| Posted: Wed Aug 26th, 2009 06:35 PM |
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Burt
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I purchased a Smith and Wesson MP 360 a while back for a light compact carry firearm. For those not familiar with it, it's a 357 magnum Chief's Special with a Scandium (light weight) frame...empty weight is 13.2oz. I bought this through my brother who is an FFL dealer and works mostly with S&W products and has quite a bit of knowledge on their products. When I told him that I was going to work up some hadloads for it he just shook his head and told me to just pick up some personal protection ammo and and see where the point of impact was on target. He told me the recoil is pretty serious on those light weights. Ahhh...what did he know. I handloaded some work-ups using 158gr Gold Dots with some Blue Dot. About half way through the work-up/test loads I was wishing I had never started. My thumb knuckle felt like I had whacked it with a hammer on every shot. By this time my hand was wobbling around and no way to tell if the rounds were accurate or not...the shooting sucked. I picked up a box of factory ammo and found what the point of impact was and that is good enough.
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| Posted: Wed Aug 26th, 2009 09:17 PM |
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2nd Post |
Gutshot
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I use the 158 grn. load in my mod. 28 S&W with 6" barrel. I have them loaded almost to the max with Unique. They rock and roll pretty good. The reason for loading them that way is I have a Marlin lever action in .357 mag. that I shoot with this load also. What were You thinking. Kinda like my buddy who bought a TC contender in 45-70. I told him to find some loads with 250 grn. bullets. He didn't listen. Shot it just once and sold it. Found out he shot a 500 grn. projectile through it. Made him a beleiver. Hand load your .357 mag. loads to 38 sp. velocities and have more fun. If too lazy buy them. Have a nice day.
Gutshot
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| Posted: Fri Aug 28th, 2009 08:26 PM |
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3rd Post |
Bigdog57
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I shot a buddy's scandium-framed snubby with full-boat .357Magnum rounds - OUCH!!
Not a gun I have any desire to own. It hurts to shoot it. However, it would carry real light in a pocket! 
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| Posted: Sun Aug 30th, 2009 06:51 PM |
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slipperyjim
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That is not a pistol that a smart person shoots a lot. It is a pleasure to carry because that is exactly what it is designed for. It is the pistol that you will carry no matter how tired you are. It is a self defense pistol that is easy to carry. It does not work well for target shooting.
I shoot mine occasionally just to remind myself what it takes to shoot it accurately. I only shoot 5 to 10 rounds about twice a year through it.
Enjoy it one day you may be glad you had it with you.
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| Posted: Sun Aug 30th, 2009 07:31 PM |
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Burt
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Yep, it jumps a bunch and not a target revolver...but real easy to carry even under a long tee-shirt. Things are getting bad around here (everywhere) and I was tired of trying to hide the Warthog, plus it catches on my seat belt in my truck. The only reason I worked up loads for it was to see just what it could do for accuracy using that short barrel...stupid idea I guess. At one time my brother owned a 329PD, a bit bigger but in 44mag...that thing would rock and roll...wow. I remember my father shooting a large caliber rifle many, many moons ago and just handing it back to the owner. He looked down at me and said, "Son, that thing kills on both ends". I will always remember that. But, a person has to learn things on their own some times.
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| Posted: Mon Aug 31st, 2009 06:00 PM |
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Paul B
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Sometimes, I wonder just what in hell some gun makers are thinking?  A super lightweight in .357 mag. is the epitome of assininity.  I've been known to shoot some awfully hard kicking guns and do own a few myself, but I would have to think twice on that one.
What I think I would do is try several brands of .38 Spl. Plus P ammo and see how they fit into your comfort zone. Once you've determined that, either stick with those or using a chronograph, work up a handload that matches your comfort zone.
I know people say to not use handloads, but I'm rethinking all that. My carry gun is an S7W M49 Bodyguard .38 Spl. with a handload that duplicates the long discontinued 200 gr. Police load once sold by Winchester and Remington. It's the Lyman #358430 mold, a rather bluff round nose bullet over 3.5 gr. of Unique which duplicates the original factory load quite nicely. Velocity is about 800 FPS from a 4" barrel so I figure about 750 from the snubbie. No barn burner but they do penetrate like mad.
I used to do some commercial custom handloading back in the 1970's and I made up a couple of boxes for an LEO friend for his back up gun at his request, I might add. He always lamented the discontinuance of that round. He was quite happy with my handload. He had to get the OK from his boss, but at the time I was a licesned commercial handloader so he was allowed to use the load.
One of these days I've got to sit down and run me up another batch of those bullets. I only have one box of that ammo left. 
Paul B.
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| Posted: Sat Sep 12th, 2009 01:16 AM |
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BigBill
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When i purchased my ruger security six 2 3/4" barrel in 357mag I ordered the herret grips made to fit my hand right away. I can shoot my hotter magnum reloads with no problems after the larger grips.
Now i use the larger pachmayer presentation grips in rubber on all my handguns. I think the grip size matters even more on the shorter barrels too.
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| Posted: Sat Sep 12th, 2009 09:01 PM |
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swampshooter
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My every day carry gun is a S&W 342-1 scandium snub. I knew before purchase that they are too light for myself to shoot good groups with in .357 mag. I've tried .38 +p and they still kick too much for me, As I'm much more likely to be shooting a rattlesnake than a person, I needed a load that would group well. Finally settled on Federal's personal defense 110 hp Hydra Shok low recoil loads. They're listed at 1,000 fps, but chronograph at 900 fps from my revolver. Rec oil is controllable and they shoot to point of aim in my revolver. Although no powerhouse, they are more powerful than a .380. To date 3-one shot kills on rattlesnakes. I'm very pleased with this set-up.
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| Posted: Sat Sep 12th, 2009 09:53 PM |
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OldManMontgomery
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Being in the aged category, when I think of a short barreled .357 Magnum, I automatically picture either a 2.5 inch Model 19 or a Ruger Speed Six.
I do have and carry - on occasion - a two inch Model 36. My load of choice is a flat (not hollow) based full wadcutter at middle to upper (safe) pressure levels. It works well, isn't too abusive, and I've got faith in that big flat front disrupting things rather than smoothly weaving its way through.
Works as a general purpose plinker and small game round in the K frames, as well.
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| Posted: Thu Oct 22nd, 2009 09:01 AM |
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10th Post |
jjb2
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i've been wondering ..... what is scandium??????? what metals are involved in making it??
LIFE IS SHORT.....
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| Posted: Thu Oct 22nd, 2009 02:04 PM |
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ghrit
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jjb2 wrote: i've been wondering ..... what is scandium??????? what metals are involved in making it??
LIFE IS SHORT.....
Scandium is itself a metal. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandium I can't imagine that it is used much in a pure form. My best "guess" is that it is alloyed with aluminum in the S&W products.
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| Posted: Thu Oct 22nd, 2009 04:44 PM |
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12th Post |
miestro_jerry
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I own a 340 PD and it is 12 ounces. Easy to carry, but a pain to shoot. But if you are held up at gun point, one shoot will scare the crap out of the perp.
I use 38 Spl +P ammo in mine, it's less wear and tear on my hands and has the same basic effect on perps.
Jerry
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| Posted: Thu Oct 22nd, 2009 05:41 PM |
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13th Post |
jjb2
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thanks ghrit... sometimes i forget wikipedia.......... on down the page it says the newer russian migs are made with some scandium....... sounds like the handguns made from this metal are pretty light....... i've never looked that close at em i guess...............
LIFE IS SHORT.....
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| Posted: Thu Oct 22nd, 2009 06:08 PM |
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Dragon88
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I wonder if these little revolvers wear excessively even shooting light or medium target loads. Say if you shoot a few hundred rounds a year from it just for practice and skill maintenance, how long until the revolver needs service?
I really got interested in revolver shooting after buying my 2" Taurus ultralite, but shooting it weekly at the range seemed silly. I just got a 6" GP100, and from I've read this Ruger will outlast me...
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