby is 38 Spl only so she is less snappy than the 357 magnum version.
The internal lock has been removed and plugged.
Her hammer has been down sized perfectly so she is usable and less likely to snag on clothing.
The trigger worked and a Apex trigger installed.
The front sight were removed and replaced with the large Xcess Big Dot.
This is the gun Smith should have produced.
All this and I did not have to do (or pay for) the wonderful modifications.
ps: Thanks Jim, you're the best.
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MrTrolleyguy
US Veteran
To be honest I don't know.
360J mfd. date
Do you have the fired case envelope for that gun?
Why do you think it's an early production gun?
I'd have to check but I believe your cardboard box is like the one that came with my son's 360J, that he bought new about two years ago. (I remember laughing that it didn't come in a blue plastic box.)
Your grips are the later style that was put on those guns, as well as Night Guards. I have a 329NG, sn# CRWxxxx, which was made 09/2011 & has that style grip. (see pic below)
Your box's label has "2200" (spec order#) on it which would be July 18, 2012, if my assumptions are correct.
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MrTrolleyguy said:
Do you have the fired case envelope for that gun?
Why do you think it's an early production gun?
I'd have to check but I believe your cardboard box is like the one that came with my son's 360J, that he bought new about two years ago. (I remember laughing that it didn't come in a blue plastic box.)
Your grips are the later style that was put on those guns, as well as Night Guards. I have a 329NG, sn# CRWxxxx, which was made 09/2011 & has that style grip. (see pic below)
Your box's label has "2200" (spec order#) on it which would be July 18, 2012, if my assumptions are correct.
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MrTrolleyguy
US Veteran
BLUEDOT37 are you trying to confuse me? You are doing a good job.
And speaking of jobs, why are you up at 3 AM? I have an excuse. I am retired and not tired. If that makes any sense.
And speaking of jobs, why are you up at 3 AM? I have an excuse. I am retired and not tired. If that makes any sense.
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