I love the .357 CTG (who doesn't?). But out of a 2" barrel, with the added recoil and muzzle blast. Is it worth it over a Model 36 loaded with a proven self defense load?

Just musing on a Sunday morning.

Murphy

Unless you load it with 148 gr hollowbase wadcutters loaded backward....

Byron

I can't see there is any gain worth all the negatives of brutal recoil in a J frame, blast, etc. that is my opinion formed from reading those who have tested and published their findings, I haven't experimented myself and I'm happy with .38 +P LSWHP.

I have a model 60 in 357 mag. I ended up withit since it was priced right at the time. I had my choice between the model 60,SP101, and a Colt. Hindsight I should of taken the Colt!!! I've had mine since 1997 or so. I have shot more things with it since I always have it on me.

Now as far as ammo. I usually carry Speer short barrel 357's or 38 LSWHP in it. Neither are bad at all to shoot. Currently is is filled with the Speers. I think they are in the 1000 FPS range if I remember correctly. One nice thing is with 38's it tends to extract them better out of the 357 length gun. Now because I had to get it out of my system, I have shot almost all kinds of .357's out of it. My 180 grain XTP hunting load is punishment and 125's are pretty bad too.

Murph, shoot that little scratched up, toothy gripped stainless 357 bodyguard of mine and you can figure it out for your self pretty quick. It's the only time I have ever seen Katherine The Fearless, look at her hand and shake it after shooting ANYTHING.

my money. FBI load in .38s, no .357 Mag J-frames (heck, I think the K-frame 3" is at the limit of my tolerance level with the .357 Mag). Certainly won't ever again shoot one of those super-lightweight J-frame .357 Mags.

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Sincerely,

Hobie

.

She was shooting one of those that would rotate the cylinder backwards and leave you on an empty chamber when you cocked the hammer next time. She fired a couple of shots and then dropped the hammer on an empty chamber. The gun never moved, no flinch or anything.

I fired a scandium J-frame that someone brought to CSA. It stung my hand but I would have no problem carrying one for defense use. How much benefit the 2" .357 gains over a 2" .38spl +P I don't know, and the scandium guns are a lot more expensive than the alloy .38's.

A 2.5" M19 or 3" SP101 is no big deal to me. I thought the 3" full underlug M60 would make a good field gun but couldn't justify actually buying one. I've fired the 3" 696 and 4" 629 without difficulty, but for some reason the 3" M24 hurts my hand.

or 442 38 than a lightweight 357.

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Of the Troops & For the Troops

out of a 649 .357 once. Noisy. And stings a mite.

I wish I could do that.

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Sincerely,

Hobie

I brought it a few years ago, and there were a few people who shot it once. Not many went back for more.

What makes that even more impressive was the shot preceding that "click" about scared me witless. From my angle of view I thought the gun had hit her in the forehead. Following that she proceeded with a most impressive "dry fire."

I have always thought that the most astounding "shot" of that whole weekend was Kathryn's misfire.

Jimmy P.

...bleeding a little from it as I recall. Jeff and I still talk about it from time to time. Nerves of steel. Jared must be one MEAN essobee to live with! (GRIN)

I'd hate to face her in a gunfight!

...what kicked my butt worse than anything I've ever touched-off was a 329PD with Cor-Bon 320s, that just plain HURT! Had to beat the cylinder open with a mallet and drive the empty cases out with a hammer & screwdriver.

little monsters. Have shot a few, including Mark S's, and like them. They work, they're impressive, and the muzzleblast alone must have a ballistic effect. A cylinder-full is tolerable, but wouldn't plink many tin cans with one. Were I looking for a 'new' hammerless J', it would be a good gun to consider. But, while .38-pluses's are pretty OK in a light J for a moderately experienced shooter, the .357's are definitely not for everyone.

In fact, I distinctly remember Mark S. standing back and to one side of shooters trying out that little cannon, ready to catch the gun as it ripped out of inexperienced shooter's hands. Happens.

cylinder - cases stick fiercely, and suddenly, as loads are increased. No idea what the exact alloy might be, but I would advise anyone using one of these guns to test their ammo. Even some factory loads stick. This seems common in the Scandium guns. Recoil is fast and quick, but there is little mass to cause the gun to leap wildly into the air. Unlike, say, a light 454C or 475/500L.

Like all things, nothing is perfect - everything involves tradeoffs, and if a person desires the ultra light weight they need to understand the foibles inherent in the system (or any system, for that matter) and deal with them appropriately.

John K.