collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Smith and Wesson 357 mag  (Read 1368 times)

Offline Thehowler

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: May 2007
  • Posts: 997
Smith and Wesson 357 mag
« on: December 27, 2016, 11:22:33 AM »
Wife and I went out looking for a gun to keep in our home for home protection, and a concealed carry while we are on vacation. We decided on the model 60-14 lady Smith. I know we can run 38 specials in this gun, but we want to load a manageable magnum charge, that she can practice shooting with.
I am ordering  up a set of reloading dies today.
Been reading up online and found a few powders that might work with the 2.125" barrel, Unique, and power pistol.
What about bullets? Read about people loading everything,weight wise, under the sun.
Sounds like maybe keeping fps around 1100? Don't know yet. Trying to save some money and time here.
Want to hear from the real hunters, shooters on this sight that have experience with magnum snubs.
I do own a chronograph.
« Last Edit: December 27, 2016, 02:57:34 PM by Thehowler »
MAGA, Never give up.

Offline Bean Counter

  • Site Sponsor
  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jul 2008
  • Posts: 13624
Re: Smith and Wesson 357 mag
« Reply #1 on: December 27, 2016, 12:20:30 PM »
CorBon DPX. They're the best that I've read about on for snubby CCW revolvers. Something about the shorter barrel not imparting a lot of rifiling on the bullet before it leaves the gun and the design of the DPX really makes up for it as far as expansion goes. If I wasn't carrying those I'd probably chose between either Hornaday Critical Defense or Gold Dots by Speer.

We've owned and shot many Smiths over the years including the 60. its a great gun but I've largely turned my nose to Smith with those Gawd awful internal locks  :bash: One of our election-year acquisitions was a three inch SP101 by Ruger and after 5 minutes of easy internal polishing, a spring swap, and a few hundred dry fires on snap caps we like it better than any factory Smith we've ever owned or shot.  :twocents:

Offline theleo

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2013
  • Posts: 1212
  • Location: Kennewick
Re: Smith and Wesson 357 mag
« Reply #2 on: December 27, 2016, 02:29:24 PM »
In my experience "manageable" and "magnum" don't go together when you're talking model 60's. For my 3" model 60 I called it good with 7.5gr of BE-86 behind a 160gr WFN bullet. Over the Chrono it gives me 1,100 fps and I can stand about 20 rounds before I want to switch to something else closer to the 700-800 fps mark.

Offline jdb

  • the illustious potentate
  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+4)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2007
  • Posts: 3792
  • Location: selah
Re: Smith and Wesson 357 mag
« Reply #3 on: December 27, 2016, 05:14:34 PM »
I also have 3" model 60 and it's quite a hand full with magnums. I put about 10 rounds a year through it. With .38s it's a *censored*cat. Statistically speaking the 125 grain hollow points are the best man stoppers. I'd find a good factory load like mentioned above then work up a reduced load that shoots to a similar poi. I do love my model 60 it would be the last handgun I'd ever part with god forbid  if we could only own one
nuke the gray whales for jesus!

Offline Thehowler

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: May 2007
  • Posts: 997
Re: Smith and Wesson 357 mag
« Reply #4 on: December 28, 2016, 03:56:34 PM »
Thanks for the comments!
MAGA, Never give up.

Offline Bofire

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+5)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2007
  • Posts: 5524
  • Location: Yelm
  • Harley YAR YAR YAR!
Re: Smith and Wesson 357 mag
« Reply #5 on: December 28, 2016, 06:48:10 PM »
just use some bad ass factory load for defense, reload for practice. You won't shoot many full power loads anyway. Any good 125 grain hollow point, magnum or Plus P 38 special will do the job.
Carl
When the chips are down..... the buffalo is empty!!

I do not shop at Amazon

Offline Bean Counter

  • Site Sponsor
  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Jul 2008
  • Posts: 13624
Re: Smith and Wesson 357 mag
« Reply #6 on: December 28, 2016, 09:57:08 PM »
Oh yeah, +1 for .38+p > .357 mag. I'm not exactly recoil shy to begin with, and even though my heavier 4" GP100 can handle .357 mag much better than a larger small frame revolver like the S&W60 or Ruger Sp101, the increased muzzle rise after recoil means more time to get back on target. Odds are a defensive gun use will at least end at bad breath range, if not start there, and I'd rather feel more confident that I'll put all six rounds of .38+p into him than possibly only 3 or 4 of the .357 mag.  :twocents:

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Looking for Solid 22 LR input by Rat44
[Today at 12:26:36 AM]


Lynx kittens confirmed in the Kettle Range by dwils233
[Today at 12:04:14 AM]


Archery elk gear, 2025. by spin05
[Today at 12:03:42 AM]


How To Get Your $0.00 Tax Stamp - Black Hammer Arms by dreadi
[Yesterday at 11:33:25 PM]


AUCTION: SE Idaho DIY Deer or Deer/Elk Hunt by Rainier10
[Yesterday at 10:19:01 PM]


Seeking recommendations on a new scope by Klickitatsteelie
[Yesterday at 09:23:56 PM]


2025 Canning by Twispriver
[Yesterday at 09:15:12 PM]


2025 Montana alternate list by Edminsterquality
[Yesterday at 08:47:06 PM]


WSTA 2025 Summer Rendezvous Agenda by Trapper John
[Yesterday at 08:00:27 PM]


First attempt at polish sausages by Stein
[Yesterday at 07:58:22 PM]


Fullsized Truck Opinion: HiMiNew vs LoMiOlder by MADMAX
[Yesterday at 07:57:22 PM]


Sockeye Numbers by Southpole
[Yesterday at 07:44:30 PM]


Best all around muzzy (updated) by jjhunter
[Yesterday at 07:44:26 PM]


38% increase in fishing and hunting licenses by Sitka_Blacktail
[Yesterday at 07:02:41 PM]


50 inch SXS and Tracks? by 92xj
[Yesterday at 05:34:03 PM]


3 days for Kings by MADMAX
[Yesterday at 05:06:49 PM]


Full moon and last week of September by pd
[Yesterday at 04:51:23 PM]


Hunting bears in the thick stuff by ghosthunter
[Yesterday at 04:33:46 PM]


GMU 247 Entiat bear hunting by Ridgerunner
[Yesterday at 11:56:01 AM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal