Springfield XD is available in 3" or 4" in a variety of calibers. I'm partial to the .40. Much more fun to shoot with very little recoil.
http://www.springfield-armory.com/xd-series/
Posted on 04/03/2015 3:11:40 PM PDT by big truck
I'm considering the purchase of either the Ruger LCR .357 snub nose (1 7/8" barrel) or the S&W 340 M&P .357 with the same barrel length. Anyone own/carry either gun? Pros and cons? Preferences?
Just a theory; but if you get shot or clubbed with either, it is going to hurt a lot.
I have a Ruger GP100 357 and it is by far my best pistol. Its a revolver and not exactly compact and only holds six rounds but it packs a punch and I am pretty accurate with it too.
I sometimes carry a 342, I use 90 grain Winchester +P+ .38 Special loads in it, they are very low flash and about as much recoil as one would like on a regular basis. Not good on body armor, but otherwise a super load. The gun is very concealable, I use a Brown & Sharpe clip rather than a holster but normally just put it in my front pocket. A .357 in my 640 does not have that much better terminal ballistics out of the 1 7/8 barrel, but it does have an unacceptable muzzle flash. Thus, the 342 seems the more useful creature. Lighter, good ballistics and little to no muzzle flash.
+1 on the Ruger GP-100 in .357 with a 3” barrel. I have the Wiley Clapp version in what Ruger calls the “Hawkeye” finish which is “frosted” stainless. It has Novak combat sights, a factory-tuned action, and all surfaces are beveled. I have been shooting handguns for over 40 years and IMHO this is the finest stock combat revolver ever offered. And it’s real purty too!
Springfield XD is available in 3" or 4" in a variety of calibers. I'm partial to the .40. Much more fun to shoot with very little recoil.
http://www.springfield-armory.com/xd-series/
The LCR is a nice little gun when loaded with .38 SPL +P. However, I like the cylinder release on the S&W much better.
I have an S&W 340PD, and like others have said, shooting it with .357 ammo is very punishing - in fact, I use .38 special +P ammo with it, and it’s still very punishing.
I like it because it’s small enough to carry without much difficulty, but it is a compromise. However, compared to having no gun with you when you absolutely need one, well, there’s no question that having a compromise beats being unarmed.
I do not have any experience with the Ruger, so can not offer a comparison.
Either one will be good. Both are excellent quality. Whatever suits your fancy that day. You won’t be disappointed.
Try them out at the store. A.357 is a heavy load. There are some ballistic charts out there and the.357 needs some barrel. The muzzle flash would be something elsen on a 1.x”. 38+P is somewhere in between and the ruger and sw handles those. None of the above are fun guns, just for emergency.
“I’m getting a .44 mag wheelgun.”
I had the stainless Ruger Redhawk, in 44 Mag. Usually shot withe 41 loads if I wanted to shoot a couple dozen. Buddy got a snubby S&W. I was very hard on my hand. Twisted in my grip.
Don’t know about the Ruger. I have the S&W M&P 340. It’s rough on the hand. Having hard time with speed loader getting caught up on grip. Other than that I’m glad I picked it up. Practice with .38’s save the .357 for carry. Very light compared to my S&W 640.
Excellent advice. Thank you.
“I wouldn’t have thought they did. “
I went looking for the article that did a comparison test but could not find it. There appears to be a lot of differing opinions. Several articles talk about the failure to penetrate. But that is the intent. The Glaser is very soft and faster than a similar FMJ because it is lighter. It transfers all of its kinetic energy on impact, which I’m guessing would be one hell of a hit. I use it because the .380 Glaser round is known for ricochets and I don’t want to risk hitting an innocent bystander. Note that the .380 has a 3.5 inch barrel and you musty practice more than would be required with a longer barrel gun.
Exactly what I want. The Redhawk.
I used to have more guns than Carter’s had pills - until they were lost in a tragic mining accident. Five-shot wheel guns are OK, but with today’s +P loads in .38 Spl., you don’t need a .357 (See: Buffalo Bore.) If you must own a .357, get a S&W 686, (7-shot) with a 3” barrel. The problem is that it’ll weigh almost as much as an all steel, full frame 1911. My preferences for CC are both “electric” pistols 1) A Springfield XDs .45, and 2) A Ruger LC9s 9mm. Both are light, powerful, flat, and hold more than five rounds.
It is all about comfort and what what feels right in your hands.
Then go practice, practice, and practice some more.
Get the .357.
Practice with .38s, carry .357 125 JHP.
I’ve been shooting .44 Mag wheelguns since the mid-1970’s. I started with a Ruger Super Blackhawk single action. I never liked that gun. When the Redhawk came out I got one and never looked back. This is a big, strong, powerful, exceptionally accurate handgun in the 7.5” barrel model. There are now 2.5”, 4”, and 5.5” barrel lengths in addition to the 7.5”. My favorite is the 5.5” with a handloaded 250gr. cast lead Elmer Keith semi-wadcutter over 18 grs. of 2400 powder. Easy to control and hits like a freight train. The 2.5” model is a flame thrower that kicks painfully. Get that one (LOL!).
Get the long barrel with scope mounts. Too much fun! But I sold it when I found a very rare Gibson prototype steel guitar.
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