anybody carry one of those scandium snubbies?

They are nice but you pay for the light weight in recoil. I went back to all steel in 38 snubbies for the most part but still carry a 28oz 2 1/2" N-Frame...a 325PD. Not bad with factory 45acp but my 45 Super loads hurt in it.
 
Not a Scandium, nope.

But... I had a stainless 640 a decade and a half ago. Loved it, traded it, missed it.

Recently, after researching, I chose (and then fortunately found a good deal on) a pre-lock 642 Airweight.

Love it.

J-frames may be the finest concealable personal defense firearms ever.
 
The Airweight 642 is 15 ounces, and lists for $561. It bangs your hand with +P loads, but it's not too bad. The Scandium 340 is 12 ounces and lists for $1051. It's virtually unshootable with .357s. Is it worth an extra $500 to save 3 ounces?

I carry a 2-inch all-steel Model 60 .357 (22 ounces) in my waistband with a ClipDraw. Most of the time, I can't tell it's there.
 
I find no difference in shooting my 642 than my 640.

Mine is/was .38, rated for +P. That's what I generally shoot, Federal NYCLAD FBI loads. -Someday soon I expect we'll run out, and then who knows? Probably the Speer GD for snubs.

And absolutely... carried IWB, pocket or vest, I don't even feel the thing. So unless the Scandium is an "it" thing for you, the expense simply isn't worth it. My 642, pre-lock and nice, was $335 out the door.

A grand for a current J-frame?

-Well, for me, they haven't built that one yet. YMMV. :cool:
 
342. Scandium AND a Titanium cylinder. Five rounds of ammo weigh almost as much as the gun. I almost forget it's there.
 
340 + 5 rounds of Speer Gold Dot 125 gr. +p. It goes in my front pocket every day, and I wouldn't want anything heavier or larger in there. When I carry IWB or OWB I carry something else (Kahr PM9). With a Crimson Trace grip, recoil is very manageable, though I've never shot .357 Mag loads. I practice with laser on and with laser off, so I'm adept either way.
 
I've shot the Scandi 340, and craigz is right. .357 is waay too much! Personally I really like my Sp101, 2 1/4 inch bbl, and .357's are on the slightly uncomfortable end, but can be used effectively. It's a pussycat loaded with .38+P. Both the 340 and 101 give nice groups at 7 yards.
 
The blue 442 sold for $349 here until a recent price increase, taking it to $379 or so.

I had the extreme displeasure of shooting one shot thru a Scandium .357 and would never willingly do it again. If I had one of my own, I'd load it with .38's

As a previous poster asked, is 3 oz worth $500 to you?

I shoot +P's in my 442 and it does just fine. Make sure you get open backed grips, as they allow you to get a higher hold on the gun which keeps muzzle flip to a minimum.

.
 
a bud has a scandium "J" frame .357 mag and it carries great.

shooting it for much more than a cylinder full is a different story though lol.

true story - the same guy who has the .357 snub has a S&W .500, a big heavy pistol, ~8" bbl, we were shooting the .500 and the .357 and i honestly think the .357 was more unpleasant to shoot vs the .500, FWIW i shot a lot of .454 casull, .44 mag, hot .45LC, so i am used to recoil, the .357 is still a handfull though, if i was getting one of the scandium "J" frames i would get it in .38 spec.
 
I've only shot one "airweight" snubbie with full loads, and it was equipped with the standard S&W grips. Very nasty indeed.

My (non-airweight) Taurus snubbie has the Pachmayr neoprene jobs; very comfortable.
Somewhat more bulky, however; you pays your money.....
 
i have the S&W 360PD (titanium cylinder, al/scandium frame, w/ hammer) and it is an excellent carry piece.

not practical to shoot at any distance however. aiming is difficult with the short distance between sights and the recoil is unmanagable.

but it's a great pocket gun. carry it, forget it, and it'll be there when you need it (as long as your target is up close). it is not a fun weapon to take to the range.


when carrying i can choose between my 360pd or my glock 19. i almost always opt for my glock 19. while the 360pd is featherweight, the glock 19 is a very reasonable weight and size and more practical in use.


360pd6iz1.jpg
 
I would argue that the snubbie is fine at longer distance, just a matter of practice. As far as preference between revolver and pistol, it is just personal preference. I carry both at the same time simply because the Kel-Tec PF-9 fits flatter in the pocket and in my Kramer Deep Cover T-Shirts while the 325PD rides on the belt along with either a J-Frame or Detective Special.
 
I just got the 642 (aluminum frame)- I would not want to go any lighter. To me, if you're going to carry it, you need to shoot it.
 
Absintheur said:
I would argue that the snubbie is fine at longer distance, just a matter of practice.
Click to expand...

I'm AMAZED at how precise my snubbie is at 25 yards with the laser grip. The laser shows just how capably the barrel can group at a distance. When I practice with just the sights alone, I can't group nearly as well due to the short sight radius of a 2" barrel. But that speaks to my limits with a short sight radius, not the limitation of the snubbie itself.
 
I had a scandium .38 and I just picked up a used 340sc and switched the laser grips to it. I'm carrying 150 grain buffalo bore very hard cast wadcutters in it.

Very manageable recoil.
 
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