this little j is quite a handful

[CWH44300]

Got a chance to try the new j out.
This little guy does some barking!
This is the first 40 rounds, shot at 10yds(bottom target) 35 shots with a 158gr swc on top of 12gr of 2400 in magnum brass and 5 factory 125gr jhp magnums by Remington. At least 3 of those outside the main group where from the first cylinder, after I knew it wasn't going to kill me, I started to bare down on the little guy.
My hand loads kicked a little harder than the factory magnums but those little 125's had a pretty loud report!
Top target is 10 rounds at 10yds rapid fire double action from a favorite 617. My hand had enough so the 13 didn't get shot today.

Thanks for looking,
Chris

 

[Shorty 45 MK2]

Very nice shooting!

That should make a good summer carry gun.

 

[kpla51]

nice shooting!

 

[madmikeb]

Good shooting Chris!

I've got a 640 Pro Series for summer carry and with factory rounds I think its the nastiest gun I own. There is nothing you could do to convince me to put a cylinder full through an alloy frame version!

 

[Ashlander]

Thanks for the neat report. I love the grips on your 617!

 

[CWH44300]

Good shooting Chris!

I've got a 640 Pro Series for summer carry and with factory rounds I think its the nastiest gun I own. There is nothing you could do to convince me to put a cylinder full through an alloy frame version!

That's the kinda talk that gave me the jerks on the first few shots!
I'll tell you its not as bad has the 329 with boot grips and full power 250's but it ain't far off. I've been cut by a lot of guns, I even have a scared second knuckle on my middle finger from the the super blackhawks. This little guy tore a big patch off the web of my thumb but it also made blood come out from under 3 of my fingernails of my shooting hand? While this thing doesn't kick as hard has the 329's, I think it kicks faster if that makes any since.
Not sure if I'll try it again tomorrow or not.

 

[HarrishMasher]

Thanks for sharing, nice shooting!

 

[1sailor]

Try a set of Pachmayer "Compac" grips. still small but they reduce the felt impact a A LOT.

 

[MikeyB]

^ I agree. The Pachmayrs does help taking the bite of the little J-frame three five seven.

 

[sodacan]

Just "because I can" would never be a reason for me to shoot magnum loads out of a "J" frame, especially an alloy model with boot grips. More power to you guys who do so and can hit your targets. Happy new year to all.

 

[1sailor]

They can be a bit hard on you but it reminds me of the old line "You outta see the other guy".

 

[Bajadoc]

That gun is the equivalent of a pit bull. It hits hard. Get it under control and it will serve you well. Nice.

 

[Smithluver]

question

Are you planning on the snubby for EDC?

 

[kpla51]

Are you planning on the snubby for EDC?

I too am curious.

 

[theoneff]

Great range report Chris. Three beautiful guns and a great variety for a day at the range. Sometime I take a rifle hard case and loa a bunch of different Smiths for my friends who dont shoot much. They love it. Theo

 

[wx7b]

I actually like the factory grips shown on your 442. My 642 has them, although I originally put some Ahrends boot grips on them. The factory grips are easier on my hand and to conceal. The 642 conceals better than the XDs, and gets carried a lot.

Nice shooting!

 

[75Vette]

You Iron Workers are suckers for punishment!! I kinda figured the magnum loads would eat your lunch. I took the 686 back to the range today and busted back open the sore in the web of my thumb all over again (and that was the L frame!). I'd post the targets but they aren't politically correct. Lets just say I tore the Skittles out of his hand at 15 yds!!

 

[Shorty 45 MK2]

Are you planning on the snubby for EDC?

In another thread he said it was going to be his summer carry gun.

 

[one eye joe]

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…..

 

[JayFramer]

Buffalo Bore has a 125 grain .357 magnum that get close to Federal 357B velocities from a 4" bbl, from a snub bbl. Should be a great defense load if you can handle the recoil.

 

[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.