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However the Scandium framed Model 340 has been part of my inventory for when I need a lightweight revolver. There are occasions when I am in shorts and a 24 ounce 640 is not going to cut it for me.

I agree that the 640 is a bit much for a gym shorts pocket. I have a 360J in .38+p that at 13oz serves nicely I that role, although I give up the Magnum cartridge capability when carrying it. Honestly, I've shot 360PDs with Magnum loads, and while they're not exactly pleasant, their reputation for causing pain is somewhat exaggerated, IMO. I wouldn't want to shoot a whole box through one in one sitting, but my hand was just fine and still fully functional after emptying a cylinder.

The biggest concern I have about those guns is caring for the titanium cylinder. My 360J has a steel cylinder, and while that adds about 2oz overall compared to the PD models, it's nice to not have to worry about scratching it or wearing the coating off leading to erosion from flame cutting. I'm not sure how prevalent that issue actually is, but I've seen photos, and that's a lot of money to spend on a gun that might start to wear away just from employing normal cleaning practices on it.

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There are times when I even carry a 5 shot Total Titanium revolver chambered in 45 Long Colt, but that is dependent on clothing and yes it is a handful

How do you like that 450? Has it been reliable? Is it accurate? I've been burned by Taurus in the past, but I love the .45 Colt and nobody makes a good DA option in that caliber these days. The Taurus is discontinued too, but their prices online are more tolerable than the S&W options. Despite it's being a Taurus, the 450 has tempted me pretty hard, and I've considered picking one up (probably the non-titanium version, due to cost). I'd love to hear your first-hand experience with the gun.

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Originally posted by 92fstech:

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There are times when I even carry a 5 shot Total Titanium revolver chambered in 45 Long Colt, but that is dependent on clothing and yes it is a handful

How do you like that 450? Has it been reliable? Is it accurate? I've been burned by Taurus in the past, but I love the .45 Colt and nobody makes a good DA option in that caliber these days. The Taurus is discontinued too, but their prices online are more tolerable than the S&W options. Despite it's being a Taurus, the 450 has tempted me pretty hard, and I've considered picking one up (probably the non-titanium version, due to cost). I'd love to hear your first-hand experience with the gun.

In addition to the 450T that I added just over 6 years ago, I also have a 415 and 415T that I have been shooting for almost 25 years now



All three have been stellar performers. I have not often shot them beyond 10 yards so I do not have a extensive opinion of accuracy, but at that distance I can consistently throw bowling pins off the table or complete head shots and that is all I call upon them to do.

The 450T has probably had a bit over a thousand rounds through it, including a few hundred last Tuesday when I brought it out because three of my associates were wanting to shoot 45 Long Colt. I also had a 5" S&W 625 and my 4 3/4" Colt SAA with me that day

The 415s have had many thousands of rounds down range since I acquired them, but wile I can handle any recoil for 5 or 10 rounds when my life is on the line, a 19 ounce 41 Magnum firing full power ammunition is more than I want to spend a day at the range with

I use the Barnes in all my Big Bore snubbies



The 450T is quite stout with the defensive ammunition, but it is tolerable.

If a 450T pops onto your radar grab it. The extra 10 ounces of the Model 450 is an increase in weight of 50%. That weight difference will stop you from carrying it under certain circumstances.

As to price, over a lifetime of ownership a couple of hundred dollars is not too big of a deal when we are talking about personal protection

I have other Taurus firearms and have had good luck with them. One had some issues, but the company took care of it under warranty and the revolver has been a champ ever since.

As to Titanium revolvers, I also have a 850T that is pictured 2nd from the top in the right hand column in that J-frame sized revolver photo in my 1st post. It has been in the inventory for over two decades. I trust it enough that I have had my Mother carrying it for the last 5 years.

[IMG:left] 68E192F4-889E-4DB7-83D7-80EC4820F800 by David King, on Flickr[/IMG]

I love the Spegel grips on that 640 Pro. Here is a small group of 642s, the one in the middle is from the early 90s and is not stamped +P. The other two are Pro models cut for moon clips and +P stamped. I am trying to decide what leather I want for IWB carry.

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Originally posted by YooperSigs:
If you want to detonate .357 in a snub, the only way to go is with the SP-101. Its somewhat tolerable.

Totally agree, but then I'm bias. Have a SP101 .357 Mag 3" with Magna-Porting. Could shoot it all day with full-house .357's. No significant muzzle flash (Federal 125gr JHP), very controllable recoil, tuned action. Shot a Scandium 2" J-frame years ago with full-house .357's. After TWO rounds, said thank you to the owner.

BTW, the old tale about muzzle flash with porting is not true. At least not using Federals with their superb flame retardant powder. Tested it in pitch blackness. I have owned a number of 2" and 3" J-frames. The 3" handle infinitely better. Wouldn't think 1" would make a difference, but it does.

Fellows, wadcutters will give adequate penetration, much easier follow ups, and are cheap enough (well, or were) to practice w a carry load/change it out every week.

I’m sure there are some bad asses who run .11 splits with monster killer 357 mags out of a Ti cylinder.

But I shoot wadcutters a heck of a lot faster and more accurately.

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Originally posted by 92fstech:
I have one of those, and it's amazing. It's my backup gun for duty carry...slides right out of the pocket and the tritium sights are perfect for a night-shifter. I did have to round the rear edges of the sights a bit to keep them from snagging on my pocket holster. It gets tossed in the pocket off-duty from time to time as well.

Recoil on the steel J-Frames isn't bad, even with full-house .357 loads. It's nothing like the 360PD. I just picked up another one, a Model 60-15 3", this past week. I was waiting on my boot grips to come in for it before posting about it, but I've already been out to the range with it a couple of times and it's a sweetheart. Sold my 3" SP101 to my brother to finance it...I loved that gun, but the Smith is a few ounces lighter and much trimmer, which will be nicer for carrying on the trail, and it's hard to justify keeping both.

OP, those grips are gorgeous! I love the grain in that wood, and the light coloring goes great with the stainless. What kind of wood are those? Like anything Spegel made, they appear to be perfectly countoured for function, too. Someday I will own a set...

The grips are high grade French Walnut.

I carried my J-Frame S&W BUGs in a Mika Pocket Holster when I was a LEO. Inexpensive, comfortable, and it worked perfectly (no snags for me), but I got lucky and picked up a PCH-RI from Milt Sparks a few years ago, after noticing it in their "In Stock" page.

In the days of yesteryear, The Federal Nyclad .38 was my go to load for a snub. In my LCR I now load the Hornady 110gr FTX +P. In the SP-10, I use the old "FBI load" 158gr +P LSWC-HP.

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The grips are high grade French Walnut.

Very nice, I really like those. I am a big fan of the newer S&W rubber boot grips for the round butt J-Frames. They've very functional, but they lack the class of those Spiegels.

Here's my J-Frame collection...the Model 60 is now wearing a set of the S&W boot grips as well. The 2" guns get carried the most, but the others have their function as well. The 63 has killed more stuff than any of the others (.22 is perfect for backyard pests), and the 60 will be my companion next time I'm out on the trail. The 31 is more of a range toy, but I enjoy the classic look and feel, and it's an accurate shooter with an excellent trigger.

I love that gun. I came close to buying one several years ago when they were first released and have regretted passing on it ever since.

I have a Kimber K6s now so I definitely don’t have any use for that Smith but I’d probably still buy one if I found one.

Nice lighting!

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Originally posted by dking271:
[IMG:left] 68E192F4-889E-4DB7-83D7-80EC4820F800 by David King, on Flickr[/IMG]

I love the Spegel grips on that 640 Pro. Here is a small group of 642s, the one in the middle is from the early 90s and is not stamped +P. The other two are Pro models cut for moon clips and +P stamped. I am trying to decide what leather I want for IWB carry.

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Originally posted by jhe888:

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Originally posted by JG:
I agree if I went back to revolvers that would be the first I bought. Recoil isn’t bad on a steel frame J-frame. It’s no fun with the scandium frame.

I have a scandium/titanium J-frame. It is worse than unpleasant with full power .357. But it is manageable with .38 +P loads. But it is super light, and hides nicely in a pocket.

I tried that on a 640 aluminum gun, a mistake for sure. On a Scandium frame, I can't imagine the inpracticality of that.