Best +P Carry Round For The 340PD?

[Alk8944]

For those who regularly carry/shoot a 340PD what is your +P carry round (not interested in .357)? I want to make sure to avoid anything that will jump crimp.

Best +P Carry Round is exactly the same for the Model 340 as it is for ANY .38 special revolver, model has absolutely nothing to do with it! I do not understand why so many continually post this same question, nearly every day, the answer never changes, there is no best!

If you do a search for what most people carry/prefer you will find it seems to always be the 158 Gr. LSWCHP, the classic FBI load!

 

[GoDevil Man]

Buffalo Bore 158 grain fbi load. Try both the +p and standard.

 

[Old cop]

Best +P Carry Round is exactly the same for the Model 340 as it is for ANY .38 special revolver, model has absolutely nothing to do with it! I do not understand why so many continually post this same question, nearly every day, the answer never changes, there is no best!

If you do a search for what most people carry/prefer you will find it seems to always be the 158 Gr. LSWCHP, the classic FBI load!

I used the FBI load during my career so I know it works, but was not aware the Q was asked that often here. I’d read this round would jump crimp in these ultra light revolvers so that’s the basis for my post.

 

[John_M52]

With over 7,000 Remington 357 Magnums sent downrange, my 340 has never jumped a crimp either. My 340 has never seen a round of 38 fired in it.

However if I were to restrict my self to 38 Special ammunition it would be the 125 JHP Winchester +P loading

I have a 340PD in my kitchen drawer. Fired it a few times. 7,000 rounds of 357 mag in a 340? You must have hands of steel!

 

[Mainsail]

I have Buffalo Bore's lower recoil .357 Magnum in my 3" K6S

Tactical Short Barrel Lower Recoil Low Flash 357 Mag Pistol & Handgun Ammunition

 

[safearm]

I'm another fan of the 158 grain LSWCHP+P. I have an older box of the Federal Nyclad version and that's what I carry in my 442.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I p/u a 50 round box of Remington HTP 110 grain +P recently. Anyone know anything about this as it relates to the 340PD?

The 110 JHP +P in a 38 snub nose is the minimum SD load.

The Win. and Rem. folders are good but...........
I have found out in my 2" J frame that they NEED at least 950fps
to maybe open up, expand and penetrate to at least 10"........
and some will plug or be under fps and penetrate over 18" !!

Put 2 into 4-5 gallon water jugs and see how they do.

I would trust the all copper 110 JHP over the old style folders.

The Rem 125 GS is my minimum 2" SD load, only if I don't have a heavier weight JHP or a "FBI" from one of the major companies.

 

[Cal44]

Buffalo bore has a 125 gr. 38 sp +p Jhp load.

Looks good on the BB site.

Haven't seen any gel tests, tho.

 

[bbgun]

the warning on my 340pd says no less than 120 gr. bullet, i ignored & eroded the cylinder face.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

In all my .38 Special guns I have traditionally carried the hot Winchester full lead 125 grain HP round that was popular 30 years ago . Winchester no longer makes it and I only have 6 of those left so I am now working with the 135 grain Speer GDHP with a stout load of Hodgdon Longshot. Works well in my Colt Cobra . Have had no issue with bullets jumping crimp.

 

[sipowicz]

Gold dots are standard issue in LASD and NYPD.

Check out YouTube for some ballistic tests. Expands pretty well.

 

[Biggfoot44]

Well at one time certain lots of 158 LHP would jump crimp , but undoubtedly since ultra lightweight revolvers have been so popular , the mfgs are on top of it . If 158 LHP were my choice , I'd just be sure to test the particular ammo .

Other than that minor caveat , it comes down to your prefered 2 inch ammo generally .

The variable with ultra lightweight revolvers is recoil , and how well you can control in your gun , in your hands , with your prefered grips , shooting with one hand .

And yes , the various moderate loaded .357 can have similar or less recoil than 148 +P .

Yes , in theory , .38 Spl fired in .357 chambers will have slightly less velocity than from a .38 Spl chamber , * All other dimensions being exactly the same * . But the gun to gun variations of " identical " guns is greater magnitude , so take that with a grain of salt , until you actually chronograph specific guns .

Do I feel the need for a .357 chambered J frame ? Nope . If I wished a small .357 , my personal floor would be an SP101 , which is just on the right side of being usable with full power .357 .

However , if somehow the Tooth Fairy gave me a free J Frame .357 , I would also test drive reduced .357 loads .

 

[Biggfoot44]

As I referred earlier in the thread , I have chrono'ed the same ammo from same bbl lengths , both actual .38 Special and .357 chambers , and it can come out either way . Lots of factors influence velocity from specific individual guns , and the extra 1/10 in freebore is just one factor .

But particularly since I'm advocating in favor of .38 spl in this thread , I'll conceed both that generally if I am required to use only .38spl , I'd rather have .38 chambers , and that I have no desire for a .357 J Frame .