Preferred Carry Round for Snub Revolver

[GUNS-R-US]

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.

I think your right on the money. I wouldn't have a problem shooting Magnums out of a steel gun, but the light weight guns are to much recoil unless you have real muscular hands! A real good load for the J Frame is the .357 Magnum 130gr Hydra Shock from Federal. Here's a short video I recorded the other day of a friend shooting my 340PD with this load. Ouch! It would be much more manageable in a gun that weighted twice as much.

[twyacht]

FWIW, the vid shows a controlled environment, with a traditional two handed stance, and a non retaliating target.

Change the scenario, 4:18 a.m. half awake, half asleep, no ear and eye protection, immediate intruder threat, it's dark, can't shoot two handed.

What changes?

Everything.....

If you are healthy enough, have good hands, no arthritis, and have some situational awareness, training, and the will, than this will work.

My father in law is 84, retired Army, Westinghouse Engineer, physics genius, but he is weak now. Ravages of time. His old 38 S&W is all he has in MD, of all places.  I still wonder if he can handle firing it with standard 38's.

Splitting hairs for a BUG, or a second carry pistol, but whether its a .357, or 38 +P, or even 38 SPL, it will do the job for what its intended to do. If you run out of ammo in your primary, and have to go to your BUG, geez your in a world of sh** and I hope the cops are comin.

My M85 Taurus carries 5 rds. of GDHP +P's. and I carry with 2 Bianchi Strips. At home, different story, for an intrusion or break in, my pistol, usually 357 full size, or .40 S&W, is only buying me a few moments to get to the "critical dynamic, life threatening ender".  Which is the Rem 870, or God forbid, the Sig556, or AK.

[GUNS-R-US]

FWIW, the vid shows a controlled environment, with a traditional two handed stance, and a non retaliating target.

Change the scenario, 4:18 a.m. half awake, half asleep, no ear and eye protection, immediate intruder threat, it's dark, can't shoot two handed.

What changes?

Everything.....

If you are healthy enough, have good hands, no arthritis, and have some situational awareness, training, and the will, than this will work.

My father in law in 84, retired Army, Westinghouse Engineer, physics genius, but he is weak now. Ravages of time. His old 38 S&W is all he has in MD, of all places.  I still wonder if he can handle firing it with standard 38's.

Splitting hairs for a BUG, or a second carry pistol, but whether its a .357, or 38 +P, or even 38 SPL, it will do the job for what its intended to do. If you run out of ammo in your primary, and have to go to your BUG, geez your in a world of sh** and I hope the cops are comin.

My M85 Taurus carries 5 rds. of GDHP +P's. and I carry with 2 Bianchi Strips. At home, different story, for an intrusion or break in, my pistol, usually 357 full size, or .40 S&W, is only buying me a few moments to get to the "critical dynamic, life threatening ender".  Which is the Rem 870, or God forbid, the Sig556, or AK.

For the record I carry this with .38+P+ load not the magnums! But I would entertain the idea in a model 640.