[Eric2340]

Need S&W 342Ti ammo advice


I've got an older .38 S&W 342Ti that my mother has "stolen" from my collection and I want to replace the ammo with fresh batch for it.


** I remember back in the day when I got it there was some type of limitation on the bullet weight of the load it could fire, for fear of the rounds becoming unseated in their cases under recoil due to the gun's light weight. **


What is the best load to use in this, I prefer a heavier load that can go deep, and still shoot somewhat comfortably and control well. I realize WHAT she is using in the 342Ti and had bought her a heavier stainless J frame to carry to help cut the recoil for her (she's in her late 60's), but she refuses to carry it due to it's heavier weight, hence how she got my 342Ti. She's not frail and can handle the small J-frame, but she's also not me either (i prefer my G30SF .

I'm not a fan of the lighter, shallower penetrating loads that are more prone to fragmentation either.


Is this the job for an older, heavier load like the SWC, or the classic "FBI" load? Again, remember the 342Ti does have some strange bullet weight requirement that I can't recall at this time?


Thanks -

Eric

 

[ithaca_deerslayer]

No matter what she carries, she should try it first with 148 grain wadcutters. Those are the lowest recoil of all factory stuff. Then decide from there. They can be carried for self-defense, but are harder to reload an empty gun with, because of the flush and flat nose of the bullet.

Maybe next to try would be 158 grain semi-wadcutters. Standard velocity, not +P. They will reload into an empty gun easier, but will have more recoil. But probably a better bullet design than round nose, and less recoil than most other factory rounds.

 

[Z71bill]

http://www.nmletg.org/S_W_Revolver_Manual_08-15-2013.pdf

See page 12


AMMUNITION SELECTION
FOR Ti, Sc & PD
Series REVOLVERS
Before placing any of these reduced weight revolvers into
service, perform the following test to determine the suitability
of the ammunition you intend to use.
At a gun range or other suitable and safe location, prepare your revolver for firing by fully loading its cylinder with the ammunition
to be tested. While pointing the firearm in a safe direction, fire all but the last round. Remove the empty casings and the last loaded round from the revolver’s cylinder.
Carefully inspect the loaded round to determine if its bullet has started to unseat (move forward) from its casing.(Figure 2) If it has, you should not use the tested ammunition in your revolver. Choose another projectile weight or brand of
ammunition and repeat this test until you find one that
DOES NOT UNSEAT under these test conditions. When you are finished, fully unload your revolver and secure it safely.


CAUTION:
Do not use Magnum loadings with bullet weights of less than 120 grains - This will reduce the possibility of premature erosion in titanium alloy cylinders.

 

[Eric2340]

http://www.nmletg.org/S_W_Revolver_Manual_08-15-2013.pdf

See page 12


AMMUNITION SELECTION
FOR Ti, Sc & PD
Series REVOLVERS
Before placing any of these reduced weight revolvers into
service, perform the following test to determine the suitability
of the ammunition you intend to use.
At a gun range or other suitable and safe location, prepare your revolver for firing by fully loading its cylinder with the ammunition
to be tested. While pointing the firearm in a safe direction, fire all but the last round. Remove the empty casings and the last loaded round from the revolver’s cylinder.
Carefully inspect the loaded round to determine if its bullet has started to unseat (move forward) from its casing.(Figure 2) If it has, you should not use the tested ammunition in your revolver. Choose another projectile weight or brand of
ammunition and repeat this test until you find one that
DOES NOT UNSEAT under these test conditions. When you are finished, fully unload your revolver and secure it safely.


CAUTION:
Do not use Magnum loadings with bullet weights of less than 120 grains - This will reduce the possibility of premature erosion in titanium alloy cylinders.

THAT'S what it was, THANKS!


Magnum loads obviously are not an issue in this gun as it's only a .38, but after I went back and looked at it again I also remembered the outside of the barrel is marked "".38 SPL +P Jacketed".

I also got this e-mail back from S&W after I e-mailed this AM too -

"Dear Customer,

We don't recommend shooting lead because of the fragments it leaves behind on the breech and the rifling in the barrel. We don't recommend using less that 110 gr because it's corrosive to the titanium cylinder.

Smith&Wesson values its customers and we are happy to have served you today. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you require further assistance.

Regards, Ashley"


So that had to be the two big issues I could not remember with this particular gun, again it's only a Ti .38 J-frame, and no longer in production - NO non-jacketed +P ammo, NO lead rounds, and NO less than 110 gr bullets in it.


That said, I'm not so sure I want to put +P ammo in a less than 11 ounce gun for my older mother, and I'd also like to stick with something with as little of recoil and much penetration as possible? I'm sure a compromise is going to have to be met somewhere with this?

 

[Bruce M]

While hardly a modern choice, maybe the old standard 158 grain lead round would be ok for her. I know S&W is saying to not use other than jacketed rounds, but I have to guess that in a true emergency five or less round nose lead rounds would not ruin the gun and of course in a true emergency I have to guess the longevity of the revolver would be fairly low on the list of concerns.

Or there is the Winchester 130 grain jacketed round which I am thinking may not be on the upper end of the recoil spectrum but probably not the most robust stopper. I might be able to scrounge up a handful of them you would be welcome to.

 

[Eric2340]

While hardly a modern choice, maybe the old standard 158 grain lead round would be ok for her. I know S&W is saying to not use other than jacketed rounds, but I have to guess that in a true emergency five or less round nose lead rounds would not ruin the gun and of course in a true emergency I have to guess the longevity of the revolver would be fairly low on the list of concerns.

Or there is the Winchester 130 grain jacketed round which I am thinking may not be on the upper end of the recoil spectrum but probably not the most robust stopper. I might be able to scrounge up a handful of them you would be welcome to.

While I agree 5 rounds of lead rounds is not going to destroy the gun, it's the couple hundred of them vs ball ammo I'd prefer she try out of it I'm more worried about in the long run?

I even considered swapping her out into a traditional all aluminum non-Ti or Scandium Airweight to illuminate Smith's ammo requirements for the gun, but I don't honestly think it's really worth all the trouble in the end. I also have already bought her a model 2.5" model 65 K frame a few years ago to replace her original SS Bodyguard J-frame she had as it had no real sights and held one less round then the model 65, but she then refused to carry it at all in her purse b/c of the added weight. That was how she came to steal my Ti Airweight and I figured her carrying something was better than nothing. She does keep the model 65 has her "house gun" and DOES shoot it better than any of the three.

A semi-auto is OUT of the question for due to lack of hand strength, dexterity and almost guaranteed limp wristing.


Speer makes a 125gr +P Gold Dot I believe is what I have in it now, and I think they make a 135gr +P load in the Short Barrel line also? I know in the past I had used what I believe were 129gr +P Hydra Shocks in it back when I was carrying it?


Regardless I was hoping they was something better like the old "FBI load" I could use in it if it would work, but I'm not sure of the recoil in the Ti Airweight and it also seems Smith is shooting that down too with their needs for this particular gun too?

I also was not sure if a heavier gr round in .38 +P would recoil hard on her than the lighter one would either, again especially in the Ti Airweight, which is why I asked also............



Thanks -

 

[Berto]

It's tricky with the weird ammo requirements in those Ti/scandium guns. Honestly, I'd probably load it up with a good std pressure Wadcutter like the ones loaded by Underwood or Buffalo Bore. They are loaded flush with the case and crimped well so they shouldn't jump the case. Being hardcast should alleviate issues associated with softer lead bullets and they are loaded to mid 800fos velocities so they will go deep enough and cut a fair wound channel. I've chrono'd the BB version at 869fos avg from a 2" Colt Cobra...so, they hit the advertised numbers.