Guns that tame the .357 Magnum

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ATLDave said:
It's just physics. A heavier gun will reduce felt recoil pretty much proportional to the weight. That's especially the case with revolvers, where there isn't a big difference in bore height (they're all high) or grips (you can replace the stocks to fit your hand).
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You are of course correct however having the Ruger logo engraved on the sideplate helps absorb at least some of the punch. This is what I'm taking away from this discussion.
 
My 1976 stainless Blackhawk, all steel, even the gripframe. Most comfortable .357 I have.
 
Sistema1927 said:
My experience has been that grip design is one of the most important factors in recoil mitigation. Not necessarily the grip materials, but the shape and how well it conforms to the hand. I have some rubber grips that don't work well, and some wood ones that work very well. Much of this has been the result of hit-or-miss experimentation.

However, I found that my 3" Kimber K6S, with the stock smooth wooden grips, has been a pleasant surprise. I put a set of the CT boot laser grips on it, and it is a bear to shoot. Those have gone back in the box, and I will probably end up selling them at a loss, since the original grips are so much better for shooting.
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I found out today how right you are about the importance of the shape of the grips and mitigating recoil. My first range trip last week with my new/used SP101 357 it was wearing the beautiful Pachmayr rosewood grips the previous owner had on it. Shooting 38 spl was a breeze but when I shot a cylinder of 158 grain 357 mag my right hand was getting crushed by the recoil. Later I noticed the top of the grip where the web of my hand meets the grip was squared off hitting the basal joint of my right thumb. I put a rubber Hogue monogrip on it for todays trip and 357s were no problem and no pain. I had almost resigned myself to not shooting 357 in the SP until today. Sometimes it's the grips and not the gun that's causing the problem.:thumbup:
 

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thomas15 said:
You are of course correct however having the Ruger logo engraved on the sideplate helps absorb at least some of the punch. This is what I'm taking away from this discussion.
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My GP100 Match Champion and Smith 686,, both half lug, 4" barrel, shot about the same. The original 357 Magnum was in an N-frame...kind of intuitive, until someone had to carry it all day. We have been compromising in one way or another ever since.
 
Armoredfarmer has a nice pic in the beginning of the thread of a Taurus 669CP. I have had one for years and found it to be very shootable with my load of 14.5gr 2400 under a 158 xtp. Now blast and noise? I bet she will peel paint indoors o_O
 
cfullgraf said:
I'm even happier shooting 148 WC loads in my 38 Special K-frames. (There is something special about shooting 38 Special in a gun chambered for 38 Special.)
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I agree. I love shooting wadcutters through my old Rossi stainless 851. It's just one of life's pleasures. Bang, nice round hole in the paper, repeat.
 
cfullgraf said:
I'm even happier shooting 148 WC loads in my 38 Special K-frames. (There is something special about shooting 38 Special in a gun chambered for 38 Special.)
.:)
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I thought I was the only one who thought like that! All of my 8 3/8" guns right now are .357 mag and while I love to shoot them, one of the most favorite guns I've ever owned was a 8 3/8" Model 14. I'm actually in the process of building a target .38. I have the 8 3/8" barrel off of a model 14 and looking for a donor gun for the frame. I have a Model 19 that would make a great donor, but I want this one to be a true .38. Debating on a model 15 which would let me use the adjustable sights, but have also considered a model 10 since I will eventually drill and tap it for a red dot. I can't imagine trying to shoot at 100 yards these days without a red dot or a scope.
 
The FA 383 allows for wringing every bit out of a 357 with tamed recoil.
A Redhawk would be a close second...neither are what most would call practical.
 
As somebody said above, a middling .357 load such as the Remington Golden Saber is not a real big deal out of the LCR. That's a 125 at 1220 (less from a snub, of course). Now a while back I laid in a supply of Fiocchi - 142 at 1420 - and one day got the bright idea to fire some of that through my LCR. One cylinder later, it didn't seem like such a bright idea...
 
Sergei Mosin said:
As somebody said above, a middling .357 load such as the Remington Golden Saber is not a real big deal out of the LCR. That's a 125 at 1220 (less from a snub, of course). Now a while back I laid in a supply of Fiocchi - 142 at 1420 - and one day got the bright idea to fire some of that through my LCR. One cylinder later, it didn't seem like such a bright idea...
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"A man's got to know his limitations."

Don't know about that ugly little LCR, but a J-frame or SP101 make an interesting platform for the reloader. I never found the need to drop all the way back to 38 Special.
 
Another vote for the Ruger Security Six. My 6" tames the .357 round pretty well. I've put quite a few 125 grain JHP's thru it with no discomfort. I installed Pachmayr Presentation grips after my first encounter with .357 ammo and the stock wooden grips.
 
WheelGunMan said:
Another vote for the Ruger Security Six. My 6" tames the .357 round pretty well. I've put quite a few 125 grain JHP's thru it with no discomfort. I installed Pachmayr Presentation grips after my first encounter with .357 ammo and the stock wooden grips.
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My Security Six would hurt me, but the GP100 Match Champion was somehow no problem. Mine are pretty comparable, half lug guns in same barrel length, but your 6" barrel I would expect to make a real difference in shooter experience.
 
It was mentioned earlier but "taming" which loads is the question. Then of course what's the purpose of the gun?

You don't put a 200 gr. FNL bullet at 1300 fps in a small hideout piece or a K frame M13.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/8...grain-lead-wide-flat-nose-gas-check-box-of-20

Or a 180 gr. bullet at over 1300 fps.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/7...-357-magnum-180-grain-swift-a-frame-box-of-25

These aren't rounds that a person will "tame" from a CCW.

So what's the gun for? Then you select a round that you can shoot well from that gun. A round that matches the purpose of the job you want to do. If it's for hunting you choose the gun and ammo based on that. You also have to be able to shoot that well enough to do the job. If it's for CCW or home defense you choose it for that purpose and an entirely different gun and bullet.

tipoc
 
I love my S&W 4" barreled mod. 19. I don't especially love shooting full house 357 in it however so I load down for it. I have a Monson made D. Wesson 15-2 VH 8 and a 4 5/8" barreled Ruger BlackHawk that tame the 357 very well. Both of course are much heavier than the Smith is why. The DW is the most accurate revolver I own.
 
tipoc said:
It was mentioned earlier but "taming" which loads is the question. Then of course what's the purpose of the gun?

You don't put a 200 gr. FNL bullet at 1300 fps in a small hideout piece or a K frame M13.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/8...grain-lead-wide-flat-nose-gas-check-box-of-20

Or a 180 gr. bullet at over 1300 fps.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/7...-357-magnum-180-grain-swift-a-frame-box-of-25

These aren't rounds that a person will "tame" from a CCW.

So what's the gun for? Then you select a round that you can shoot well from that gun. A round that matches the purpose of the job you want to do. If it's for hunting you choose the gun and ammo based on that. You also have to be able to shoot that well enough to do the job. If it's for CCW or home defense you choose it for that purpose and an entirely different gun and bullet.

tipoc
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Other than Speer Short Barrel, I am not aware of store bought ammo for the smaller guns in 357 Magnum. Reloading for them is completely different discussion, the guns that DON'T "handle" .357 Magnum per se..
 
I had been wanting a full sized Revolver for a while when I found a Ruger Police Service Six hiding in the back of the LGS's case. I remember eyeing these back in the 80's and I had been wanting one ever since. Shooting it with the stock grips alone was fairly uncomfortable using full house .357's. I bought a pair of really nice Herrett stocks that should tame the most brutal rounds but they look out of place on the short barreled revolver. I was able to pick up a new old stock Tyler T-grip at a reasonable price that fills my hand yet leaves the grips slim for concealment. As it is now I can shoot full standard .357's without any discomfort. I haven't ventured into shooting 180gr rounds ... yet.
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Indigo22 said:
I had been wanting a full sized Revolver for a while when I found a Ruger Police Service Six hiding in the back of the LGS's case. I remember eyeing these back in the 80's and I had been wanting one ever since. Shooting it with the stock grips alone was fairly uncomfortable using full house .357's. I bought a pair of really nice Herrett stocks that should tame the most brutal rounds but they look out of place on the short barreled revolver. I was able to pick up a new old stock Tyler T-grip at a reasonable price that fills my hand yet leaves the grips slim for concealment. As it is now I can shoot full standard .357's without any discomfort. I haven't ventured into shooting 180gr rounds ... yet.
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That's why I consider it a not "full power" gun and then better left to the reloader.
 
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