38 Special +P in 357 LCR

button man · 01-18-2013, 18:18

Several posts recommended loading 38 special +P's in the 357 Mag LCR. Since carry weight is an issue why not save 4-5 ounces of weight and carry the 38 special model if that's the load you want to shoot. Just curious not being critical.

Rev.357 · 01-18-2013, 19:02

Why buy a .357Mag to only shoot .38sp or +? It's a Mag it's going to kick. I tried to get my x-wife to get a .357mag but no she wanted a .38sp+p & couldn't understand the options she was loosing.

countrygun · 01-18-2013, 19:07

The capability is nice to have. Even my wife's "J" frame is chambered in .357, we don't shoot it much (at all) with .357 but in a pinch it CAN if we have to.

Kentguy · 01-18-2013, 19:16

buttton man..."Since carry weight is an issue why not save 4-5 ounces of weight and carry the 38 special model if that's the load you want to shoot."

If carry weight is your issue the LCR 38 special +P is your choice, but if you want options than forget the 4.5 ozs. and get the 357 magnum.

I like options...

countrygun · 01-18-2013, 19:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kentguy

buttton man..."Since carry weight is an issue why not save 4-5 ounces of weight and carry the 38 special model if that's the load you want to shoot."

If carry weight is your issue the LCR 38 special +P is your choice, but if you want options than forget the 4.5 ozs. and get the 357 magnum.

I like options...

another consideration for reloaders is that loading +P loads in .357 cases for large .357s makes practice easier and avoids the "chamber deposits' from shooting .38s in a .357. It's nice to be able to practice with the same loads in the small gun without having to reset the loading gear for the .38.

The Fed · 01-18-2013, 19:35

LOL. I had a Scandium and couldn't hit the paper with mild .38's unless I carefully aimed each shot. The extra weight is nice for .38's in a .357.

**janice6** · 01-18-2013, 19:42

An option is the Chiappa .357 Magnum, but it is not in a J Frame size.

However, I can shoot this thing all day and have no physical discomfort, excepting the cost of shooting .357 Magnum shells all day. Soft recoil and no muzzle flip.

The first time my Grandson shot it he put 60 rounds down range and thought it was OK, but now wanted to shoot the gun with the red dot on it.

I first shot .38 Special in it to test the flip and recoil.....It was just like shooting a cap gun. Never went back to .38's.

Yes, I do own and shoot a S&W 642, its a handful.

jeager · 01-18-2013, 19:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by button man

Several posts recommended loading 38 special +P's in the 357 Mag LCR. Since carry weight is an issue why not save 4-5 ounces of weight and carry the 38 special model if that's the load you want to shoot. Just curious not being critical.

the 357 is a complete different build. mucho sturdier
vids show a tough to handle as-it-is in +p

unit1069 · 01-18-2013, 23:18

I've never owned a revolver but I would spring for a Ruger SP-101 .357 Magnum with 3 1/16" barrel. I'd probably go with the .38 Special 135-grain Gold Dot +P for carry because it has an excellent reputation for stopping bad guys. If I discovered I could handle full power .357 Magnum rounds in a short barrel I'd believe I would go for that.

Ak.Hiker · 01-19-2013, 00:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by unit1069

I've never owned a revolver but I would spring for a Ruger SP-101 .357 Magnum with 3 1/16" barrel. I'd probably go with the .38 Special 135-grain Gold Dot +P for carry because it has an excellent reputation for stopping bad guys. If I discovered I could handle full power .357 Magnum rounds in a short barrel I'd believe I would go for that.

The Double Tap 158 grain 357 Magnum 158 grain SJHP is a pretty easy to shoot load in my SP 101. So is the Federal 125 grain JHP. Both are full power 357 loads. The SP 101 is a tough little gun. It is a bit of a handful with the 200 grain DT hardcast though.

Nanuk · 01-19-2013, 18:50

I had a LCR 357 for 2 weeks, hated it. I have J/K/L frame Smiths that I shoot magnums in without issue. If you are going to use 38+P's you may as well use a 9mm.

countrygun · 01-19-2013, 18:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nanuk

I had a LCR 357 for 2 weeks, hated it. I have J/K/L frame Smiths that I shoot magnums in without issue. If you are going to use 38+P's you may as well use a 9mm.

You got a 9mm that fires a 158 LSWCHP? amazing.

**robhic** · 01-20-2013, 10:20

I had read that the FBI (and Mas Ayoob in his GATE forum right now) like the 158gr LNSJHP .38 +P as the choice for smaller revolvers. I have a Taurus .38/.357 (more of a "just to have" gun than anything) that handles the 357 much better than I'd expected.

Small, 2" barrel, metal frame with an insert in the barrel (ostensibly for the 357 use) and it didn't bruise my palm after shooting a quantity of magnum ammo.

I think the recommendation for the .38+P is more for better control and that that particular ammo was very, very effective in testing.

SCmasterblaster · 01-20-2013, 16:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by countrygun

another consideration for reloaders is that loading +P loads in .357 cases for large .357s makes practice easier and avoids the "chamber deposits' from shooting .38s in a .357. It's nice to be able to practice with the same loads in the small gun without having to reset the loading gear for the .38.

You got that right about chamber deposits. Shoot .357s in .357 revolvers.

Mountain10mm · 01-28-2013, 11:48

You can shoot .38's in a .357. I like having the option to shoot either in a carry gun, but typically opt for the .38+P's. In my experience the .357s in the 12oz. J frames are BRUTAL. Not that they can't be dealt with, but they will make a grown man's trigger finger bleed unless they really know what they are doing. (If you are not careful the recoil snaps the gun up and back causing the trigger guard to dig into the front of the trigger finger.)

Another thing to check is the velocity of the .357 out of the 1 7/8" barrel. Everyone thinks of the .357 as being a "magnum," but out of a short barrel (obviously load dependent), most of the .357s I chronographed have less velocity and energy than a standard 9mm (125gr. 357 and 124gr. 9mm) out of a G26 or equivalent length barrel.

SCmasterblaster · 01-29-2013, 07:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by countrygun

another consideration for reloaders is that loading +P loads in .357 cases for large .357s makes practice easier and avoids the "chamber deposits' from shooting .38s in a .357. It's nice to be able to practice with the same loads in the small gun without having to reset the loading gear for the .38.

Good thinking.

Glock26z · 01-29-2013, 13:07

Recoil?????,I have no darn recoil from my LCR in .357. Along with my 2.25 inch SP101,they are bouth my carry guns sometimes together with 4 5 shot speedloaders.

Berto · 01-30-2013, 01:40

For some reason i have always been averse to shooting .38sp in .357mag guns. I recognize the utility and don't fault anyone for doing so obviously, but I don't.
In small pocket revolvers, .38sp gives me all I want, esp with buffalo bore stuff.
If it's a belt gun, then the .357mag in a steel revolver like the sp101 makes more sense.

Berto · 01-30-2013, 01:41

For some reason i have always been averse to shooting .38sp in .357mag guns. I recognize the utility and don't fault anyone for doing so obviously, but I don't.
In small pocket revolvers, .38sp gives me all I want, esp with buffalo bore stuff.
If it's a belt gun, then the .357mag in a steel revolver like the sp101 makes more sense.

FLIPPER 348 · 01-30-2013, 06:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by countrygun

The capability is nice to have. Even my wife's "J" frame is chambered in .357, we don't shoot it much (at all) with .357 but in a pinch it CAN if we have to.

this

For going on 12 years my ti .357 is loaded up with 38+p for house duty but gets bumped up to .357mag SPs for wilderness carry. Even with the full-sized grip .357mags are a beast thru the ti-snub but manageable.

rustytxrx · 01-30-2013, 12:21

Recoil! Well try a 357 158gr magnum in this 11oz S&W AirLite PD. only takes about two cylinders full till ya decide that is enough practice with that load. I don't have the Ruger but the 110gr or 125gr 38 special +p is what I carry.

**robhic** · 01-30-2013, 17:10

I shot a friend's Ruger .357 7" barrel revolver. It hurt my hand after about 10 rounds and it is a heavy gun! Left a bruise on my palm.

Got a Taurus .357 2" snubbie and was afraid of how it would recoil!

But using the same ammo, I was pleased with the result. Don't get me wrong, it is unpleasant to fire! But not as bad as the big, heavy, steel Ruger. Go figure....

SCmasterblaster · 01-31-2013, 16:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by robhic

I shot a friend's Ruger .357 7" barrel revolver. It hurt my hand after about 10 rounds and it is a heavy gun! Left a bruise on my palm.

Got a Taurus .357 2" snubbie and was afraid of how it would recoil!

But using the same ammo, I was pleased with the result. Don't get me wrong, it is unpleasant to fire! But not as bad as the big, heavy, steel Ruger. Go figure....

That is odd. One would figure that the heavier gun would kick less . . . .