Preferred Carry Round for Snub Revolver

[garand4life]

Just a followup question, rather than starting a new thread for just a simple question. A transfer bar safety allows for a revolver to be carried without having to leave an empty chamber, right? I know that the old rule was always leave an empty chamber under the hammer so that there would be minimal chance of an AD. I believe that the transfer bar safety was meant in part to change that paradigm correct?

[CDR]

Correct.  Modern double action revolvers like the Smith and Wesson models no longer need to be carried with the hammer down on an empty chamber, it is safe to carry with a full cylinder  That rule now typically applies to the older single action revolvers such as Colt Army models.  The exception on single action revolvers are the modern Ruger revolvers that have resolved this issue with their own transfer bar safeties.

[twyacht]

Prefer the 38 +P Golden Saber from Remington in my J-frame's.

tex

+1

Don't have a snub .357, but do have a M85 Taurus Snub .38 +P.  Also have Winchester SPJHP 125gr standard loads that work just fine at SD distances.

The +P's are certainly more "snappy", but I do not feel under"powered" with the standard .38 SPJHP's.

[m25operator]

Scott your own data shows the .357 10% + faster with the same bullet, recoil, yes it will and you will not like it. You probably won't notice it in a FTF put the bad guy down moment, but you will in practice. The .357 mag does get to it's full potential in longer barrels, but what it comes down to is that extra 90-100 fps, worth it, to me yes. I don't have a j frame in .357, but do in a 2 1/2" model 19, and it ain't bad with my boot grips even. I do own 2 j frames, a 649 in .38spl, stuffed with PMC Star something 125 grn hollow points, and my beloved 940 9mm, I carry 147 grn, black talons or 124 grn, Nyclads. This gun shoots well, but with 147's it is a tack driver. The 9mm does better in the short barrels than the .357 mag, since none have been made in a while, the comparisons between the 2 cartridges is not well covered. Feel free to Google Fu, and find one.

Any of you shooting the .357 mag in the J frame, do practice grabbing a small hand full of grip, and shooting targets at 7' to 7 yards, fast, like you mean it, sometimes 2 shots, other times 3 shots or till empty. The good thing about a J frame or a Ruger Sp101, Colt detective special, is even someone with small hands, can completely encircle it, for maximum grip torque. It will not stop the pain, but it will control the muzzle rise.

[scott.ballard]

Scott your own data shows the .357 10% + faster with the same bullet, recoil, yes it will and you will not like it. You probably won't notice it in a FTF put the bad guy down moment, but you will in practice. The .357 mag does get to it's full potential in longer barrels, but what it comes down to is that extra 90-100 fps, worth it, to me yes. I don't have a j frame in .357, but do in a 2 1/2" model 19, and it ain't bad with my boot grips even. I do own 2 j frames, a 649 in .38spl, stuffed with PMC Star something 125 grn hollow points, and my beloved 940 9mm, I carry 147 grn, black talons or 124 grn, Nyclads. This gun shoots well, but with 147's it is a tack driver. The 9mm does better in the short barrels than the .357 mag, since none have been made in a while, the comparisons between the 2 cartridges is not well covered. Feel free to Google Fu, and find one.

Any of you shooting the .357 mag in the J frame, do practice grabbing a small hand full of grip, and shooting targets at 7' to 7 yards, fast, like you mean it, sometimes 2 shots, other times 3 shots or till empty. The good thing about a J frame or a Ruger Sp101, Colt detective special, is even someone with small hands, can completely encircle it, for maximum grip torque. It will not stop the pain, but it will control the muzzle rise.

Just one thing.

Not my data...

[Sponsor]

[CJS3]

I had been carrying Hornady XTP 38's in my modified Taurus 650CIA revolver, but I figured WTF and started carring Golden Saber 357's. That way even if I miss, the muzzle flash and noise from the magnums will scare the crap out of any assailant, and I can get away. I still use 38spl at the range.

[GUNS-R-US]

I used to carry Federal 130gr Magnums in my 340PD Jframe, but I switched to 110gr .38+P+ load from Corbon. I think it probably hurt just as much to shoot the Magnums as it would be to be shot BY the Magnums. That's why I made the switch! The Corbon load is still sharp in the recoil dept. but manageable.

[garand4life]

Let me pose a multipart response question to a few of you.
1) In a good steel snub weighing about 24 oz. would not a .357 mag be somewhat reasonable in recoil?
2) In regard to the worry of over penetration a good modern defensive load like Critical Defense would not the reduced velocity from such a short (2") barrel be somewhat mitigated?
3) Would it be reasonable to, theoretically, keep the "higher power" .357 loaded revo as a backup to a standard EDC carry 9mm or 40 for those situations where your main is unable to resolve the threat or fails requiring and immediate result of sort to an immanent or active threat? Thoughts?

I'm basically considering carrying this as a secondary to my M&P9c or .40. Not really as a EDC gun but more to backup my semis that I am much more practiced and comfortable with. what are your general thoughts about doing this. And in this application keeping a more potent round, namely Gold Dot short barrel .357s or Hornady CD which I prefer. I would think that out of a heavier gun (24-26oz.) and a short barrel it would be somewhat more manageable in recoil and would reduce it's velocity enough to reduce the likelihood of over penetration. That's just my thought please correct me if I'm wrong.

[Timothy]

G4

My snub, as mentioned, is an SP101 which weighs about 25 ounces empty.  I handles the magnums nicely and I don't have a problem with the recoil.  I've shot mainly big bore guns and have carried a 1911 Commander for some time, (28 ounces) maybe that's why it doesn't bother me too much.  It's been 28 years since I carried 9mm and quite honestly, I can't remember if I've shot 9mm in the last few years.  Other than my .45, I think the next smallest caliber is .40 S&W which has no recoil in my opinion in the Sig 226.

Practice with a few cylinders of magnums, get the feel for the recoil and make your decision then on what to carry.  I shoot mostly .38's to keep the practice manageable but always finish up with a couple of cylinders of my carry rounds to;  1) rotate my stock and 2)  It's a shitload of fun to finish up with a BANG and the flames can be a hoot at sunset!  Besides, it cleans out the cylinder of that crap left over from the shorter .38 cartridges, I think....

[garand4life]

I love my M&P45 but it unfortunately recoils like a limp 9. Not bad for shooting accurately but it takes away the endurance you build up shooting major calibers like the 45. Still love it. The only reason I keep driving this question and asking about magnum rounds is the fact it's hard right now for me to buy ammo in any variety and I don't have the luxury of trying out 5 6 7 different loads. I am narrowing down from what I know about the caliber from other guns I've shot it in and knowing what I can usually handle caliber wise. So thanks for continuing to throw out your thoughts everybody and please continue.