this little j is quite a handful

[kpla51]

To the OP if you want to pleasurably shoot 357 get the hogue tamer grips. They are a bit bigger but give you a 3 finger purchase. I shot 50 rounds of 156g 357 a bunch of 38 and 38+P and it soaked it all up. It like Dr Scholls for your gun! Even if you don't carry with those grips there great to take to the range to practice with.

 

[CWH44300]

KUDOS TO ALL OF YOU IRON MEN WHO SHOOT 357 FACTORY LOADS OUT OF A J FRAME. I JUST DON'T ENJOY THAT LEVEL OF RECOIL, NOR DO I THINK THAT IT'S NECESSARY TO GO BEYOND THE POWER LEVEL OF .38SPL+P TO ATTAIN A RELIABLE LEVEL OF SELF DEFENSE, WITHIN THE COMMONLY ACCEPTED RANGE OF 7 YARDS. I LOAD BOTH OF MY EDC GUNS--A 2 1/2" 686+, AND A 642 WITH 135GR SPEER GOLD DOT, .38SPL+P FOR SHORT BARRELS AND I FEEL SUFFICIENTLY ARMED…..

While this 340 is new to me, the 357 is also new to me. I got my first 357 magnum about 2 months back. Dies and components came not long after. The first loads to come off the press where a nice easy easy shooting batch of 158gr swc's on top of a mid range charge of unique. That's probably going to be the load for this little guy. I just didn't have at the time, still only have 100 pcs of brass to work with.

 

[CWH44300]

To the OP if you want to pleasurably shoot 357 get the hogue tamer grips. They are a bit bigger but give you a 3 finger purchase. I shot 50 rounds of 156g 357 a bunch of 38 and 38+P and it soaked it all up. It like Dr Scholls for your gun! Even if you don't carry with those grips there great to take to the range to practice with.

Thanks for the photo,

That's the gun I originally planned on but this m+p is what showed up at the dealer.

Those look like they'll do the trick but I bought this gun to be my summer carry piece not a range toy. Once I settle on a load, it probably won't get shot but 3 or 4 times over the summer months.

 

[Biscut]

I'm late to the party! The boot grip doesn't help. I'm not a revolver guy but I did fall head over heels for the MP340! I have 2 of them. 1 with the CT grips and 1 with an ERGO grip. The ERGo grip is cheap, weird looking, but works pretty damn well!

Great little guns and you barely notice they are in your pocket or by your side in the car.

Takes some focus and concentration but if you shoot these guys often you get used to the heavy recoil. I recently decided on a black bear round for hiking. Corbon 220gr HC. I know it's not optimal but it is better than nothing....Boy did that one rock my world! I was able to get the first 3 into a very impressive group at 15yards but 4 and 5 opened it up. 4 and 5 were clearly due to the whallop the first 3 rounds gave me.

 

[Dan Christopher]

Brings back memories of a 360PD I used to have. Bought it, took it to the range one time, then sold it the next week!

 

[kpla51]

Brings back memories of a 360PD I used to have. Bought it, took it to the range one time, then sold it the next week!

I almost did this too. But the weight difference is telling me to keep it.

 

[CWH44300]

I'm late to the party! The boot grip doesn't help. I'm not a revolver guy but I did fall head over heels for the MP340! I have 2 of them. 1 with the CT grips and 1 with an ERGO grip. The ERGo grip is cheap, weird looking, but works pretty damn well!

Great little guns and you barely notice they are in your pocket or by your side in the car.

Takes some focus and concentration but if you shoot these guys often you get used to the heavy recoil. I recently decided on a black bear round for hiking. Corbon 220gr HC. I know it's not optimal but it is better than nothing....Boy did that one rock my world! I was able to get the first 3 into a very impressive group at 15yards but 4 and 5 opened it up. 4 and 5 were clearly due to the whallop the first 3 rounds gave me.

220gr !

I've never even heard of such a load.
I can only imagine what they must have felt like...

Grenade!

 

[Paul105]

That is excellent shooting. I've had a 340 and a 360 ever since they first came out. For me, the 340/360, with .357 mag ammo, is the nastiest recoiling handgun I've shot (followed closely by a 396 w/upper end specials). When I first got it, using Fed 130gr factory .357s and the factory equipped Hogue Batam grips, I split the web of my hand which required several stitches.

No matter how I hold it or what grips it's equipped with, it bites me somewhere. The 340 was my pocket carry gun for some time. It since been replaced, first by a Kahr CW40 and now with a CW45.

The following chrono data may be of interest to short barrel shooters. The first group are all from 1 7/8" 340/360. The second group were using one load - 185gr (yes 185gr, not a typo) with 14.7gr of Lil'Gun in various guns from 18" to 1 7/8".

Frome 1 7/8" bbl 340/360 ALL IN .357 MAG CASES except factory loads as noted:

130 Hydra-Shok, Fed Fact, Fed cases, Fed primers, .357 Mag, Fed Fact, 1159 fps
158 CSWC, Add, Mixed cases, Std primers, 13.5, H-2400, 1075 fps
158 JHP - XTP, Horn, Mixed cases, Std primers, 13.5, H-2400, 1009 fps
158 LSWC, Rim Rock, Starline cases, CCI Std primers, 12.7, H-2400, 967 fps
185 LFNGC, Beartooth, WW cases, Fed 200 Mag primers, 14.7, Lil'Gun, 1006.5 fps
180 LWFN LBT, Fed Fact, Fed cases, Fed primers, .357 Mag, Fed Fact, 905 fps
158 LSWHP, Rem Fact +P, RP cases, RP primers, .38 Spec, Rem Fact, 753 fps
130 Fed Am Eagle, Fed Fact, Fed cases, Fed primers, .38 Spec, Am Eagle, 680 fps
158 LRNFP, Meister, Mixed cases, Fed 100 primers, 9.6, Blue Dot, 1020 fps
158 JHP, Remington, Mixed cases, Fed 100 primers, 9.6, Blue Dot, 946 fps

Same Load (185gr BTB WLNGC) -- .357 MAG CASES/LOAD DATA -- from various guns/bbl lengths:

Marlin 18 Inch Bbl, 185 LFNGC, Beartooth, WW cases, Fed 200 Mag primers, 14.7, Lil'Gun, 1713 fps
Ruger BH 6.5 Inch Bbl, 185 LFNGC, Beartooth, WW cases, Fed 200 Mag primers, 14.7, Lil'Gun, 1388 fps
Ruger SP101 3.1 Inch Bbl, 185 LFNGC, Beartooth, WW cases, Fed 200 Mag primers, 14.7, Lil'Gun, 1160 fps
S&W M60 3 Inch Bbl, 185 LFNGC, Beartooth, WW cases, Fed 200 Mag primers, 14.7, Lil'Gun, 1174 fps
S&W M360 Ti 1.9 Inch Bbl, 185 LFNGC, Beartooth, WW cases, Fed 200 Mag primers, 14.7, Lil'Gun, 1022 fps
S&W M340 Ti 1.9 Inch Bbl, 185 LFNGC, Beartooth, WW cases, Fed 200 Mag primers, 14.7, Lil'Gun, 1006 fps

I googled Cor Bon and Doubletap -- the heaviest bullet they list is 200gr. Cor Bon claims 1,150 fps from 6.5" bbl and Doubletap 1,300 fps from a 6 incher and 1,200 fps from a 4" bbl.

FWIW,

Paul

 

[CWH44300]

Thanks Paul,

That's quite a chunck of data. I'll probably water those 158's down little more and call it good, if they shoot ok. I've no interest in shooting this gun more than a few times a year. If I do develop a taste for these little guns, I suppose I'd pick up a steel framed model.
It looks like you've spent some time with them so I do have a question. Do these guns wear similarly to the 329's, as far has blastshields and hand bounce causing wear on the ratchet?
Thanks again for posting all the data.
Chris

 

[Biscut]

I have about 550 38 and 210 357 loads through mine so far. No indication of loose fit or any visible signs of cutting. Not a lot yet, but that is in a less than a years time.

 

[Biggfoot44]

For the OP , that is an inherent Catch-22 about these types of pistols. They are pleasant to shoot with *substantial* loads , but you must practice often to gain/ maintain a reasonable degree of being able to shoot accurately.

Thank you for the extensive data Paul.

My take #1 - You can only bend the laws of physics and thermodynamics , but so far. The trade off of 1.87in bbl vs velocity is not insignifigant. If you really need the minimum size envelope for a particular carry mode ( pocket, ankle, etc) then make your informed decision. If having a gunfight with Yogi bear is realistic on your horizon , compromise elsewhers , and step up to at least a 3in bbl.

Take #2 - That .38spl Blue Dot load is certainly a humdinger. But isn't that deep into .38-44 territory ? In a .357 guns , it works for you , but I wouldn't want to accidentially want one to get into a typical .38spl gun.

 

[Paul105]

Thanks Paul,

It looks like you've spent some time with them so I do have a question. Do these guns wear similarly to the 329's, as far has blastshields and hand bounce causing wear on the ratchet?
Thanks again for posting all the data.
Chris

Chris,

I can't answer your "wear" question. I doubt I've shot 300 full house .357s thru both the 340 & 360 and I don't do 38 specials anymore.


Paul

 

[Paul105]

For the OP , that is an inherent Catch-22 about these types of pistols. They are pleasant to shoot with *substantial* loads , but you must practice often to gain/ maintain a reasonable degree of being able to shoot accurately.

Thank you for the extensive data Paul.

My take #1 - You can only bend the laws of physics and thermodynamics , but so far. The trade off of 1.87in bbl vs velocity is not insignifigant. If you really need the minimum size envelope for a particular carry mode ( pocket, ankle, etc) then make your informed decision. If having a gunfight with Yogi bear is realistic on your horizon , compromise elsewhers , and step up to at least a 3in bbl.

Take #2 - That .38spl Blue Dot load is certainly a humdinger. But isn't that deep into .38-44 territory ? In a .357 guns , it works for you , but I wouldn't want to accidentially want one to get into a typical .38spl gun.

1. I'm in Yogi country every day, year around (although they snooze some in the winter). That is the main reason I've gone to the Kahr CW45 with Buffalo Bore 255gr HCFN ammo as my pocket gun. Also, FOR ME, the CW45 is easier to shoot (both accurately and comfortably) one handed and with weak hand.

2. If you're referring to the load data I posted above, the Blue Dot loads are .357 Mags. I modified my post above to show the data used .357 Mag.


Paul

 

[Paul105]

One last thought.

Win Ranger +P+ 127gr JHPs chrono 1,190 fps from my Kahr 3.5" CW9 at 5 paces from the muzzle and 65 deg f. If you look above, that is faster than the Fed 130gr .357 from the 1 7/8" 340. The Kahr is heavier (15.8 oz without mag/ammo) but is much easier to shoot and holds 8 rounds (7+1).

Buffalo Bore 147gr JHP +P due 1,100 fps from the same 3.5" Kahr.

Just some food for thought.

FWIW,

Paul

 

[kpla51]

One last thought.

Win Ranger +P+ 127gr JHPs chrono 1,190 fps from my Kahr 3.5" CW9 at 5 paces from the muzzle and 65 deg f. If you look above, that is faster than the Fed 130gr .357 from the 1 7/8" 340. The Kahr is heavier (15.8 oz without mag/ammo) but is much easier to shoot and holds 8 rounds (7+1).

Buffalo Bore 147gr JHP +P due 1,100 fps from the same 3.5" Kahr.

Just some food for thought.

FWIW,

Paul

I had a kahr cm9 and it was great I then got in a tough time and had to sell it. Yesterday I almost order a pm9 in all black but could not come to doing it. Maybe it is the horror stories about their reliability.

Sold the 340pd in search of a m&p 340

 

[kpla51]

well just got a M&P340 no lock on order thats the nice thing about the px is you don't pay tax or background checks. And their pricing is not too bad! Cant wait to get it.

 

[1sailor]

Not to change the subject but, every time a discussion comes up regarding the airweight magnums there are usually guys chiming in to state that they found there's to be a totaly unpleasant pistol to shoot and wished they had bought something else. And I absolutely agree that they are not a pistol I would enjoy plinking with (not with magnum loads anyway). They were never meant for this purpose any more than a corvette was designed to carry a ladder. The Airweights were designed for a very specific and important job. If the day should ever come that I NEED to use it I want to be pulling the baddest, the most powerfull, and the scariest darn thing out of my pocket that I can. I want to be the guy who goes home. Sure it'll make your hand sting but they are very controlable and as with most revolvers, very tolerant. And because of it's small size and lightweight, this is one that I am likely to have with me.

 

[kpla51]

Not to change the subject but, every time a discussion comes up regarding the airweight magnums there are usually guys chiming in to state that they found there's to be a totaly unpleasant pistol to shoot and wished they had bought something else. And I absolutely agree that they are not a pistol I would enjoy plinking with (not with magnum loads anyway). They were never meant for this purpose any more than a corvette was designed to carry a ladder. The Airweights were designed for a very specific and important job. If the day should ever come that I NEED to use it I want to be pulling the baddest, the most powerfull, and the scariest darn thing out of my pocket that I can. I want to be the guy who goes home. Sure it'll make your hand sting but they are very controlable and as with most revolvers, very tolerant. And because of it's small size and lightweight, this is one that I am likely to have with me.

This is all very true and before I bought my 340pd all I read was It hurts blah blah. Most even said they can't justify the price over the 442. The sights alone justify it for me and are a big plus. Maybe in a SD situation its a point and shoot but if i need to aim id rather have better sights. Plus like I've stated before, I have friends that say j frames are sissy guns. Thats when i will give them a cylinder of 357. These are also my friends that leave there "better" 1911 in the truck. I loved my 340pd but sold it in favor of the M&P340 I just ordered.

 

[regalsc]

Im with you 1sailor. The 1st time I shot 357's out of mine I thought if it hurts my hand like this the bad guy is really going to feel it.

 

[kaaskop49]

Couple of thoughts on this cool thread: Is there really much difference in control/recoil between the PD and M&P models? The catalog only shows about 2oz weight difference.

Did anybody catch, in Paul's excellent velocity chart, the MV of the factory R-P 158 LHP in the snub bbl? 753 fps, IIRC. That's ridiculous, and folks ask whether +Ps are safe to shoot!

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103