Anybody shoot a .357 Magnum snubbie?

[CAMSDADDY]

@ JWC - Ouch, at least Im in good company.

@ Junior357 - The reason I sold my SP101 was due to the fact that when I shot it the trigger guard would slash my finger. I guess like recoil in the moment of truth I probably wouldnt realize I was bleeding but I like to carry and shoot my guns.

The guns I dont enjoy shooting get listed.

 

[CAMSDADDY]

After running the 5x5 yesterday I am convinced I couldn't do it with a k frame snub in 357 much less a j frame. I posted results http://www.theoutdoorstrader.com/threads/435075-5x5-sorta?p=2346126#post2346126 I found it more of a challenge than I thought.

 

[mikey357]

I hope to post an Update in a day or two... ....mikey357

 

[camramrod87]

Shoot my snub 454 once and 357 feels like a 22

 

[mikey357]

Okay, here is the promised UPDATE...The "Plan" was to shoot Headhunter's "5 in 5 at 5" Drill with a coupla/three S&W .357 Snubbies, using Full-House .357 Ammo, repeat again w/.38 Plus P's, and mebbe' another time thru w/Standard-Pressure .38's, all with an eye towards comparing performance...Well, that WAS "The Plan"...

Here's how it worked out: The Players--S&W Model 19-3 2&1/2 inch Barrel, "Box-Stock" EXCEPT FOR a set of Craig Spegel Boot Grips "Plus" and a WIDENED Rear Sight Notch--went from .125 inch wide to .150 inch wide--Helps with the "Old(er) Eyes", don't ya' know? DA Trigger Pull is an "Okay" 10 lbs, 6 oz. on my Lyman Digital Gauge...

S&W Model 65-6 LadySmith w/Three-inch Barrel--Again, "Box-Stock" EXCEPT FOR a set of Uncle Mike's K-Frame RB Rubber Grips, and a very MILD "Action Job" by the Previous Owner...DA Trigger gauges at 9 lbs. 4 oz.

S&W Model 386 Sc "Mountain Lite" w/3.125 inch Barrel--Only "Mods" are a set of Uncle Mike's K-Frame RB Rubber Grips, and a Wolff Reduced Power Mainspring & 15-lb. Rebound Spring--DA Trigger is 8 lbs, 12 oz.

The AMMO used today was Federal American Eagle 158-gr. JSP .357's and WWB 110-gr. JHP .357's...All shooting was done from the "Low Ready", and TIMING was courtesy of a Pact Club Timer II...There was NO "Warm-Up", I started out "Cold"...

First up was the Model 65 LS, loaded w/the American Eagle 158's...First string yielded a 3.90 second run, with only FOUR "Hits" in five inches... ...Next run, I "Slowed Down" a little bit, or so it SEEMED at the time, & ended up with a 3.92 sec. run & ALL "Hits"...Next two were 3.47 sec. & 3.17 sec., both with ALL "Hits"...

The second "Smithie" to go to the Line was the Model 19...As it had been a while since I had fired it, I shot five rounds of the Fed. AE .357's SLOWLY to verify the Sights prior to firing "For Record"--That's when I noticed that the LOVELY Craig Spegel Grips--PRETTY as they are, and as Good-Feeling as they are--Tended to POUND the Base of my Dominant-hand THUMB...Somewhat UNPLEASANT, I soldiered on...First String netted a 3.59 second time, but with only four out of five "Hits"...The Second String gave me a 3.96 second result, ALSO with only FOUR "Hits"...and the Base of my THUMB wasn't feeling too "Swift' at that point either, so...After considering changing the Grips, I remembered an "Ammo Recommendation" I read in a book on Snubbies by Ed Lovette, and dug out a coupla' Boxes of WWB 110-gr. JHP .357's--The DIFFERENCE was literally NIGHT AND DAY!

FIRST String with the WWB 110-gr. .357's gave me a 3.43 Second time, with FIVE out of five "Hits"...The next three Strings clocked 3.03 seconds, 3.19 seconds, and 2.87 seconds, ALL with Five-for-five "Hit Ratios"...NOW we're cookin'! My "Splits" on the last three rounds of the second String using the 110-gr. WWB Ammo were .45, .41 & .36 seconds...Last three shots of the LAST String were .45, .35 & .35...

LAST up was the 386 Sc...Here I must admit I "Cheated" a bit, as the Gun HAD been wearing PGS Hard Polymer Grips on it, & I CHANGED 'em to the Rubber UM's... ...After my experience with the Model 19, I decided to SKIP the 158-gr. Federal's and start with the 110-gr. WWB Ammo...First String gave me a 3.26 second time, going Five for Five on the "Hits"... ...Here, I must add that I DISLIKE--quite INTENSELY--the "Hi-Viz" Front Sight & V-Notch Rear on the 386--I really MUST do something about that, and SOON...Second run netted a 3.27, with five-for-five Scoring......Third String was a lil' better @ 2.99 Sec., & all five "Hits"...LAST String was a 2.98 second jobbie, and having loaded the whole "Battle Load" of SEVEN Rounds--and having "Lost Count"--I fired SIX Shots total, in 3.31 seconds, going Six-for-Six on the HITS...

Some OBSERVATIONS--An All-Steel K-Frame or larger .357 Magnum Snubby with RUBBER Grips would appear to be, in my hands, quite "Controllable" & COMFORTABLE as well...Not so much w/158-gr. Magnum Ammo & WOOD Boot-type Grips...The Ti-Scan 386 was surprisingly PLEASANT to shoot w/the 110-gr. Magnum's & the Rubber Grips--Change any of those Parameters, and I'm not so sure I'd "Like" shooting it...I HAVE Fired it with 125-gr. Remington SJHP's, and with the Rubber Grips it was "Tolerable", but NOT "Fun"...I need to fire it some with some of the "Reduced Recoil"-type .357's...Maybe Remington Golden Sabre?

I was QUITE SURPRISED that I shot as well with the FIXED-SIGHT Model 65 LS as I did, and, until I changed from the 158-gr. Ammo to the 110-gr. Ammo in the Model 19, I was DISAPPOINTED in my performance with IT...I am HESITANT to fire very much 125-gr. "Full Magnum" Ammo thru the K-Frames, but I WILL "Experiment" with a limited quantity of it in the future, as well as some of the 125-gr. to 135-gr. "Reduced Recoil" & "Tactical" Loads...Might also look at some of the 140-gr. Loads out there--Hornady actually has TWO--One in the Leverevolution line--That I've been meaning to try...

I'll report back when I have more "Data" to share....mikey357

 

[CAMSDADDY]

Man that's some awesome shooting there. I'm curious about the 110
I know the 125's aren't recommend in large doses buy not sure about the 110.

 

[Bgolden84]

About two weeks ago I switched my carry weapon from a 4 inch 1911 to my Smith and Wesson 327 night guard. I love love love the weight reduction and added comfort. 8 rounds of 357 mag is nice to. It shoots to point of aim out to about 15 yards. I haven't tried any further distance. But for a n frame only weighing in @ 26 ounces empty and 8 shots I love it. I'm about to get another 357 as a bug. A lcr357 . That should round out nice . Ny reload included I'll have 13 rounds of 357 magnum on me @ all times

 

[cxglock26]

The LCR is a different animal. Yes, it's light. Yes, it looks great. But the recoil on the .38 is a bear and not comfortable. The .357 is even more of a bear. I would recomment a full metal gun like a SP-101 or a S&W 649 with a shrouded hammer if you don't want to get snagged. The shrouded hammer still lets you shoot both double and single action where a hammerless only allows you to shoot double action. Hope this helps.

 

[Bgolden84]

The LCR is a different animal. Yes, it's light. Yes, it looks great. But the recoil on the .38 is a bear and not comfortable. The .357 is even more of a bear. I would recomment a full metal gun like a SP-101 or a S&W 649 with a shrouded hammer if you don't want to get snagged. The shrouded hammer still lets you shoot both double and single action where a hammerless only allows you to shoot double action. Hope this helps.

Depends on how sensitive to recoil you are. The lcr as a backup gun to say a 327 or 386 Smith or 3 inch gp100 is a good approach. I personally have no issues with how the lcr357 performs. I only sold my last lcr357 because of what I did. But as far as trigger feel. The lcr even though it is da only it's a very smooth consistent da. @6lbs. That's pretty darn good.

 

[spencer60]

The LCR is a different animal...

I actually find the LCR easier to shoot full-power magnum loads in than the steel snubbies. To me the grip is much better, and the polymer smooths out some of the recoil.

The only time I find it hard to deal with is when I've got it's 'boot grip' on instead of the standard one. It makes the gun much more concealable, but it pounds the snot out of your hand.