Snub nose revolvers - .357 vs 38 special

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Stationary Smell

Stationary Smell

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I've thought about buying a snub nose revolver to carry and was just curious what you guys thought of .357 mag vs a 38 special +P for self defense. I've looked at the Taurus model 85 and the Taurus model 605. Thanks for any input.
 
Both cartridges (.357 mag and 38 spl +P) are perfectly fine for self defense. I prefer the .357 for its versatility. You can shoot .38 specials in a revolver chambered for .357 mag. If you reload, you can load everything from light target loads up through heavy magnum loads in the .357 magnum cases--which is what I do. Nevertheless, I wouldn't feel under-gunned with a revolver chambered in .38 special.
 
I just chronod factory Hornady 38 special, 158g Jhp XTP ammo through my recently acquired model 36. The box says 800 fps on the side. Mine ran from 740 to 750. Out of my 4" 586 I only got 775. I tested a few other rounds but decided that since I was hitting minute of bad guy at 25 yards, which is more like hunting than self defense, it is a good round to stick with. There is no way I'd grab my LCP over this thing if it's all I had. Luckily my Les Baer loaded with 230g HST ammo is in the same cabinet. Those are moving out at 925.

Bottom line, I'm good with standard 38 specials out of a snub nosed revolver.
 
My thoughts were that a .357 mag snubbie (with hot .357 mag ammo) would be hard to control or at least hard on the hands. I do like the idea of versatility though.
 
Between the two, I'd go with the .357 for the ability to shoot both. You're right, a standard .357 is pretty rough to shoot in a snubnose, even the "low recoil/short barrel" loads. .38+P isn't so bad.
 
Merle1 said:
For me the bottom line is excessive blast & recoil in a J frame - causes problems with controllability & a quick second shot.
Click to expand...
The next time I get to the big city I'm going to trade off my 3" j-frame .357 for a .357 with a longer barrel and a bigger frame. I found out that 69 year old arthritic hands and full house .357s in a short barreled j-frame just don't mix very well. I know - I can shoot +P .38 Special ammo in it. But why? I already have a 2" j-frame .38 Special with a set of Pachmayer grips that's I can control with +P ammo.:)
 
Taurus model 85 TITANIUM* no longer in production and/or imported by Taurus International Mfg. .?? When i googled it?
.
A 10oz J frame in 38+P is plenty of recoil.

A 16 oz J in 38+P , not bad at all.

Weight of the firearm is a big factor.

Added titanium *
 
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The Total Titanium Taurus 85 is no longer in production, however the Stainless Steel and Black finish are available. Picked up a new SS 85 earlier this month, had it to the range twice, very satisfied and pleased so far. Have CT laser grips being delivered for it tomorrow.
 
I held an "ultra lite" model of the 85 a few months ago... would that be the titanium version or is it just a lighter alloy?
 
My Ruger SP101, 2 inch .357 is a handful with full power loads, I confess to shooting .38 wad cutters almost all the time. I do practice with 125 HP .357 loads to keep in tune though. hdbiker
 
I picked up a lightly used S&W 642 late last year. I have shot specials and +p's out of it. The recoil was not hateful, and they were ok accuracy wise. I carry this revolver quite often.
 
My 2.25 inch SP101 at 26 ounces is just about as light of a gun as I would want to shoot full house magnums from. Plus P 38 specials in an air weight J frame aren't exactly pleasant either but I do shoot them on occasion
 
I am not a fan of Taurus guns. I've had 6 in various calibers, and shot some belonging to others. Not a fan. Prefer S&W and Ruger. Took Colt out of the mix...only the new 38 Special Cobra is going into production sometime this month (allegedly).

I like to carry 357 magnum revolvers in the Spring / Summer months. My principal "dress up go to town" gun is a S&W M&P 340 alloy Century Frame DAO with tritium night sight. It is rated 357 Mag, but I carry it loaded with 38 Special JHP antipersonnel loads, but I still have the ability to use magnums if circumstances dictate. It is in the 13 oz category, and I put Pachmayr Diamond Pro grips on it. These allow for a high grip, and really absorb recoil. These make shooting 158 grain JSP full house magnums doable. I normally wear a cotton canvas vest, and the grips do not cling to it. To be perfectly frank, shooting 158 grain JSP magnums out of this little gun is brutal and borders on a religious experience. It is doable, and I only load magnums in an emergency; hence, only 38 special SD loads are carried. This is a town gun and very easy to conceal.

My EDC around the property is a 23 oz stainless S&W model 640 Pro Series Century Frame DAO revolver with 2-1/8" fluted barrel, night sights and cylinder cut for moon clips. My goto EDC load is the Buffalo Bore 38 Special hard cast 158 grain Keith SWC Outdoorsman load, but if the bears or hogs are around, I dump the 38's in my pocket and load a moonclip full of Grizzly or Buffalo Bore 180 grain hard cast WNFPGC heavy magnums "just in case". The grips have also been replaced with Pachmyar Diamond Pro's which provide a high grip that aids in handling hard kicking magnum loads. I regularly shoot this gun with Federal 158 grain magnums and find it easy to keep on target.

When I need to stop whatever I'm doing to go to town (Home Depot, Ace, Walmart, etc.), and I can't be bothered to change clothes, I have the 640 Pro Series already on my hip. It is compact and easy to conceal, so I throw on a cover garment (vest, sport coat, jacket etc.), and scoot. No worries.

From time to time in the Spring / Summer months, I carry a 23 oz alloy L-Frame S&W 386 Night Guard 7-shot 357 magnum loaded heavy. It also wears Pachmayr Diamond Pros. This gun is easy to control with full house magnums. I shot and easily passed a police qualification course in 2012 with this revolver using only Federal 158 grain JSP magnums. I value shot placement over how fast I can exhaust a rotating or reciprocating lead dispenser, and train accordingly. "Make haste slowly" as Col. Charles Askins once quipped.

Just because a gun has 357 magnum on the barrel, does not mean that 38 specials should be passed over. I like them for self defense because of lo recoil and fast recovery. The 357 magnum chambering gives you the greatest versatility. Can fire 38 CCI-Speer shotshells, 38 Long Colt, 38 Special and 357 magnum in same gun. The 38 LC is more of a SASS thang, though. Gotta roll yer own with this'un.

The heavier the gun, the lower the perceived recoil. The lighter the gun, the easier to carry, but with greater push-back...that old physics thing. There is no free lunch.

I vote .357 Magnum.
 
Another choice would be an Ruger LCR in .327 Fed Mag. That would give you more 'punch' than a 38+P and a little less than a 357 Mag.
If you wanted to tame it down, you could load it with 32 H&R Mag.
 
Yeah the ,327 LCR is a versatile platform. It will handle the .32 S&W Short & the .32 S&W Long as well as .32 H&R Magnum and .327 Federal Magnum. I EDC mine all the time.
I also like J frame revolvers in .38 SP. especially the S&W Airweights. Another you might want to consider is the Ruger LCRx in .38 Special. They have them in both 1.75" and 3" barrels and are SA & D/A. I have the 3" and fully loaded it's a little over 20 ounces. It;s IMO, a great carry revolver and will handle +P loads.
 
Water-Man said:
Another choice would be an Ruger LCR in .327 Fed Mag. That would give you more 'punch' than a 38+P and a little less than a 357 Mag.
If you wanted to tame it down, you could load it with 32 H&R Mag.
Click to expand...
327 is not so good either, because again what reportedly happens is owners beg off the noise and recoil, possibly ammo availability, and wind up shooting one of the less aggressive cartridge options.
 
I do not care for the recoil out of a 2" J frame with 38 Special+P ammunition. I only shoot standard 38 Special from my J frames.

I cannot imagine the recoil from a 357 Magnum J frame.

Besides, a hit with a 38 Special trumps a miss with a 357 Magnum any day.
 
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