Defense loads for 340PD - Lite weight

[lshel]

Which is the better defense load in my 357 mag. snub nose lite weight:

Speer Gold Dot 135g 38Spec P+
Speer Gold Dot 135g 357 Mag

The barrel/manual states not to use less than 120g bullet.

thanks

 

[Sully]

Which is the better defense load in my 357 mag. snub nose lite weight:

Speer Gold Dot 135g 38Spec P+
Speer Gold Dot 135g 357 Mag

The barrel/manual states not to use less than 120g bullet.

thanks

Me personally...Id use the .357 rounds because here..where I am...a box of 25 38+P's cost almost the same identical price as a box of 50 .357 ammo. I had to look at them for a full 5 minutes to try and understand THAT reasoning..and finally gave up and bought a box of 25-125 gr Hornady .357.

 

[coach22]

When I got my 340 PD, I called S&W regarding the minimum 120 grain bullet weight and was told by 2 different people that the minimum weight applies to 357 ammo only. They said I could use any weight 38. I shot both Speer SB's (38 +P & 357), Corbon DPX 110 38 +P and Federal "Reduced Recoil" 357.
The Federal is a full power load and shame on them for calling it "Reduced Recoil". Of all those, I shot the best with the DPX and follow up shots were the fastest with those too. I was going to go with Buffalo Bore Standard Pressure 158's, but read a bunch of stuff that Scandium guns don't like lead too much. So I spoke to the head guy at BB and he suggested the 125 +P which is jacketed. That's what is in my PD. If I couldn't get those, it would be the DPX +P 38.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Which is the better defense load in my 357 mag. snub nose lite weight:

Speer Gold Dot 135g 38Spec P+
Speer Gold Dot 135g 357 Mag

The barrel/manual states not to use less than 120g bullet.

thanks

Both rounds use the same exact 135gr bullet. The .38 Special +P round is rated @860 fps and the .357 Magnum round is rated @990 fps. With a velocity of only 990 fps it's hardly a Magnum at all but it says Magnum on the box which makes shooters who spent all that money on a ultra-light Magnum revolver happy.

I suggest shooting both and see which you can shoot most accurately. If you can shoot the Magnum carry that. If you feel follow-up shots would be too difficult with the Magnum ammo shoot the .38 Special +P ammo. The choice is really up to which you and your revolver shoot best.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I've shot them both in a 23oz S&W M640 and it's hard to tell which is which but that's in a heavier revolver than a 12oz M340. At less than half the weight I'm sure even that small difference in velocity can be noticed. BTW, the Speer SB .357 Magnum ammo was developed with the S&W Aitlite revolver in mind. (12oz .357 Magnum J frame)

 

[147_Grain]

Sticking with 38 Special STANDARD PRESSURE in lightweight snubnose revolvers has provided the best combination of accuracy, recoil control, and follow-up shots in my two snubnose revolvers (S&W 637-CT and Ruger LCR). I recommend the following standard pressure loads for consideration (that penetrate as well as many 357 Mag loads from a 2" snubnose with significantly less recoil):


Buffalo Bore Short Barrel:
** 158-gr. Standard Pressure Lead Semi-Wadcutter HP (20C) @ 854 fps in 2” barrel. Less recoil & similar velocity as Speer’s 135-gr. Gold Dot @ 860 fps.

Buffalo Bore Short Barrel Low Flash 158-gr. FBI Load

* 150-gr. Standard Pressure Hardcast Wadcutter (20D) @ 868 fps in 2” barrel.

Buffalo Bore Short Barrel 150-gr. Hardcast Wadcutter

Note: For some situations, a low-velocity hardcast wadcutter load may be preferred in a snubnose because it permanently cuts through flesh and bone, rather than temporarily just pushing it aside as FMJ does. Many 38 Special HP’s are not good penetrators, but the FBI load and hardcast wadcutters are!
___________________________

Other good choices are:

Double Tap:
** 110-gr. +P Barnes Tac-XP Copper Jacketed HP @ 1,125 fps in 1.875” barrel.
Double Tap 110-gr. +P Barnes Tac-XP

* 158-gr. +P Hardcast Semi-Wadcutter @ 900 fps in 1.875” barrel.
Double Tap 158-gr. +P Hardcast wadcutter

Corbon – Dakota Ammo:
** 110-gr. +P DPX [Barnes XPB] Copper HP (DPX38110-20)
See also: 38 Special: Hornady FTX vs. Speer 135-gr. Short Barrel vs. CorBon 110-gr. DPX

Speer Short Barrel Gold Dot:
* 135-gr. +P Gold Dot HP (23921) @ 860 fps. See also: Speer Short Barrel Ammo Website
Performance Tests of Speer Short Barrel 135-gr. +P
38 Special: Hornady FTX vs. Speer 135-gr. Short Barrel Gold Dot vs. CorBon 110-gr. DPX


Winchester Supreme Elite: Civilian version of bonded Ranger T
* 130-gr. +P Bonded PDX1 (S38PDB) @ 950 fps / 835 fps actual in snubnose

Winchester 130-gr. +P Bonded PDX1

Winchester White Box USA Brand: Low-Budget Load at Walmart – When That’s All You Can Find!
150-gr. Lead Round Nose (Q4196) @ 845 fps
130-gr. FMJ (Q4171) @ 800 fps

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Currently my J frame is loaded with Speer 135gr Gold Dot SB ammo but I switch off between it and the FBI Load. I like both and I carry either.

I like the 158gr LSWC/HP .38 Special +P best BUT, this J frame shoots the Speer load better so that's what I carry in this revolver. (S&W M642)

 

[147_Grain]

My two short barrel 38 Specials shoot the 158-gr. FBI load to Point of Aim at 21'. Speers 135-gr. load is about 3" lower.

 

[38-44HD45]

My 340PD stays loaded with the Short Barrel 135gr. .357 load. Easy to shoot, shoots exactly to the sights, 100fps.+ more than the .38 load with the same bullet. The other load I sometimes use in ultra-light snubbies is the Remington Golden Saber 125gr. .357 load.

 

[M29since14]

Can't answer your question about the two loads mentioned but agree with 38-44HD45 on the Remington .357 GS 125-gr.

I have tried a very few of these and found the recoil the most tolerable of all .357s so far. Not fun, but "almost not painful."

I really prefer the Winchester STHP. I am just a little leery of bullets that light in .357s.

I have also heard shooters had bullet-pull problems with the GS rounds in 340PDs, but I have never seen it - just read it. Contrarily, I have never read about anyone having bullet-pull issues with the Win. STHPs.

Nothing is going to make a 340PD pleasant to shoot, but in every case my ability to tolerate the round is directly proportional to bullet weight. Anything heavier than the Winchester round is persona non grata, as far as I am concerned.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I only use 145gr Winchester STHP ammo in my M640 now. It shoots extremely well in that revolver and is more accurate than I thought I could shoot. That combination just works for my and that revolver. I DO NOT think I would want to shoot that ammo in a 12oz revolver.

 

[147_Grain]

In Summary:

With ammo, the important thing here is to choose a load in your snubnose that penetrates deeply and is controllable for quick follow-up shots.

All of the above loads will get the job done! Recommendations of various loads can fine-tune things a bit and put a few more odds in your favor, but the biggest gain will be from:

1. Using your head.
2. Weapon familiarity at the range.
3. Shot placement into the upper Thoracic / Sniper's Triangle area.

 

[lshel]

Thanks very much for everyone's comments.
I plan on trying some of those suggested different bullets. I bought a box of Remington Golden Saber in 125g 357mag.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Thanks very much for everyone's comments.
I plan on trying some of those suggested different bullets. I bought a box of Remington Golden Sabre in 135g 357mag.

If the ammo is Remington it's probably 125gr .357 Magnum. (but I'm sure it's just a typo)

I use Remington Golden Saber ammo in my 1911 .45 Auto.

 

[Roboto]

I've shot them both in a 23oz S&W M640 and it's hard to tell which is which but that's in a heavier revolver than a 12oz M340. At less than half the weight I'm sure even that small difference in velocity can be noticed. BTW, the Speer SB .357 Magnum ammo was developed with the S&W Aitlite revolver in mind. (12oz .357 Magnum J frame)

Where did you hear that the Speer SB 357 load was made for the S&W Airlite snubbies?

 

[P&R Fan]

My 340PD, which lives constantly in my off side front pocket is loaded with Federal 125 Grn JHP .357s. I can't always find them in stores, but a dealer who is always at my local shows carries them, so I buy a few boxes every time. (At a buck a round).
If I was going to shoot .38s, either Std pressure or +Ps, I wouldn't have spent over $700 for the 340PD. My 642 cost around $400 and is only about 3 oz. heavier. I bought the 340PD to shoot magnums in it, and that's about all I've ever put through it.

 

[dinooch]

Remington 125gr medium velocity is my favorite followed by the GS 125gr which is also a mid load. I agree with not carrying .38's in a 340 that why I have a 442.

 

[coach22]

While I admire those who can shoot 357's out of their 340PD's, I shoot BB 125 +P's in mine.
My 640 (38) is loaded with BB 158 +P's, which are pretty close to a 357 out of a 2 inch. But for me, it's the weight.
I have a 442 and I can certainly feel the difference in my pocket of that versus the 340 PD.
Different strokes for different folks, as the man said.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Where did you hear that the Speer SB 357 load was made for the S&W Airlite snubbies?

I'm sorry, I don't remember where I read that. I know for a fact their 135gr SB .38 Special +P ammo was designed specifically for short barrel revolvers. The Speer reps were at the NY City Police Dept. trying to sell their 9mm ammo for the department. A few of the "old timers" who were still carrying a J frame as a BUG asked them where the .38 Special ammo was for them to use. Six months later Speer brought their 135gr .38 Special Short Barrel ammo in for testing by the NYPD. The SB .357 ammo was a natural followup for the 12oz revolvers.

 

[147_Grain]

In addition to the 135-gr. bullet being designed to expand at lower snubnose velocities, Speer also uses faster burning powders in their SB loads, which have very snappy recoil.

While I like this load for SD, I prefer the lower recoiling Buffalo Bore (BB) standard pressure load in 158-gr., which has a similar velocity (in my two snubnoses) as the Speer SB.

I chose the BB load because 158-gr. projectile can do more damage than a 135-gr. can and BB does it with less recoil. See my earlier post #7 for more info. This FBI load also shoots to POA, while Speer's SB is about 3" lower.