New Smith revolver

Robert H said:
Those are nice carry guns. It'd be a good back up, but for a primary? I'd carry it WITH my Glock, but not alone, unless it's around the house type stuff.
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If you need more than 5 rounds of .357 Cor Bon (+ speedloaders) to deal with a situation, you should be firing an automatic rifle instead of a handgun. 5 rounds of .357 is better than 15 rounds of 9 millie, IMHO.
 
Pete1977 said:
The only .357 I've fired was a Desert Eagle. The recoil wasn't so bad as it was such a large frame gun. It wasn't my cuppa though.
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Standard .357 target ammo kicks about as hard as .38 SPL +P. A heavy frame absorbs a lot of the recoil. The slide on an autoloader absorbs additional recoil. The .357 Desert Eagle isn't as cool (or as well built) as the old .357 Coonan 1911A1 . . . too bad they're so hard to find.
 
If you need more than 5 rounds of .357 Cor Bon (+ speedloaders) to deal with a situation, you should be firing an automatic rifle instead of a handgun.
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It's not really on the topic of congratulating someone on their new pistola, but since it came up. It doesn't matter where you live, when you need a pistol, you need one that you shoot very well under pressure. For most, and certainly for me, that is not a barking J-frame. Sights are tough to see, lots of flash, heavy (from the factory) DA trigger, five rounds in a platform that is more difficult to reload than an auto, and loss of enough velocity to make expansion of JHPs questionable are not tops on my list of things to have when the SHTF.

YMMV.
 
Yep. Light guns equal lots of recoil. I had a AirLite 44Spcl and got rid of it for that reason. I now carry and often plink my S&W AirLite Ti 32 H&R Magnum revolver and even it has quite a surprise waiting for you when you shoot a magnum round out of it. That isn't the worst thing about magnums and plus P loads though. The worst thing is the report. Whenever it says Mag after it its going to be painfully loud.

I actually bought this little 32 for the wife and she can't shoot it without wrist pain, even if I load it with 32 auto so I ended up with it and got her a 22 LR AirLite revolover. Its an 8 shot that is the most reliable and fun 22 pistol we have ever used. I shoot it more than she does but technically its hers. I got rid of all my other 22 pistols after getting this one. Its a lot more reliable and just as accurate. I've killed countless rats and snakes with this one.

STR
 
It's threads like this that remind me my Taurus 605 (might as well be a Smith) isn't so bad after all. Still kicks, just not as much.
 
The clown at the range tried to load the bulldog with .44 magnum rounds. He was perplexed as to why the cylinder would not close. I'm not a gun guy, but even I know if the bullets are too long to fit into the cylinder, then they aren't the right bullets. go figure. :rolleyes:

If he could've gotten the gun closed I'd have been in for a surprise though. :eek:
 
tyr_shadowblade said:
If you need more than 5 rounds of .357 Cor Bon (+ speedloaders) to deal with a situation, you should be firing an automatic rifle instead of a handgun. 5 rounds of .357 is better than 15 rounds of 9 millie, IMHO.
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from a 6" bbl, maybe, from a snub, no way.
 
Again . . . 5 shots of .357 . . . even from a snubbie . . . is more than sufficient for the average person's CCW needs. One shot of .357 Cor-Bon to the center of mass of an unarmored assailant will almost certainly stop their attack. Nearly all attacks repelled by CCW occur within 7 ft, with only a single shot being fired.

If you feel threatened by the possibility of multiple armored assailants armed with machinepistols, then I would agree that a J-frame .357 is insufficient -- and would recommend that you up your meds and use thicker aluminum foil in your headgear. :D
 
SIFU1A said:
from a 6" bbl, maybe, from a snub, no way.
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This is the common wisdom. Unfortunately, common wisdom, sometimes, isn't.

The September 2005 issue of "Gun Tests" tested this wisdom, using identical guns of varying barrel lengths and identical .38sp and .357mag loads.

The summary: dropping from a 5" to a 3" barrel in either .38 or .357 lost only about 11% velocity. However, going from .38 to .357 in either barrel length gained about 30% velocity.

Here in the desert southwest, with 120 degree summers and 9 month shorts and tee shirt dress code, my only viable carry method is pocket holster. I can carry short barreled revolvers and semiautos in a pocket holster. I lose 11%, but gain 30% by carrying .357 loads. As I previously posted, I am a big, strong, experienced shooter who is not recoil sensitive. The recoil of that tiny gun with hot .357 loads HURTS, but it is easily...by me...controllable. I would never recommend this to anyone else, until they tried it.
 
Again . . . 5 shots of .357 . . . even from a snubbie . . . is more than sufficient for the average person's CCW needs. One shot of .357 Cor-Bon to the center of mass of an unarmored assailant will almost certainly stop their attack. Nearly all attacks repelled by CCW occur within 7 ft, with only a single shot being fired.

If you feel threatened by the possibility of multiple armored assailants armed with machinepistols, then I would agree that a J-frame .357 is insufficient -- and would recommend that you up your meds and use thicker aluminum foil in your headgear.
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It's that "almost certainly" part that will get you killed. The problem is that you start with the assumption that you get that good center mass hit to start with. I've known two guys who got one shot stops (from 9mm, BTW) but it's pretty damned optimistic to believe that that is the rule. You also fail to acknowledge that statistically you are likely to be engaged by more than one assailant. What they carry for weapons is irrelevant, you still have five rounds, including clean misses and peripheral hits to get it done. If you're sure you can do the job given those parameters, then you are the gunfighter's gunfighter, or at least they'll have something interesting to put on your tombstone. ;) FWIW there was a shooting in my local area that involved an armed civilian with a .357 and one assailant with a .22. Both fired their weapons and scored hits. Result: BG is off to prison, good guy is dead. I hope YMMV.

As far as carry, I live in Florida, which is hot and humid all but a couple of months a year, and I have carried with success under a shirt and shorts the following: Beretta 92F, 1911, or Browning Hipower, all with at least one spare magazine.
 
.357 snubbie, with proper defensive ammo, is adequate for nearly any situation the typical civilian might find themselves in.

I live in one of the more dangerous American cities (Norfolk), and work the night shift doing security work outdoors. I regularly deal with gang members, crackheads, homeless, drunks, crazies, and thieves. During the day, when I am running errands, I can expect to be accosted by panhandlers 2 or 3 times a day during the Summer. My favorite girlfriend lives less than a mile from Park Place -- where police were killed on 2 separate occasions last year. I have been subjected to a mugging attempt once a year (3 times) since I've moved down here. I have been threatened with guns and knives on multiple occasions. I reasonably expect that the likelihood that I might be required to use lethal force is somewhat higher than the average civilian posting here.

What do I carry? I own a Taurus .38 +P, but it feels like a brick in my pocket and generally stays at home. My EDC is a NAA .22 WMR mini. Tiny little single-action revolver that only holds 5 shots. As I do not drive a Lexus, or belong to a gang, or deliver pizza, or work in a convenience store, or sell/use drugs, I believe that my risk of getting involved in a gunfight is relatively small.

I cannot help but laugh when I hear people saying that a 5 shot .357 is "inadequate" or "only good for a backup" . . . perhaps if you are on a hit list or live in Columbia. But hey, if it makes you feel "more secure" to EDC 3 handguns and 150 rds of ammo, you go right ahead. :rolleyes:

That .357 is a fine EDC, and should serve you quite well. :thumbup:
 
thanks shadowblade. my thoughts exactly. all this back up gun carry is preposterous IMO. if you want to EDC more than one gun, fine, go for it, but to assert the 360PD by S&W isnt enough for strong side, lone carry is just a crock. :jerkit:
 
reconseed said:
thanks shadowblade. my thoughts exactly. all this back up gun carry is preposterous IMO. if you want to EDC more than one gun, fine, go for it, but to assert the 360PD by S&W isnt enough for strong side, lone carry is just a crock. :jerkit:
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im a cop. i carry a primary duty weapon and the smith as a back up. most officers carry backup weapons.
 
Dog Man said:
I have the exact same revolver, with Crimson Trace laser grips. One of my most carried CCW guns.

When I got it, I took it out to the desert to shoot it. First up, 5 rounds .38 light target loads. Bang bang bang bang bang. No big deal.

Next, 5 rounds Federal .38+p 158gr LSWHP, what I carry in my little .38 Lightweight Bodyguard. BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG. Just as uncomfortable as the Bodyguard, not painful, not fun.

OK, here we go...5 rounds Corbon 125gr JHP .357. Hot factory load. Geez, these look too long to fit in this little gun! Hmmm...they fit! OK, here we go. NO! WAIT!! I'm thirsty, need a drink. Ah, better. OK, now I'm ready. "Dear Lord, please don't let this hurt too muc...BLAM!! OW!! Hey, where's this blood coming from? Hmm..seems my finger got cut on the inside of the perfectly smooth trigger guard from the violent recoil. Oh, well, hand's nearly numb anyway...BLAM OW BLAM OW OW BLAM OW OW OW BLAM!!!

Understand, I am a 6'1" 230 pound former powerlifter who is NOT recoil sensitive. The recoil of this LIGHTweight little gun is so sudden and sharp that it's gonna' hurt.

I practice with light .38s in this gun (which is very unusual for me) and carry the .357s, knowing that if I'm shooting to save my life, I won't feel the pain until after it's over.

Highly recommend the CT laser grips, by the way. They actually reduce...slightly...the pain.
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Funny cuss that was my experience almost word for word. For me the CT polymer grips made the felt recoil worse. These however work great.
 
MORIMOTOM said:
im a cop. i carry a primary duty weapon and the smith as a back up. most officers carry backup weapons.
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Tom, I wasnt speaking from the forum of a police officer. In the event I were a law enforcement officer, I too would carry a BUG. I was just saying for civilian carry. Sprry for any discrepency.
 
reconseed said:
Tom, I wasnt speaking from the forum of a police officer. In the event I were a law enforcement officer, I too would carry a BUG. I was just saying for civilian carry. Sprry for any discrepency.
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no problem, your post just seemed a bit presumptive.
 
JEFFREY said:
Funny cuss that was my experience almost word for word. For me the CT polymer grips made the felt recoil worse. These however work great.
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Yes, I should have been more clear. The old style CT grips did nothing to help felt recoil, but the new model, with the air space near the top, do indeed help. Although, with full factory load .357s, help "a little".
 
MORIMOTOM said:
no problem, your post just seemed a bit presumptive.
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My bad man. I know many officers who DO carry BUGs and it seems perfectly mandatory in that line of work. I work part time at a gun shop and I just get humored from all the people coming in and bashing revolvers because they dont have 18 round mags.... They see my little revolver and ask me why i gave up my glock-carry for a smith revolver and i just tell them, its lighter, more powerful, and all i need. :D
 
reconseed said:
My bad man. I know many officers who DO carry BUGs and it seems perfectly mandatory in that line of work. I work part time at a gun shop and I just get humored from all the people coming in and bashing revolvers because they dont have 18 round mags.... They see my little revolver and ask me why i gave up my glock-carry for a smith revolver and i just tell them, its lighter, more powerful, and all i need. :D
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yeah, i here that a bunch as well. hi cap mags are great, but shot placement is what i preach.
 
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