Atomic J frame

[CO_Kid]

I guess it depends on the person.

If I carry a 357, it's in my 4 inch model 619.

If I carry a 38, it's in my 442.

I do have a buddy however who has a M&P340 (I think?), and shoots it regularly. He says the recoil doesn't affect him much. Only person I know who is like that though, but they are out there.

 

[Wee Hooker]

I guess it depends on the person.

If I carry a 357, it's in my 4 inch model 619.

If I carry a 38, it's in my 642.

I do have a buddy however who has a M&P340 (I think?), and shoots it regularly. He says the recoil doesn't affect him much. Only person I know who is like that though, but they are out there.

I bought my 360PD used with 48 rounds of .357 for $500 . Two rounds of 357 was all it took for the first owner to hate it. I've been in love with it since but only shoot/ carry 38's.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Is it possible to become proficient with full house .357 loads, in short barrel J frames?

And If this is a possibility, would the ballistics achieved be significantly superior enough to justify the major increase in recoil/muzzle jump/blast/etc?

Could this setup be tamed enough through practice to become a viable, compact setup with extreme power?

Anything is possible, but it is not to my liking. To be fair, I did not like the 9mm in the all steel 940, but perhaps, as the man said, "I have tender hands."

Maybe I am just like the Grinch who stole Christmas, but I do not see the need for a Magnum J frame, and I find the additional cost of the scandium to be put to better use buying ammo.

 

[mauiblue]

A few months ago I considered a Model 649 because I wanted the option of shooting .38 spl and magnum ammo but after starting a thread a while ago and much thought I'm glad I ended up with a Model 638. I know I would never regularly shoot magnum rounds through a J frame. It is not worth the pain and suffering. I rather just use my Model 686 Plus 4" if I'm going to use magnum rounds.

Sent from my DROID RAZR MAXX using Tapatalk 2

 

[A10]

I know I am a little late to the party, but I think I have a good suggestion. Get yourself a scandium frame .357 Jframe with the titanium cylinder (shamefully, I can't remember the model number, 340PD perhaps??). Load it with the stoutest loads you can find (Buffalo Bore makes some good candidates). DO NOT PRACTICE WITH IT! If you are ever accosted, throw it at the bad guy. Hopefully he will pick it up and shoot at you, causing great damage to himself and giving you the opportunity to run like hell when he is blinded by the muzzle flash!

Just my .02.....btw my EDC is a 442 with 125 grain +Ps. It bites a bit....

 

[mbliss57]

Yes
yes
yes but you need a steel framed J with proper stocks. Wrap around for sure.
I sold my 340PD due to recoil. It was more than abusive even in +P. Any "Airweight" is unacceptable to shoot 357s IMO. You can't control it.
I bought the 640 pro and a 649-3. But have a report that can wake the dead but they are as accurate from 8- 20 feet as when I used .38 spl.
Wrap around grips that cover the back strap are key. I use SW wood combats on the 640 pro. I usually carry 1 or 2 +P round and 3 or 4 357 mags. I have plenty of shooting time and lots of confidence with this set up

 

[David LaPell]

I have never had or shot a .357 J frame but I have run some pretty stout loads through my 649 in +P and the recoil from that to me is fine, but I like shooting hard kickers and have gotten pretty good with them, but I don't think you will be getting much more of a benefit unless you do practice a lot. I would also recommend a steel framed gun (I hardly notice mine even in my pocket) if you do get a .357 but the .38 +P is a ***** cat in my little gun. One thing to think about too is your choice of grips. If you get something like a .357 J frame you are probably going to want rubber grips, for concealability the Hogue Bantam boot grips do a good job and you can still sneak them into a pocket.

 

[old&slow]

Answers to your questions:

1. Yes.
2. Yes.
3. Yes.

And a fourth that you did not ask: Do I NEED .357 to be well defended? No.

I agree both Pisgah & Old Cop. I have a M-60 2" and after about two cylinders of full blown .357 I don't want to play anymore. I practice mostly with .38 +P velocity reloads and a few full blown .357 to know the difference. And I carry .357's in it .
I don't shoot the M60 every week, but I practice / shoot at a local club and / or in shooting matches with a handgun of some sort every week probably 8 months out of the year.

So, is a .357 J frame a beginners' gun, NO.
My suggestion would be practice ,,practice ,, and more practice with a .38. When you can control the recoil on that and can dot the eyes at 25 yds., double action ,, and feel you want to go with a .357 . go for it..

Do you need the power of a .357, NO.
Hit a deer in the tail with an elephant gun and he'll run off. Hit a deer behind the ear with a .22 and he'll drop like a rock..

Also I prefer my all steel 60 over my 642. Not that much difference to carry on a belt holster. With .38's it's just fun to shoot. Plus I just like the feel better... ( but the 642 is a very nice firearm also)

 

[FloridaFlier]

In response to the OP: I practice the most with the guns that I enjoy shooting. J-frames are tough to shoot really well, and become an enjoyable challenge to me. In .357, the fun factor goes way down. In any J-frame that is not steel, the fun factor drops to below zero with the magnums. If you have to try it, get a heavy, all steel Model 649. For the range, softer grips and shooters gloves might be a good idea at least initial efforts too. Start light, and work up.
Also, I don't know your shooting history, but you should recognize that you're trying to gain proficiency on a difficult gun to shoot well. If you are a new shooter, you'll gain proficiency and confidence in a heavier gun with a better sight picture and have a better time at the range.
Just one man's opinion. Your mileage may vary.

 

[sgt.207]

I have had a 340pd for about ten years I guess. Yes, it hurts when shooting 357 rounds but with practice it can be done, quickly and with accuracy. I just think the magnum loses to much velocity in the short barrel to justify the recoil. Usually carry 38+p now.

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
I have a 2in Sp101 and 3 in m60 pro.
Once I lost the factory grips and replaced them with Goodyear!!!
things got better.
The grips must fit you unlike larger guns,also you are starting to get
into the real "fighting" handgun power range and this requires a different shooting style. "spray and pray" Aka empty it fast will not be
easy and in most cases not necessary.
What is required is first round on target. " If the first one is good the need for more goes down greatly."
I carried a Glock for years on duty but after shooting some qualifiers
lately discovered that I was depending on the next shot instead of
the one I was sending, so I went back to big revolvers to get my timing
back to " Bang-Hit" ...

 

[vipermd]

MeltMelt: Do you have a j-frame 357 snub- if the answer is yes and it is your only gun, you are strong enough, determined, dedicated yes you can become proficient, you will have to learn to "time" your follow up shots since physics overrides man. If you do not have one and you can get a 38 j frame at a "good price", go that way, use Speer SB GD 135 and hit what you are aiming at. I have multiple 357 mag derringers, snub 357's, snub 44 spc, had 44 mag derringers, I have a few 500 SW, but I like the 4 and 18" rifle the best. Before the last surgery on my elbow I loaded 2, 6 shot 44 mags, and DA'd them simultaneously- I loved it, the smell, light, power, good thing I was having surg in 3 days!! As has been stated eloquently by many other- PLACEMENT,PLACEMENT,PLACEMENT. Be Safe

 

[Nakanokalronin]

I've seen enough tests and data to see no benefit in using .357 magnum over .38spl +P in snub nose revolvers. All you do is get more blast, recoil and slower follow-up shots. Those short barrels are not enough for the 357 magnum to take advantage and do what it needs to do.

 

[Allen-frame]

Is it possible to become proficient with full house .357 loads, in short barrel J frames?

And If this is a possibility, would the ballistics achieved be significantly superior enough to justify the major increase in recoil/muzzle jump/blast/etc?

Could this setup be tamed enough through practice to become a viable, compact setup with extreme power?

33 replies to a poster who poses a question once and never returns.

You guys crack me up sometimes.

" Does the grass in Kantuckee really grow Blue?"

Stay vigilant and educated in 2013.

Allen Frame

 

[raisedin99]

I have posted this link: The Snubnose Files Library in the past and although it does not directly answer the original posters question there may be some information gained that may help all of us in the quest for little gun carry and performance.

Mr Camp passed away nearly 2 years ago, fortunately, someone has had the insight to maintain Mr Camps knowledge by maintaining his website.

terry

 

[USMC586]

I shot 2 357's when I first bought my 340PD.
I opened the cylinder and took the other 3 out.
I chose the 340PD because of the weight.
Not because of the caliber.
Mine is loaded with Corbon DPX 110 +P's.

Careful running anything under 120 grain, you run the risk of cylinder face erosion.

To the OP (if it matters anyway, as stated above), I do run .357 for carry. Yes you can become proficient but is it totally practical? I believe it to be practical for the guns purpose, self-defense and that is where it ends. This is not a gun for IDPA or target practice. I shoot about 75-100 rounds of .357 a year with about another 200 in .38. I practice draw and shoot only. I make sure that I am shooting this beast at the end of a range day, because your wrist is numb after firing it. I equate sending 357 through her to single handedly catching a five pound sledge hammer that was aimed at your head.

I would surmise that if your life is in jeopardy recoil will be of no matter. What does matter is shot placement. I know that I can personally execute a double tap with more than acceptable accuracy, therefore I will use all available horsepower. I bought this J frame for one use only, self-preservation and God forbid I need it; I'm using .357 to save my giant carcass!

 

[Skeptic 9c]

Proper development is the key. Can you do more that 60 proper push-ups in less than one minute? Then the same with a full field pack? Then the same with a full field pack and a pair of medium size dogs, beagles recommended?
Geoff
Who notes some folks can handle recoil better than others.

 

[meltmelt]

33 replies to a poster who poses a question once and never returns.

You guys crack me up sometimes.

" Does the grass in Kantuckee really grow Blue?"

Stay vigilant and educated in 2013.

Allen Frame

Hello again, it's Meltmelt.

Thank you all for your wisdom, and my apologies for leaving you guys hanging. I am not a troll, though I appreciate the assumptions that I must be joking with this post. (It helps me realize how ridiculous the proposition probably is in reality..)

I'm still confused regarding the final consensus of velocity loss out of short barrels, in comparing .357 to .38+p.
When dealing with a 2.125 inch bbl stainless 640 j frame.
Will a full house load merely offer up to a 250fps increase compared to a hot .38+p in the same weapon? it seems there are differing answers on this subject.

I don't mean to be one of those rambo guys, who just wants what's big. I want the best ballistic performance level achievable (with reasonable shoot ability) from a small package, for the sake of minimizing the need for followup shots

However I am fairly proficient in the handling/tolerance of regrettable recoil/muzzle blast in small revolvers..........
How about Buffalo bore 158 Grn Heavy .357 loads?
(I looked into this round as a potential load which could rival the power supplied by .357 from full sized barrels.. But i assume it would prove outright rude in a j frame.
If one could handle it in a j frame, would it achieve standard .357mag 4-6 inch barrel ballistics?


That' being said, I realize a lot about this idea may end up as overkill or outright detrimental to effective shooting....

But at least for the sake of novelty, I think it's time to have a little fun (regret).
Any recommendations for powerful loads to give a whirl out of a stainless 640 Jframe?
grips? gloves? anything else i should know?


Thanks again for all the advice everyone
I plan on heading out soon to test my personal experience of this scenario. sounds like i'm in for quite a lesson...

I'll report back with results and more than likely.... a humble surrender to the .38+p

 

[Hapworth]

33 replies to a poster who poses a question once and never returns.

You guys crack me up sometimes.

Hello again, it's Meltmelt...

Now I'm cracking up...

 

[Infidel_319]

Smae here

I can group inside a paper plate with my 640 Pro at self defense range fairly quickly.
It doesn't feel too good but if it came down to it, that is a crooks heart, lungs and chest cavities.
I don't try to shoot apples with the hot ones, I'll save the marksmanship for .38's

I have a 640 pro and can get 5 rounds off and in a 6" circle pretty darn fast @21 feet. I LOVE that gun. I will be carrying .357 mag 125 grain Speer gold dot hp in it for sure.