On the fence

[UncleBuck]

I looked at a sweet SW340 357 today but I did not buy it.

Anyone here shot a light 357 they didn't like?

I will use this as a BUG and not a range gun. I am having a hard time buying into that it is too powerful to want as a light revolver. My only experience with revolvers is a SW 629 44 Magnum I have. I want the 357 not the 38.

Gracious.

[Fish609]

I shot one of those "airlight" .357 S&W and OMG was that unpleasant. I couldn't even hit the target at 7 yards, but then again I wasn't used to that nor have I shot many wheel guns before.

I think it would make a good BUG, it definitely has enough UMPH to hurt someone. It is, however, NOT a pleasure to shoot.

Maybe your model is different though. A heavier one with a real handle might not be too horrible.

[FrankRizzoXD40]

SW made some airweight titantium models that even the most experienced shooters, like Massad Ayoob, felt were unpleasant to shoot and hard to control.

I would stay away from the titanium and scadium (I think these were called super-airweight) models. If you are going to get something light, at least make sure it has a little weight to it. Some of the scadium models only weight 12 OUNCES!!!

I think some of the original airweight or airlight models weren't too bad. That was before they started using exotic metals, I believe.

A regular old snubby would work best, IMO. They are also cheaper than these new exotic models.

Frank

[UncleBuck]

Originally Posted by FrankRizzoXD40

SW made some airweight titantium models that even the most experienced shooters, like Massad Ayoob, felt were unpleasant to shoot and hard to control.

I would stay away from the titanium and scadium (I think these were called super-airweight) models. If you are going to get something light, at least make sure it has a little weight to it. Some of the scadium models only weight 12 OUNCES!!!

I think some of the original airweight or airlight models weren't too bad. That was before they started using exotic metals, I believe.

A regular old snubby would work best, IMO. They are also cheaper than these new exotic models.

Frank

I have looked around the area shops and there are ZERO used guns here. So the only new ones I see are the 340 Smith and the 640. I am looking for a pocket gun and not a IWB. Even the counter guy looked at me funny when I said I don't care about recoil? Jeez. I wear a 2XL glove and have shot magnums for years. WTF?

How is it that SW keeps making these little hand busters and I never see them in the use/consignment cabinet?

[FrankRizzoXD40]

Originally Posted by UncleBuck

I have looked around the area shops and there are ZERO used guns here. So the only new ones I see are the 340 Smith and the 640. I am looking for a pocket gun and not a IWB. Even the counter guy looked at me funny when I said I don't care about recoil? Jeez. I wear a 2XL glove and have shot magnums for years. WTF?

How is it that SW keeps making these little hand busters and I never see them in the use/consignment cabinet?

That's a good point. I have no idea. I can only judge by my experience and the experience of other well-know firearms experts, like Massad Ayoob.

Perhaps people think they will only need to use their back-up guns at extremely close distances, so massive recoil won't affect their aim.

Frank

[nickb]

I tried one of the little scandium 357's using only regular 38 special. Even that sucked. I can't imagine firing it with magnum loads.

[FrankRizzoXD40]

Originally Posted by UncleBuck

How is it that SW keeps making these little hand busters and I never see them in the use/consignment cabinet?

The only other possibility is that they aren't selling very well, so not many people have them to trade-in or sell?

Frank

[drgonzo]

I've been thinking about one of these as well as a pocket gun but haven't yet jumped in because of the cost (close to $900 b/c I'm a big fan of Laser Grips) and recoil issues (this isn't the only forum I've read on this issue). A friend of mine who's a self-described gun NUT (had about 250 before he got divorced) has shot one and said that if he was going to carry with it he'd use .38sp +P in it. Said he couldn't make it through 5 rounds with .357 and he's a guy that shoots a lot.

One line I remember about the 340 is that it's a gun you carry a lot and shoot a little.

I'd like to try one before I plunk down that kind of money. I've got a S&W 19 (.357) with a 6" barrel that I like to shoot a lot but, obviously, that's a whole different beast than a 12 oz. AirLite. I noticed with my 19 that it became a lot easier to shoot when I changed the stock wood grips to Laser Grips. The rubber/plastic grip seems a lot easier on my hands.

[JiffyGriff]

I shot a 637-2 today; essentially a 642 with a hammer. Shot .38 specials out of it; no +P. Personally i didn't think the recoil was too bad; in fact I had a hoot shooting it. Saw a nice flame come shooting out the front with each round it was pretty wild. I'm not too recoil sensitive though. Only problem was I couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with it.......Laser grips would be a must. I'd really like to get a 642 but nobody has great prices around here; lowest I've seen was $449 and I've routinely heard of people picking them up for anywhere from $300 - $400.

[Johnnybgood]

A nice reliable pocket gun is the Taurus Model 605, 357 Magnum. I know a lot of folks don't like Taurus but this is a good gun ask around.