using 357 mag in 360 pd air lite what ammo do you use?

[magstang1]

I've shot .357 from an Airtight J Frame. No way would I carry that combination. The recoil impulse, muzzle blast, flash, sound... You'd be deaf and follow up shots would be very difficult.

38spl+P for me.

 

[mike campbell]

Just got a 360 pd air weight 357 mag. Recoil with 357 is brutal. Anyone using 357 mags in their 360 pd or do you stick with 38 +p?

I practice with stiff (+P?) 38's.

What ammo do you like to run in this gun?

I carry Remington 125 grain Golden Sabers, but I'd be just as happy to carry 135 Gold Dots. I'd call them "light magnums."

Do you use 38 special for practice and 357 for carry?

Yes.

How effective is it to practice with 38 and carry with 357? will practice with 38s be valid when using 357?

Absolutely effective. Practice, practice, practice with 50-100 rounds in a range session means 38 specials. There is no substitute for many rounds downrange. And there is a lot more to learning to shoot a DAO airweight snubby than just dealing with recoil. Rest assured .... if you learn to put an entire cylinder full of mild 38's in the kill zone at 7-10 yards.... you'll do just as well with the first few kickass self defense rounds. Prove it to yourself. Finish up a good 38spl practice session with 5 defense rounds and see if you aren't happy.

What Caliber bullet weight, manufacturer ect do you recommend in 38s and 357s Thanks folks.

And if you still find that snotty rounds of any sort, be they +P or magnums, aren't to your liking ... just carry five 38 specials every time you leave the house and you'll be better armed than the 95% of people with carry permits who don't bother to carry.

 

[Bugbottle]

Thanks for the advice folks. Im going to experiment with the various suggestions you gave me. I bought the Smith and Wesson 360 pd to carry instead of the 380 auto I've been using. I like the reliability and simplicity of a revolver and the 360 is smaller and a lot lighter than the 380. I already have 2 smith and wesson 637 airweights, but the 360 is smaller and lighter and has better sights. I wanted to go as light and concealable as possible. The 380 I was carrying was 20 oz loaded. The 637s are 17.5 oz loaded and the 360 pd is 13.9 oz loaded with the same ammo. I thought when I bought it the 357 360 might be too much to handle and I was right, but it is still the smallest, lightest and most concealable 38 sp +p revolver. I have other automatic pistols and they're fun to shoot, but the more I shoot autos the less I trust them. A revolver gives me confidence that, God forbid I ever have to use it, if I do it will work. I have no problem with standard and +p 38s in it, but the 357s I have are something else. I'm going to try out the various ammo suggestions you folks have recommended. Thanks for taking the time to help me out.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

I'll 2nd (3rd?) the Rim Rock 158gr L-SWC-HP/GC bullets.

In a 357 Mag case 6.6gr/Power Pistol is 38+P power.

I load 7.5gr/P-P in my 360J 2-Tone 357 Mag.

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[pittpa]

I've never shot a 360 PD, but in my LCR I use Speer Gold Dot 357 mag, short barrel.

As 357 mag loads go it's pretty mild, but it's a good step up from the 38+p version of the same load.

Efective round. See how it shoots.

 

[BC38]

357 out of a sub-12oz revolver? NO THANKS!

I have a Taurus 617Ti (titanium) that is just over 19oz, and hot magnums out of that one hurt a bit. A revolver only 2/3 that weight would be BRUTAL.

If you reload, do what I'm doing (and others here as well) - make up some 158gr LSWHP 38 special +P rounds in 357 magnum cases.

 

[CQB60]

I've been quite impressed with the Federal HST 38+P load. Consistent velocity and penetration , negates the need for Magnum ammo furthermore, it's controllable in snub framed revolvers, what's not to like?

 

[Narragansett]

I'll tell you what folks! I don't know what a "360 pd" is, but the combination of "air weight" and "357 mag" has to get your attention----it just has to!!

Now "air weight" makes for comfy carry---even in a pocket---at least until you load it. Then it's not so much "air weight" anymore, but it's most certainly better than the non-"air weight" alternatives. Chapter next: I suppose, in my blissful ignorance, that an "air weight" 357 costs more than an "air weight" .38 Special----seems like it should anyhow. Now given that, and given that you paid the extra, I have to ask why? Tell you what---we'll come back to that.

I'm reminded somehow of fishing tackle here. Most folks will tell you fishing tackle is made to catch fish----just like I reckon most folks would tell you "air weight" 357's are made to shoot. On the other hand, some of the other folks might tell you fishing tackle is made to sell to fishermen.

I hope I've given you something to think about. I hope you think.

Ralph Tremaine

As i write this, I do not know what a 360 PD is either, but i will know soon enough. I do know that I am not a fan of hand cannons. I am not even really that fond of the 357 in some K frames. it is a great round for an N frame.

And yes, fishing tackle and lures are designed to catch fisherman, long before they catch fish. I figured out a long time ago, when you have a bag of 50 lures, there are only 2 or 3 that you actually use.

EDIT: Ok I now know what a 360PD is. Alloy construction stainless bbl. On the S&W website, it says 357 mag, rated for continuous +P use, and stamped on the gun, is " no less than 120 gr bullet". It weighs a whopping 11.4 oz. Cute little thing, but nothing I would ever want to fire with a full house 357 load. Also, the continuous +P rating makes me think this is not rated for a continuous 357 diet? They also list over $1,000.00. i will never find fault with another's choice or selection, but i will say, it does not sound like the right choice for me

 

[JohnRippert]

The only J frames I run any .357 through are my two 640-1's, and both have oversize grips so I can get my whole hand on them. I would not use .357 in a Airweight. My 442 has Buffalo Bore 158gr standard .38's in it.

 

[Barrie]

I have a newer N frame model 627-8 round revolver which I enjoy shooting most any and all 38special ammo from. I also found the Gold and Black box of Blazer ammo in 357-158grm spits powder back onto my right side facial cheek and burns me with every round I fire. That is not much fun needless to say.

 

[Paul105]

Thought these chono results might be of some interest:

S&W M360, 1 7/8" BBL, 5 Long steps from muzzle,

185 gr LFNGC, 14.7gr Lil'Gun, ……………….. 1022 fps
158 gr CSWC, 13.5gr H-2400, ……………….. 1074 fps
158 gr JHP - XTP, 13.5gr H-2400, ……………. 1009 fps
158 gr LSWHP +P, .38gr Rem Fact, …………. 752 fps
158 gr LRNFP, 9.6gr Blue Dot, ……………….. 1019 fps
158 gr RJHP, 9.6gr Blue Dot, …………………... 945 fps
130 gr FMJRN, .38gr Am Eagle, ……………….. 680 fps
130 gr Hydra-Shok, .357gr Fed Fact, ………... 1159 fps
180 gr LWFN, .357gr Fed Fact, ………………. .. 905 fps


The top load is the one I carry when I drop the 360 in the pocket (for easy access) of my rain gear. Load was developed to use as last ditch, stick it in their ear, large predator protection while bow hunting elk in Montana.

All of the above .357 handloads are less than max except the 185gr/Lil'gun load.

The middle gun in the picture.

FWIW,

Paul

 

[gnystrom]

Grips are everything. Get the Uncle Mike's or the Pachmyers and it will change your life.

I have found Crimson Trace LG 405's to really mitigate recoil with my 340PD. I keep mine stocked with 135 gr. Short Barrel Gold Dots and avoid any .357 as their advantage is very slight.

 

[tlawler]

I keep mine stocked with 135 gr. Short Barrel Gold Dots and avoid any .357 as their advantage is very slight.

Do you have any empirical data to back that up?

See post #11

 

[grinner]

I've never shot a 360 PD, but in my LCR I use Speer Gold Dot 357 mag, short barrel.

As 357 mag loads go it's pretty mild, but it's a good step up from the 38+p version of the same load.

+ 1 on this. It's a lot milder than the regular load (velocity in the 1100 fps range), but still stouter than a .38 +P. I shoot it in both my j-frame and in my house gun (a TRR8), even though that one has a 5" barrel. The round is not as loud and has less flash than a regular .357 round.

And in the Lucky Gunner ammo tests:

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/revolver-ballistics-test/

it had larger and more consistent expansion than most 38 +P rounds and many of the full load .357 Magnum.

 

[oddshooter]

I'm your huckleberry.

I have carried my 360PD with 357 mag for about 8 years on every backcountry outing. I strap it on when I get there and don't take it off until I leave.
Everything else pulls my pants down. If I could carry anything else, I would.

Get the rubber grip that covers the metal backstrap. That was a really stupid idea from S&W to leave it exposed.

The recoil is brutal; more than a 44 mag.
This is not a fun gun or a range toy !!!!
It will save your life.

During my real life encounter; I never felt the recoil.
Ten minutes later I looked at my black and blue hand.

I hate this little beast.
I wouldn't give it up for anything.


Prescut
Gold Dots for short barrel when I didn't handload

 

[Bugbottle]

I have found Crimson Trace LG 405's to really mitigate recoil with my 340PD. I keep mine stocked with 135 gr. Short Barrel Gold Dots and avoid any .357 as their advantage is very slight.

Does this grip add much to the overall size of the gun? I want to keep it as small as possible

 

[Bugbottle]

I've been quite impressed with the Federal HST 38+P load. Consistent velocity and penetration , negates the need for Magnum ammo furthermore, it's controllable in snub framed revolvers, what's not to like?

Is this the one where the 130 gr bullet is seated entirely flush with the case? How would you rate the recoil vs hornady critical defense 110gr +p

 

[yfdcap]

I have two and sometimes carry one in each pocket. I shoot mag loads very sparingly. I shoot the guns sparingly. I have lots of guns that are fun to shoot. These are not them. I do enough to stay proficient. They are by far the easiest gun to carry i have ever owned though. I have carried them in swimming trunks. Great backup gun. The Rim Rock 158 recipe above is a great round.

 

[rwsmith]

This sounds like a job......

....for some soft Pachmeyr grips.

I have an airweght .38 special that painful with light loads and BRUTAL with heavier. New grips made it bearable. I don't mind recoil in an emergency, but practicing with it gets tiresome FAST.

And I would definitely download if you reload, or find some reasonable 'target' .357. The Remington UMC JSP 125 gr and the Speer Short Barrel GDHP 135 grain in .357 are supposed to be manageable in small guns.

 

[uncleted327]

I don't have the 360PD, I have the 360FDE, stainless cylinder vs titanium so it weighs about 2 ounces or so more. I carry either 125gr Gold Dots or 125gr Sig V-Crown in it usually. For 38s the Federal HSTs are a nice round as are the Buffalo Bore HP lead semi-waddcutters. Recoil is subjective, I don't find it unshootable in the least. I had a 640 Pro and found it too heavy for pocket carry, so if I have to strap it to my hip I saw no reason not to jump up to a K or L. I think the 360s have a number of advantages over a 38. Not only do you have the ability to use Magnums or not, but you gain a pinned front sight and a fully shrouded ejector rod. Those last two are worth the price themselves over the integral front sights on the air weight 38s. I also bought my 360 new for $499, and even though the PDs cost more I regularly see them for around $800 or so. So I'm not sure why people are always quoting the MSRP on guns and acting outraged at the price, only fools pay MSRP for anything.