.357 revolver CCW for a Beginning Shooter

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newenglandshooter

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I'd like some suggestions on .357 revolvers I could use as a CCW. I am new to shooting, and particularly interested in S&Ws. On the other hand, I'd like an inexpensive gun, so I'd like to hear other suggestions too. Any recommendations on holsters/belts would be great as well. I'm considering inside the waistband. Pocket carry seems the most comfortable, but I'm not yet ready for a teeny barrel with big recoil. Thanks in advance!
 
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Also check this out....

Its an all stainless snub-nose .357. Don't kid yourself there is going to be some recoil but it being 23 oz. it is manageable but it also does take practice. Starting out with .38 special and .38 +P is recommended as the +P is pretty close to the power of a .357 magnum (but still no cigar). Get used to that then practice some more using the .357. Once you master that then you should go ahead and carry that. But, be aware the snub-nose is a whole new ball game and that takes...you guessed it...more practice (I know I am repeating myself with the whole practice thing but it will do you well.)

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...d=10001&productId=14790&langId=-1&isFirearm=Y
 
go in search of a used model 13 or 19 K frame with a short barrel if you intend to shoot magnum loads for CCW, because you'll find that shooting hot loads out of a J frame is painful
 
newenglandshooter said:
I'd like some suggestions on .357 revolvers I could use as a CCW. I am new to shooting, and particularly interested in S&Ws. On the other hand, I'd like an inexpensive gun, so I'd like to hear other suggestions too. Any recommendations on holsters/belts would be great as well. I'm considering inside the waistband. Pocket carry seems the most comfortable, but I'm not yet ready for a teeny muzzle with big recoil. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
CCW generally benefits from a smaller, lighter gun, with a shorter barrel. Those very same attributes make it significantly harder to shoot (very small sights, shorter sight radius) and dramatically increase the felt recoil.

For example, you can shoot .38 Spcl out of a 4" K-frame (model 19 or 66) all day long. But the 4" K-frame is rather big and heavy for carry and certainly won't fit in a pocket. Even a 2.5" K-frame won't fit in a pocket.

Now put that same .38 Spcl ammunition in a 642 and you will find it very uncomfortable to shoot and hard to hit your target. Sure fits nice in your pocket, though.

You're going to have a hard time finding a decent compromise. Two possibilities for IWB carry are a 3" S&W Model 60 or a Ruger SP101. You will want to shoot .38 Spcl out of these -- .357 can be a handful for a new shooter in a small frame revolver.
 
I'd look at K or L frame revolvers with 2 to 4 inch barrels. I have a 2 1/2" model 66 that has served well. The smaller and lighter guns are hard and unpleasant to shoot and the N frames are nice but harder for most people to conceal in warm weather.
 
M1911 Pretty much said it all. A .357 in a little CCW package isn't fun to shoot and takes a lot of practice to become proficient...so you probably won't enjoy going to the range with it while firing box after box. For what it's worth I was in your shoes last winter with the same situation and questions. After all my research, questions and pondering I ended up with a S&W model 36 .38 snub (call me old fasion but I like a hammer on ALL my revolvers) that I carry IWB. It fits me very well and with +p rounds or other options for defense rounds I feel it's a pretty good defense piece. You could go with a larger 4" .357 for more comfortable shooting but it's a bit harder to CCW. No matter what you decide, if I were you I would spend the money for a quality revolver, especially if you are planning to CCW and you will be depending on it to go bang when you need it.
 
Thanks for the responses, everyone. I appreciate it. I shot the Model 19 during my safety course and liked it (longer barrel of course).

I realize there probably isn't a specific answer to this question, but how many rounds do people usually have to go through to "graduate" from .38 to +p to .357? A hundred of each? 500? I have no idea. I know it will vary from person to person, but I'm wondering about a ballpark figure. Thanks again!
 
The jump from .38 to .38 +P is a small leap. 100 rounds would be plenty, maybe even more than you need.

From .38+P to .357 is a moon shot if you're talking about a revolver under 25 oz. I've been shooting for 30+ years and I haven't made that jump yet.
 
I am going to give you my opinion, YMMV.

I had a short barrel model 13, and even with the pachmyr grips on it I never carried magnum loads in it for defensive use. I would shoot everything from .38spl reloaded wadcutters on up through .357 mag JHP's at the range, but when I carried it ( was my primary CCW gun for a lot of years before I goot my first Glock) I used nothing but .38spl +p JHP rounds.

The difference in stopping power is negligible but the kick of the .357 round is harsh in comparison. I'd rather get off 3 well placed .38spl + P rounds than 2 .357 rounds.

I don't care what gun you shoot, or what ammo you use, when the SHTF, you want the gun and ammo that you are using to get good placement, center mass. 4 rounds of .25ACP (imho the most worthless round ever made) placed in the chest is better than one round of .357 magnum that missed the target.

just out of curiosity, why have you chosen .357 mag as your preferred ammo?
 
Small .357 revolver for CCW is not going to be fun at all. May I suggest a G27 or maybe even a G19. Great for IWB carry and fun to shoot. I don't even care to shoot my 642 with .38 loads for long.
 
Whoa.....How did I miss this?

If you want to carry a revolver, .357 Magnum is THE cartridge to use. When you only have six, you gotta make them the most violent six you can stand.

To that end, the prefect platform is a 3" barreled, round butt, fixed sight S&W K frame revolver in .357 Magnum. That gives you two choices: Models 13 (blued steel) or Model 65 (stainless).

The only drawback is that those two guns with 3" barrels are relatively scarce. What are not scarce are those guns with 4" barrels.

I am not a large guy and I have absolutely no trouble at all concealing a 4" K frame eitehr IWB or OWB. In fact, I have no trouble concealing a 4" .44 Magnum.

4" S&W Model 64
DSC00363.jpg


4" S&W Model 65
P1010011.jpg


pic017.jpg


4" S&W Model 629
DSC00259.jpg
 
newenglandshooter said:
Thanks for the responses, everyone. I appreciate it. I shot the Model 19 during my safety course and liked it (longer barrel of course).

I realize there probably isn't a specific answer to this question, but how many rounds do people usually have to go through to "graduate" from .38 to +p to .357? A hundred of each? 500? I have no idea. I know it will vary from person to person, but I'm wondering about a ballpark figure. Thanks again!
Click to expand...
Personally, I very seldom shoot .357 through my Model 19. It is so much more pleasant (and cheaper) to shoot .38 or .38 +P. YMMV.
 
Jose is a ccw guru...Although, I must say that I have been carrying a full-sized HK .45 the last week and am surprised by how invisible it is...

To the OP...My vote goes for the S&W 642CT...If you must absolutely have a .357, then go for it. However, you will find that a 642CT with .38 +P Speer 135gr GDHP, or some 158gr FBI loads will be more than adequate for your needs...I would suggest taking a ccw and snub nose class. I learned more spending an hour with RoundGunShooter about the concepts and techniques of snubbies than I could have hoped to learn on my own...
 
I have a S&W 360. Shooting a small lightweight revolver in .357 literally hurts. I got through half a box and had to stop. I was able to make decent groups on paper at 20 feet. It is not a range gun or a gun I would want In a sustained firefight. It serves my needs for self defense at short range, only anticipating a few shots and it is over. I figure any confrontation will be at close range...within ten feet....and I would have no problem at that range.

Definately not a beginner round and Definately not a range gun.
 
When I carry my model 66, I carry it with CorBon .357 magnums and have no difficulty with the recoil. I agree with Jose that a 3" round butt model 13 would be perfect. The scandium .357s are painfull to shoot. I find shooting my .500 more pleasant. As others have said, .357 magnum loads are light years ahead of +P .38 specials. You may never get there. So what? Shoot what you can hit with.
 
I wouldn't say light years - especially with some of the +P offerings. Of course, .357's are more powerful than 38 +P's - Speers own ballistics tables state it so, (as does common knowledge). That being said, the .38 +P is more than a contender in ending a fight...We're talking about a 135gr bullet cruising along at 8-900fps - it ain't no joke...

Part Number Cartridge
Bullet Wt. Bullet Type Box Count Bullet Coefficient
23917 357 Magnum 135 GDHP-SB 20 0.141

Velocity(in feet per second) Energy (in foot pounds)
Muzzle 50 yards 100 yards Muzzle 50 yards 100 yards
990 928 877 294 258 231

Trajectory if sighted at 25 yards Test Barrel Length in inches Usage
25 yards
50 yards
75 yards
100 yards
0.0 -1.5 -5.5 -12.1 2V 1

Part Number Cartridge
Bullet Wt. Bullet Type Box Count Bullet Coefficient
23921 38 Special +P 135 GDHP-SB 20 0.141

Velocity(in feet per second) Energy (in foot pounds)
Muzzle 50 yards 100 yards Muzzle 50 yards 100 yards
860 818 780 222 200 182

Trajectory if sighted at 25 yards Test Barrel Length in inches Usage
25 yards
50 yards
75 yards
100 yards
0.0 -2.2 -7.6 -16.4 2V 1



.
 
Go K frame snubby. I have a love/hate relationship with them and the j frames. I change my mind about them just as often as I change my underwear. I think I have bought and sold about 10 of them so far. ;-)

I always wanted a small powerful revolver to carry but shooting them like the others have experienced, is another thing. J frames are painful even with 38+p but you need to draw a line in the sand whether ease of carry outweighs the shooting pleasure.

The K frame in 2.5 or 3" if you can find them are a nice compromise. It's harder to carry due to the sight increase in size and weight over a J frame but if you plan on belt carry, IMHO- the best out there.

Go with a good Beltman belt and a nice quality IWB holster. Leather or Kydex is a personal choice and definitely go with dual supports (i.e. hangers on your belt) over a single.

My 2cents....
 
pj150 said:
I always wanted a small powerful revolver to carry but shooting them like the others have experienced, is another thing. J frames are painful even with 38+p but you need to draw a line in the sand whether ease of carry outweighs the shooting pleasure.
Click to expand...
That's true (for me at least) of the aluminum, scandium, and unobtanium J-frames. But the steel J-frames (e.g., Model 60) are fine with .38 +P. Of course, the steel J-frames (and SP101) aren't as easy to carry in your pocket as the lightweight ones...
 
Don't get hung up on getting a .357, especially if you're planning to use it mostly with .38s. I find that you can get a slightly better deal on a .38 revolver over a .357, especially if you're getting a used one. I seem to get better accuracy out of .38's fired from a .38 than a .357 - but that may just be me.
My standard CCW is either a Model 60 (stainless J frame snubby) or a Model 15 (blued K frame with 4" barrel). I got these because they were significantly less than the .357s that were in the shop at the time.
Then, if you want to "graduate" to a .357, you simply buy another gun. Then you'll have two that can be a breeding pair getting you a safe full of all sorts of calibers that just showed up one day...
 
There only three .38 Special loads that I consider battle-worthy. In order of ass-kicking potential they are:

1) Buffalo Bore 158 grain +P lead semi wadcutter hollow point. 1160 fps out of a 4" Model 64 with a gas checked soft cast lead bullet with a HUGE cavity.

2) Remington 158 grain +P lead semi wadcutter hollow point. FBI's issue load for a long time and documented 15 inches penetration with full expansion in FBI clothed gel protocols. Not to mention a deadly street record.

3) Speer 135 grain +P Gold Dot.
 
I also stupidly forgot to mention that I live in an apartment, so how does that affect my considerations? Any other suggestions on ammo would be much appreciated. Sorry for the omission!
 
newenglandshooter said:
I also stupidly forgot to mention that I live in an apartment, so how does that affect my considerations? Any other suggestions on ammo would be much appreciated. Sorry for the omission!
Click to expand...

There is no defensive pistol ammo worth its name that will not penetrate one or two sheets of drywall and still have enough power to do damage on the other side.

DO NOT buy frangible ammo or gimmick ammo like cartridges with bullets filled with little BBs or extremely light for caliber. If you are ever called upon to fire in your own defense, or that of loved ones, that is the one fight in your life that you MUST win. Do what you must, do not handicap yourself, and prevail. As Bill Jordan (the real one, not the deer hunting dork) said: there is no second place winner in a gunfight.

That said, the distances in a typical apartment are so short that your chances of missing are nil if you keep your wits about you.
 
Jose said:
There is no defensive pistol ammo worth its name that will not penetrate one or two sheets of drywall and still have enough power to do damage on the other side.
Click to expand...

Yup. If it will go through 15" of muscle and bone in someone's chest, it will go through several walls.
 

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