.357 Magnum Felt recoil

[Wedge]

Just a little curious. I have never shot a .357 magnum, but I do regularly shoot .45 Colt and .45 ACP in a Ruger Blackhawk. How does the .357 mag loads in a 3" Sp-101 compare to other calibers? How about .38 special (i ahev shot that in a security six)? Where I live renting guns is out of the question and I am wondering if I should look at the 3" SP-101. I am not recoil sensitive, but I am curious about what the level of recoil is like.

Thanks!

 

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

North of a 9mm and south of a .44 mag.

I have a 4 inch Tracker (28 oz) and the felt recoil is there, but easily managed. The beauty of the SP101 is that, if you find the recoil is too stiff in magnum loads (small frame, lighter), then you can go down to .38 +P or .38 spl. Or roll your own to taste.

 

[Standing Wolf]

.357 magnum ammunition varies quite a bit. Some rounds with light bullets deliver no more perceived recoil than a .45 A.C.P. with ball ammunition. Some rounds with heavy bullets—especially if you load your own near maximum recommended levels—feel decidedly snappy.

Personally, I use very light .38 special loads in .357 magnum cases most of the time, and knock out the lead—if there actually is any—with medium loads that recoil not much more energetically than full house .38 special factory ammunition.

 

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

I stand amended. I only shoot heavies, so the sliding scale for me is smaller. Lighter bullets have less recoil all else being equal. Commercial ammo does vary. Your results may differ. Just get it already. Rugers will shoot them all.

 

[Wedge]

I don't mind snappy. I like the idea of heavier bullets too because I think penetration is important. If it is like .45 ACP as I have heard in the past and you guys just said then I think I could really enjoy shooting that all the time. Then again, I always have fun shooting heavy .45 Colt too (when I can afford it!). Thanks for the quick responses!

The only thing that I don't like about shooting is the noise, but that is what ear plugs and muffs were made for!

 

[444]

I have shot max and slightly over max loads with 180 grain bullets, 170 grain cast bullets, 158 grain jacketed bullets, and 110 grain jacketed bullets out of the SP101. I have some chono results of shooting 158 grain jacketed hollow points that averaged over 1200 fps out of my 2" SP101 (15.0 grains of AA #9).
The recoil isn't even in the same league as hot .45 Colt loads.

 

[Wedge]

That's what I like to hear. Heavy is fine with me I just need some more money

 

[Shane]

I think it depends on the load. The 125 grain defense loads to me are very snappy. OTOH, the 158 grain defense loads (Fed Hydra Shok for example) has very comfortable recoil (for a magnum), even though it would most likely be heavier recoil than a 125 if weighed by a machine. Needless to say, I'm not at all a fan of the 125 grain loads.

However, I do agree that the really big bullets (180-200 grain) have the most subjective felt recoil in the caliber. Not that bad in a medium frame like a GP 100, but in an SP 101 I the (180-200) grain bullets will be noticed.

 

[HSMITH]

It is WAY lighter than heavy 45 Colt out of the Blackhawk.

It is sharp but it won't "pop" your hand with the backstrap the way the Blackhawk does. The SP is heavy too so it really is not bad.

 

[Dave T]

I don't mind snappy. I like the idea of heavier bullets too...

Well get ready. I used to own a 3" SP101. The only load that shot to point of aim with the fixed sights was Federal's 158g Hydra-Shok 357 Magnum. I went through a box of 50 trying to keep two hands on the gun. I (and a friend with me) could not keep our support hand on the gun in recoil, no matter how hard we tried. It got to where we weren't even aiming, just pointing the gun down range. We would "white knuckle" a two hand grip and pull back on the trigger. Every time the SP101 jumped out of the support hand.

In my mind that is not controlling the gun in recoil. I sold it!

 

[Standing Wolf]

I went through a box of 50 trying to keep two hands on the gun.

I don't mean this as a criticism in any way, shape, or form.

I've found it's much easier to control recoil in a .357 or .44 magnum when I hold the gun bullseye-style, which is to say: in my dominant hand only. All my stocks have thumb rests to help my thumb stay up. I keep the fingers of my left hand in a belt loop or my belt, depending on the trousers I happen to be wearing, and face the target at an oblique angle of about 30° with my right arm fully extended and elbow locked or very nearly locked.

Barrels recoil straight upward if I'm gripping firmly, or slightly leftward and upward if I'm relaxing my grip. The stocks definitely smack my palm when I'm shooting .44 magnum hot loads—I never load hotter than reloading manual suggestions, by the way—but the gun is never out of control.

In my experience, twin-handed holds put accuracy and comfort at disadvantages. That saidâ„¢, I'll concede I've shot bullseye-style three decades now. I occasionally practice twin-handed holds with my carry gun, but even with it, I'm more accurate with a single-handed hold, and the recoil seems no more intense.

 

[Dave T]

I'll concede I've shot bullseye-style three decades now.

Well, I've shot "combat" or what ever you want to call defensive handgunning for three decades myself. To me handgunning must be a ballance of Accuracy, Power, and Speed (DVC). Recoil recovery is in intragal part of this and that requires two hands. If I can't control a gun (any gun) in rapid fire it is unsuitable for defensive purposes.

 

[sendtoscott]

Its not the "up and back" part of the recoil from my GP100 that bothers me shooting one-handed, its the gun feeling like its about to twist itself out of my hand.

 

[Sunray]

"...the gun feeling like its about to twist itself out of my hand..." Sounds like your grip is too light. Get yourself a rubber ball. Cut it in half and exercise your hand by squeezing the half ball. This can be done anywhere, costs nearly nothing and will improve your grip.
The felt recoil out of a short barreled .357 is the least of your problems. The noise and blast will overcome any recoil problems. No big deal though.

 

[achadwick]

I own a S&W 686 and a Ruger BH Bisley in .45 LC. Nothing I've shot in the .357 even comes close recoil-wise to my 325 gr LFN handloads in the BH.

 

[Nathanael_Greene]

For me, the issue of a 357 magnum vs. a non-magnum caliber isn't the recoil, but the noise. I stuff earplugs in my ears and then put on my earmuffs, and my ears are still ringing after leaving the range.

My S&W 65 dances pretty good in my hands, but nothing I can't deal with (at least for a few rounds at a time).

 

[Penforhire]

Hmm, the hottest .357 125 g Cor-Bon's (1600 fps from 4"?) make my 4" 686+ twist slightly in my hand. Doesn't bother me and I can re-grip quickly or just shoot a decent follow-up from the altered grip. Lesser loads don't cause any twist.

My Series 70 (45 ACR) is much more stable at the grip and makes my arm lift at the elbow only.

 

[valnar]

I'll put in my 2 cents as the wimp of the group. I'm 6" 4", but a bit recoil shy for long periods of shooting. I anticipate it because I know it will go "boom", so that hurts my accuracy. I can shoot 9mm, .45ACP and .38sp fine.

125 grain in .357 is very snappy, and produces a decent amount of muzzle flash. After 20 or 30 rounds, I'd rather not continue. I could, but it will bruise the next day if I were to go over 50. I've switched to a Pachmayr grip which covers the backstrap (previous grip did not before) and from what I've read it should help a lot. I have not fired my S&W 686 Plus yet with the new grips.

As many others have said, if you don't own a .357 now but are itching for another .38sp, then get a .357. Try as you like.

-Robert

 

[Shane]

125 grain in .357 is very snappy,

I agree about the 125 grain being snappy. In fact, I can shoot the .357 158 grain bullets @ 1250 fps for long periods and still be okay. But the 125 grain is another story--after just 25 or so and I've had enough.

I know in theory the heavier 158 grain bullet actually recoils MORE, but the TYPE of recoil to me is not bad at all. OTOH, the lighter recoiling 125 grain wears me out quickly--I typically don't handle snappy recoil well.

 

[4thHorseman]

The 357 will PUNISH you for shooting it. No dought in anyone's mind. You shoot a box of 50 and you feel you have been beaten with a sock full of nickels.
Try Remington's Golden Sabre, it's a medium load. Again, it will let you know what you are shooting, but not as ferocious.

 

[Lord Grey Boots]

Out of my 2 1/4" SP101 I find I can shoot 125 grain magnum rounds all day, however 158 grain loads leave me with a blister after 50 rounds or so.

I like moderate weight, and fast bullets for self defense.

 

[MAGNUM MAN]

i fire 125 grain golden sabers in my j frame model 60 3 inch barrel.i feal fine shooting them,and can shoot them all day.there is not that much recoil.you want to feel recoil,fire my ruger black hawk 41 magnum with corbon ammo(ouch i was shocked)3 inch fires fine.if you prefer bigger then go with this

 

[rock jock]

I remember only a few years ago when I started handgunning I thought I could never handle the recoil of anything more than a .357 magnum. I figured this was the limit on my personal tolerance level for recoil. Anyway, I went to the range yesterday and fired off about 10 rounds of 158 gr. .357 magnums in my 6" 586 and thought, "wow, these are really cool." I then fired off some full-house .44 magnum rounds from my 4" 629 PC and had a familiar thought "man, I will never own anything more powerful than a .44 magnum." Actually, this time I think that statement is true, BUT, I am learning never to say never.

 

[4thHorseman]

Magnum Man, that's a funny attachment!

 

[MAGNUM MAN]

if you think that is funny then you thinking any gun you own could stop this,not even with a full clip could you drop this monster.it is said that this monster hates guns,and eats 500lbs of food a day.this monster is known as the rosie species from dike valley