quote:

Originally posted by arfmel:
Try .38 Wadcutters in the RIA. Especially when you have your wife try it.

I already have a box of Winchester PDX ammo in .38spl, so that is what I'll put in it anytime I leave it for her. Actually, will probably just use .38spl in it from now on once this box of .357 is gone!

So, how was the shotgun?

I have both the SP-101 and LCR in .357 but I never load .357 into them. I have some of the old Federal Nyclad left over and also some of the old FBI spec 158+P HPs that I use in them. The old Nyclad stuff is comfortable to shoot but the FBI load is pretty stout.

Reminds me of a story from years ago. I was at a range shooting a HK P7 and the guy next to me was obviously intrigued having never seen a squeezer. He pulls a SW 4" Alaska Backpacker 500 out of his bag and asks if I'd like to trade guns for a bit?

Call me a wimp, but I declined his offer, but let him shoot my P7 for a bit. Moral of the story - small(ish) revolvers that shoot big caliber rounds is for emergency use only, not for a fun day at the range.

I often wear shooting gloves (or sometimes just one glove) when using my .357 snubbie, and have even taped up my fingers for longer shooting sessions.

Shooting magnum from a small frame is definitely not pleasant, but it can be rewarding.

Man, a lot of you guys wouldn't like this thing .



This little guy ain't so bad in comparison, even with full-house .357. Typically, I carry 135gr Gold Dot Short Barrels in it, which are only about 1050 fps out of the 2" barrel, so I'd classify them as "light magnums".



With a heavy charge of H110, it'll burn the hair off your hands and send rings of fire downrange !

Old co worker of mine got me behind one of those scandium/titanium .357 snubs. He threw some stout rounds in it and set me loose.

It was truly a self defense gun. Cause if you absolutely had to that's the only reason you'd want to shoot it.

quote:

Originally posted by Expert308:
So, how was the shotgun?

Didn't get to try the shotgun. The range I prefer doesn't allow anything but slugs from shotguns, and they didn't have any in stock, so will try it at a different range as soon as possible.

quote:

Originally posted by myrottiety:
Old co worker of mine got me behind one of those scandium/titanium .357 snubs. He threw some stout rounds in it and set me loose.

It was truly a self defense gun. Cause if you absolutely had to that's the only reason you'd want to shoot it.

Definitely! From now on this one gets .38spl for general use, and .357 ONLY when I think it's necessary!

With all the added recoil and blast from magnum rounds, I'm not sure there is a corresponding increase in performance from a 2" barrel. Some increase, but not enough to justify the magnum round.

Sure there is. If you miss 'em with the round you'll get 'em with the muzzle blast

Ohh. Just saw the pic of the grips. Yeah. That’s set up for a knuckle smack. That’s a huge gap right behind the trigger guard.

Usually, hard recoiling guns nail me in the web of my hand.

I see Altamont makes a grip that fills that gap.

This 66-1 has been my edc since 1980 or so. Pachmayr Professionals make it more than shootable with full house 357's.

pace40, that's a really nice Smith 66 you got there.

quote:

Originally posted by Chuck Perry:
pace40, that's a really nice Smith 66 you got there.

Indeed. Pace, how old are those Pachmayrs, and how's the fit? I have a set similar to yours on my Speed-Six that are awesome, but I've been through several sets for my Model 69 and the new manufactured ones I've found had poor quality control and had huge gaps in critical areas. That was a couple of years ago, and I'm curious if they've gotten things sorted out.

That S&W -66 or -19, the Ruger SP, a Colt Python are about the only snubbies I'll ever think of putting a Magnum round through.

I have a S&W 340pd that I absolutely love as my BUG / Pocket gun! But it will be a cold day in hell if I ever put a Magnum round through it ever again! I think I have +p or +p+ in there for SD.

I can shoot .357 mags out of my 3” Kimber K6s without a problem. I mean I feel it for sure after 50 or so rounds, but it’s not too bad.

Out of my 2” K6s though? No way. I’ll shoot a few cylinders of .38+p in it every range trip but even those get to be a lot. I’m sure with better grips it would be a lot more manageable but I haven’t got around to trying anything different. Since I can shoot 38+p through it I’m in no rush, and if I was going to carry a revolver it would be the 3” anyway.

I have a S&W 2.5" barrel in 357 and it is actually fun to shoot. I don't experience an unpleasant feelings with it.

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:

quote:

Originally posted by Chuck Perry:
pace40, that's a really nice Smith 66 you got there.

Thanks!

Indeed. Pace, how old are those Pachmayrs, and how's the fit?

These grips have been on the gun for probably 8-10 years but they were bought long before that. I bought a bunch of the same once I realized these fit perfectly, but that was years ago. I have no idea if the current ones are still the same.

Pachmayr is now owned Lyman, the reloading company. The old school grips are still offered for both revolver and autos.