Light weight .357

[marano35]

Don't overthink it or complicate it.

Get you a new or used Smith and Wesson with a concealed or shrouded hammer in a lite weight configuration. An SP101 is a fine gun but too big and heavy for ankle or pocket carry. You don't need a .357 for this role. +p .38 is more than you will want to shoot regularly in one of these guns, trust me. I mostly would use standard .38 loads in these guns. Stay away from polymer offerings and if you can find a used Smith that I have referenced even better. Shoot enuff to know that it shoots to point of aim and if it does never get rid of it and keep it clean. I carried a five shot revolver on my ankle for years and still do on occassion. I have a smith 442 and an old stainless bodyguard, love em both.

 

[JRWhit]

4season, I'll stick to your O.P. You asked about a lightweight 357 magnum. That is your choice, and I won't spend wasted time trying to talk you out of it or telling you that there is no advantage over 38. After all that wasn't your post.
I would look at the Ruger LCR now chambered in 357 magnum. The DA triggers are quite good in my opinion. For practice I would recommend 38s,NOT BECAUSE OF RECOIL, but because the light weight revolvers will not hold up to a steady diet of magnums like the heavier frame revolvers will. Not to say, don't shoot 357s in it, but if you do a lot of practice consider the life of the gun. Happy shopping.

 

[Bushpilot]

Before you get too high up on your horse JR, this is pertinent to the discussion as the OP mentioned having previously considered 380's and 38 Special's. He dismissed the 38's because of "bulk" and "horrible grips." But, then went on to inquire about 5 shot, 2 inch, 357's, which makes no sense because they are going to be built on the same size frames and have the same grips/grip options. The OP thought about choosing a less powerful .380 but then found a more powerful 38 Special Taurus that he liked but decided not to purchase it because it wasn’t a 357. ????huh??? Which brings us to my having pointed out that he’s not getting all that much extra performance by holding out for the 357, despite all the added recoil.... Then, after you criticize for supposedly getting off topic comparing 38 and 357, you suggest he buy a 357 and shoot 38 Specials out of it, albeit for different reasons.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

You know, the SP101 is a bit large for ankle or pocket carry.

How about a S&W 640 pro!!!! Those are sweet little guns, and if I was in the market for a j frame, that would probably be it. In fact I've been thinking about trading my 642 towards one.

Fluted full shroud, and trijicon night sites. Check it out if you haven't.

 

[RevolvingGarbage]

...What makes little sense to me is that you disagree when discussing 357 vs 38 special, then essentially make the same argument involving 38 special vs 38 S&W. Small capacity cases with short barrels are more efficient than larger capacity cases in short barrels.....

I was actually being mostly sarcastic about the .38spl/S&W comment.

It is true that you can actually duplicate even most .357mag loads in that little tiny .38 S&W case, though you would need to fire them from a gun powerful enough to handle them.

I don't see how one can argue that the 200-300 FPS boost you get with the .357 mag even in a short barrel is not worth the extra flash (can be reduced considerably by using short barrel optimized loads) and recoil, unless one are a particularly sensitive shooter.

 

[Bushpilot]

I was actually being mostly sarcastic about the .38spl/S&W comment.

Sorry, I misinterpreted the sarcasm.. I own a couple 38 S&W’s but rarely shoot them and have never reloaded for them so I really didn’t know first hand what they are capable of or if you were being serious.

200-300 fps is significant energy-wise but I have never witnessed a 300 fps difference through my chronograph. I also don't see it when comparing the best 38 and 357 loads on "Ballistics by the Inch."

 

[Coop45]

Get a PM9 and relax with a beer.

 

[savit260]

In a lightweight snub 2"-er... I personaly don't think the moderate gain in fps and energy is worth substantialy more recoil.

In a 4" or 6" steel mid frame... YES, definitly worth the extra you get out of the .357, but in a airlite snub, not so much (required IMO)

 

[bigwheel]

If you re-read the OP, you'll find that he was looking at pocket or ankle carry. If you can carry a P226 in your pocket, great, but I can't. (Talk about lumpy...!)

.357 Magnum ammo is more powerful than .38 Special, even +P, even out of a snub. It's not much of an advantage, but I'll take all I can get.

Well thinks I read it right the first time. Now I cant figger out why anybody would want a gun on their ankle? I have seen that on TV a few times but dont think folks are supposed to do it in real life. Now how is anybody gonna walk around with a decent sized gun in their pocket? If the cheapie skates snag Mr. Sig..in warm weather it packs great like this with shirt tail out:

http://www.crossbreedholsters.com/

For dress up day you use this one:

http://www.smartcarry.com/

For coolish weather or when scooting on the Putt..the leather biker vest with inside capt kangaroo gun pockets work great.

http://coronadoleather.com/i-6741217-american-v-rider-vest.html

Course a person can wear the yankee fanny packs any old day..but it can cause low self esteem.

 

[ScottieG59]

I have a Ruger LCR and it is a great small concealable revolver. It handles +P ammo with no difficulties. Some like the ability to shoot small revolvers while they are in a coat pocket. You can be in the ready state without brandishing.

Still, my deep concealment handgun is my Kahr PM9. It handles +P ammo well and conceals as well as many 380s. The Kahr PM40 is about the same small size.

 

[JRWhit]

Before you get too high up on your horse JR, this is pertinent to the discussion as the OP mentioned having previously considered 380's and 38 Special's. He dismissed the 38's because of "bulk" and "horrible grips." But, then went on to inquire about 5 shot, 2 inch, 357's, which makes no sense because they are going to be built on the same size frames and have the same grips/grip options. The OP thought about choosing a less powerful .380 but then found a more powerful 38 Special Taurus that he liked but decided not to purchase it because it wasn’t a 357. ????huh??? Which brings us to my having pointed out that he’s not getting all that much extra performance by holding out for the 357, despite all the added recoil.... Then, after you criticize for supposedly getting off topic comparing 38 and 357, you suggest he buy a 357 and shoot 38 Specials out of it, albeit for different reasons.

I apologize Bushpilot,I had no intention of it being directed at anyone personally. It just always seems that anytime someone asks about a 357 for carry, it always turns into a back and forth about 38 being just as good and so on. The last part of the O.P. was asking for a good light weight 357 after describing his previous experience with the 38s. Sometimes I get a case of crab a$$, so I don't begrudge you for calling me out on it.

 

[Bushpilot]

Sometimes I get a case of crab a$$,

Same here JR.... Thanks for the response...

 

[4season]

Get a PM9 and relax with a beer.

I tried a PM40 and couldn't stand it. If someone will ever make a striker fired pistol with a decent trigger I will look at it. Any striker fired trigger I have ever tried just felt horrible to me. I have tried Glocks and XDs and many of the small pocket 380 and none feel right to my trigger finger.

 

[S&Wfan]

Yeah, I know this is a true "pipedream," but all this "lightest ____ caliber" stuff would sort it out real quick if folks would go out and compete at real handgun matches with those things and suddenly discover that, at speed, they suddenly couldn't hit the side of a barn from inside the barn after a round or two got touched off.

It isn't just the muzzle flip, but also the way a gun torques in one's hands while shooting carefully but REALLY fast under the pressure of a clock. Once the gun twists slightly in the grip the trigger pull changes and one begins to miss quite a bit . . . and can't understand why.

Plinking lazily at the range can yield decent groups on paper, but it all changes when you are putting out all your lead very quickly and suddenly you can't hit your target!

IF I WERE DICTATOR OF THE WORLD . . .
I'd ban gun makers from selling 10 oz. .357 revolvers. Sure . . . in a fight you won't "feel" the brutal recoil but that's not what will get you killed. You also won't understand why the other guy who is trying to kill you first isn't going down . . . when in fact you are missing badly. IMHO, gun makers are probably getting owners killed in gun fights by marketing a very, very, very poor idea. Then again, forums have this same question asked all the time . . . "What is the lightest _______," and these titanium and "scandium" pocket rockets DO sell . . . to folks that simply aren't seasoned handgun shooters.

Every product man makes is a compromise, and when it comes to handguns once you go too light on a gun-the recoil goes up and accuracy plummets under stress in double action mode. Bullet placement is everything . . . shot after shot after speedy shot until the other guy quits fighting.

IMHO, an aluminum-framed snubby like an S&W Airweight is the best compromise . . . for .38 +P and plain ol' .38 Special ammo. A STEEL framed snubby is that same level of compromise when shooting .357 Magnum ammo.

Yeah . . . take your featherweight to a handgun match and you'll lose to most everyone else in the match. It is a very sobering discovery that's best made when your life is NOT on the line for real!

 

[Backpacker33]

Go a tad larger and check out the S&W 386PD, scandium/aluminum frame, titanium cylinder. Light weight, good grip, not tough to shoot, not tough to carry or conceal.