First time firing my 360 PD bad experience

[Bobafett]

When I purchased it I asked for 357 for my pistola, I know buffalo bore quality just thought its okay as 140 grain not less than 120 chalk up to experience. Thanks I'll heed your suggestions much needed.

The guy behind the counter should have known better to sell that ammo to you for that gun and I'd bet the guy that opened your seized cylinder broke the extractor star

feel free to exchange 'guy' with idiot or moron

 

[413Maxwedge]

Worst case scenario: S&W does not fix or replace your gun. At least you weren't injured during the failure. God bless.

I understand that you are 74yo and identify as handicapped and don't want the weight of a heavy steel revolver. If you need something small and conceilable I suggest getting a stainless J frame like the 640. It is stronger and while its a little heavier, that extra weight really helps mitigate the recoil (ouch factor). If your condition affects your hand strength then I don't think a light-weight gun is really helping you: it only increases the felt recoil.

I personally like my very light weight M&P 340 because I forget it's in my pocket.... it's that light compared to my steel guns. But BOY does it sting my arthritic knuckles at the range. I had to try many types of grips to find what works for me. J frames are concealment first, comfort second.

Overall, I like scandium framed guns for their light weight. I own two Scandi J's and one Scandi L frame. But aside from some arthritis, I still have decent health.
ALSO overall, I think titanium cylinders suck. You need to be careful about ammo selection, they're prone to difficult ejection issues, and they're more trouble to clean. I replaced the Ti cylinder on my 386PD (.357 scandium L frame) with a SS cylinder and it's a MUCH better gun, in all regards.

Sorry to get off track....
*I recommend any modern steel J frame for you. .38 or .38+P will stop the bad guy without hurting your hand/wrist too bad.
If you need a light weight revolver my wife has a .22LR J frame (43c) and I'd piss my pants and run the other way if she shot at me! Similar light weight to your PD but very low recoil.

 

[cbb]

I would see if S&W will help you. If not, I would return to the shop that sold you the gun and ammo and see if they will take responsibility.

 

[ZephyrR1]

Buffalo Bore may not be over pressure but its pushed to the edge. Some say to the edge, others say sometimes a little over.

It's not something I'd consider shooting out of a scandium j frame.

That's asking a lot of that little gun.

Buffalo Bore may not be over pressure but its pushed to the edge. Some say to the edge, others say sometimes a little over.

It's not something I'd consider shooting out of a scandium j frame.

That's asking a lot of that little gun.

I wasn't planning on making a habit of it. I thought it could take it.

 

[ZephyrR1]

Anything from S&W?

I'm just dealing with this now

 

[ZephyrR1]

Hey, everyone I finally had a chance to go to my workbench where I got a good mirror and light and look at it and I cannot find a crack I will try to take pictures and post and I'm not sure what to do cause the real concern of how I cracked this next round, but I'm not seeing a crack that the third range dude that beat my gun up. I think I'm turning a new direction now is how my 360 got so beat up. Sorry guys, and gals I need to do more research. Thank you.

 

[walkin' trails]

Still surprised to see the extractor star break a pedal. Watching Tim's Buffalo Bore videos on YT a while back, he did a segment on .357 and I seem to recall one of his specimens was a S&W Airlite or scandium. I thought that he had aluded to not shooting magnums thru that type of gun because of recoil, not broken parts.

 

[ZephyrR1]

Still surprised to see the extractor star break a pedal. Watching Tim's Buffalo Bore videos on YT a while back, he did a segment on .357 and I seem to recall one of his species was a S&W Airlite or scandium. I thought that he had aluded to not shooting magnums thru that type of gun because of recoil, not broken parts.

And it sure split the casing now I'm scared to shoot the thing. Do I send it to Smith Wesson or go after the fool that beat up my gun.

 

[walkin' trails]

Send it back to S&W. I'm still surprised the star broke. I've never seen that before.

 

[pwberndt]

My long time EDC, a S&W 342 (Scandium cylinder). I urge you guys carrying lightweight revolvers to consider using BB 150 grain hard cast full wadcutters (their 20D load). From this short barrel the slug is moving at nearly 900 fps and the projectile configuration is "pre-expanded." Please don't carry .357 loads in any of those lightweight five shot revolvers. The results of discharging such a piece with a .357 load is, they are full of sound and fury, signifying nothing! They will also rip your hand to pieces!!

Rich

View attachment 790705

Bingo! I have a 642 Performance Center loaded with wad cutters for EDC. A snubby like this was never meant for long distance and wad cutters will stop someone real quick. I also worry about the bullet going through walls and such, wad cutters are less inclined. These are for up close and personal body stoppers, also fairly accurate at 20 feet. Your hand doesn't ache and you can practice more.

 

[davek42_43130]

Ouch! BB 140 grain in a Scandium framed revolver is purely masochistic! When I had one, I put a few fairly mild factory .357 loads through it, and that was pure hell. I ended up loading some practice .357 rounds that were a little hotter than .38 +P, but still short of the standard factory loads. I still hated shooting it and finally got rid of it.

Yep, when I work in a gun shop. Every time someone asked me about the recoil in the S&W 340/360. With full power 357's
I would tell them it was like hitting a telephone pole with an aluminum ballbat as hard as you can…
I carried 38+p's in mine. Great guns. I think they weigh 12oz.. But you pay for that. But great carry guns.

 

[pwberndt]

I'm also in my 7th decade and carry a 351 PD that has a Crimson Trace laser in my pocket for my daily 4 mile run in the N Idaho forest at daybreak. It's light and has very little recoil. It's amazing how much damage a 22 WMR can do. I have a chest rig that I can put my 686 or 629 MGs in but I seem to always seem to put the 351 PD in my pocket.

View attachment 790744

I'm 77 and now carry a 351C with 22 WMR Federal Punch. I also still carry a 642 loaded with wad cutters, but not near as often as when I was younger.

 

[ZephyrR1]

Send it back to S&W. I'm still surprised the star broke. I've never seen that before.

Yes what about the guy who bashed and scratched it.

 

[ZephyrR1]

Bingo! I have a 642 Performance Center loaded with wad cutters for EDC. A snubby like this was never meant for long distance and wad cutters will stop someone real quick. I also worry about the bullet going through walls and such, wad cutters are less inclined. These are for up close and personal body stoppers, also fairly accurate at 20 feet. Your hand doesn't ache and you can practice more.

Thanks for this information and again I was only testing mine out at the indoor range

 

[ZephyrR1]

I'm 77 and now carry a 351C with 22 WMR Federal Punch. I also still carry a 642 loaded with wad cutters, but not near as often as when I was younger.

My son carries his with the same ammo the thanks

 

[Furrball]

And it sure split the casing now I'm scared to shoot the thing. Do I send it to Smith Wesson or go after the fool that beat up my gun.

Yes what about the guy who bashed and scratched it.

You handed it over to the range master and he did what he had to do to open the Cylinder and make it safe.
He sure was not going to hand it back to you until it was.
Call Smith and Wesson and get a return authorization. You will be very lucky if they repair or replace it.
I would talk to shop that sold you the pistol and ammo. Expect nothing from them.
At some point you have to take Personal Responsibility for This.
You took the Lightest Commercially Available. 357 Revolver and put the Hottest Commercially Available Ammunition in it. That's why there are Warnings on Everything.
And yet you did it.
It is impossible to believe that you are even considering firing that before it is returned to the factory.
This is almost troll level.

 

[ZephyrR1]

You handed it over to the range master and he did what he had to do to open the Cylinder and make it safe.
Call Smith and Wesson and get a return authorization. You will be very lucky if they repair or replace it.
I would talk to shop that sold you the pistol and ammo. Expect nothing from them.
At some point you have to take Personal Responsibility for This.
You took the Lightest Commercially Available. 357 Revolver and put the Hottest Commercially Available Ammunition in it. That's why there are Warnings on Everything.
And yet you did it.
It is impossible to believe that you are even considering firing that before it is returned to the factory.
This is almost troll level.

You might say I was proofing it, I would think And expect 357 is just 357 down the road it's just a 357 to me I'm a person who just wants personal protection. The Pistola says 357 right on my pistol…Thanks for posting I can take the hit and blame. Maybe I'll wait till California has another buy gun grab. I'm scared to shoot it again and I had no intentions to carry 357 only home defense rounds P plus. I'm not an expert only an average guy who purchased 360 PD as I'm handicapped. I do you have a return label, Sorry for the rant.

 

[ZephyrR1]

OK guys. I'll try to post again when I have more information thanks everyone..

 

[Forefinger]

OP, you have had a very unfortunate experience and I hope you have an optimal outcome as you seek a solution.
You have been given some excellent advice in the posts above.

I am on my 74th year and have a 60% VA disability. I also have 360PD and love it as my CCW.

Every firearm has positive and negative attributes and we each need to make the best personal decision on what CCW we select with full knowledge of the positives and negatives.

I shoot my 360PD just enough at the range to maintain some degree of proficiency, and mostly use 38 sp and some mild 357 rounds. A light weight and easy to carry firearm tends to get carried more often, at least in my experience.

Best wishes in sorting through your options for a CCW that works best for you. I hope you get your 360PD repaired and that it stays in your posession.

 

[Chubbs103]

My guess is that all of the damage visible is from the techniques used opening the cylinder with a bullet that jumped crimp and the extraction of brass from a high pressure round stuck in a titanium cylinder.

The cracked brass on the jumped round confused me, but I believe it is from the bullet being leveraged off-axis against the throat of the case by the bullet in the effort to open the cylinder. I believe the extractor star was broken from hammering on the ejector rod. I wouldn't be surprised if it was bent as well.

I don't think the OP will feel safe until S&W looks it over (if then). I think S&W will fix it cheap, but not free (although he might get lucky).

If all you wanted was a lightweight .357 revolver and some .357 ammo to go with it, based on what Buffalo Bore prints on the box, I can see how this happened (especially if you are relying on the guy behind the gun counter). I wouldn't have been interested in shooting this particular combination, but I have been familiar with the Buffalo Bore story for a while.