Does anyone owning a S&W 340PD have any experience shooting 158 gr. LSWCHP +P 38 Specials? Am wondering how this round recoils compared to some of the lighter loadings in 357 mag (such as Proload's tactical lite). Any problems with uncrimping of the lead bullet in this light revolver? Thanks.
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158gr LSWCHP+P 38 Spl out of 340PD?
- Thread starter snubby
- Start date
Easier recoil; better accuracy (though this is a bullet weight thing; mine shoots 158 gr. at any velocity better than lighter bullets); no uncrimping (not enough recoil at 38+p pressures). I like to carry three of these backed up by a couple of full-on 158 gr. .357 JHPs. Love the flexibility of a .357 snub.
MolonLabe416
New member
Question:
What velocity are you actually getting from +P or .357 ammo from a revolver with a 2 inch barrel? Have you shot over a chrono? If not, you should. The velocity will be much slower than listed on the box.
It's been my experience, though I admit to not trying the latestet generation of cartridges here, that you're burning a large part of your powder outside the barrel, which, of course, does nothing for velocity. Does make a bright light though!
I use standard 38 special Nyclads. The Nyclad is a very soft lead hollowpoint cover with some sort of polymer so that it doesn't foul the bore as soft lead other wise would. Much less recoil, much less flash. Give it a look.
What velocity are you actually getting from +P or .357 ammo from a revolver with a 2 inch barrel? Have you shot over a chrono? If not, you should. The velocity will be much slower than listed on the box.
It's been my experience, though I admit to not trying the latestet generation of cartridges here, that you're burning a large part of your powder outside the barrel, which, of course, does nothing for velocity. Does make a bright light though!
I use standard 38 special Nyclads. The Nyclad is a very soft lead hollowpoint cover with some sort of polymer so that it doesn't foul the bore as soft lead other wise would. Much less recoil, much less flash. Give it a look.
Ferndale; is that outside Everet? I hear you guys are getting a load of rain. Hope it clears up; we're visiting familly in Seattle beginning Wednesday.
No, I haven't chrono'd the LSWCHPs I shoot. They're advertised at 910 fps from a 4" barrel, and I wouldn't count on them making much more than 800 from my little barrel; but they're also very soft swaged lead, so they might have a good chance of expanding. There have been good discussions about SWCHP bullets in the .38, and in snubs in particular; the search function will pull these up.
Two things prevent me from looking into Nyclad. First, I've never seen them; and second, they're only available in 125 gr, right? I haven't found anything in 125 grs to be as accurate as anything in 158 for my gun; and I figure accuracy is more important than expansion (I mean, hitting 1" closer to my point of aim makes more of a difference than an additional .2" of expansion, right?). There's also penetration to think about, but that merrygoround has been ridden many times on TFL, and I won't start it up again.
Am I wrong about Nyclad's bullet weight? Do they make a 158 gr.?
Cw
No, I haven't chrono'd the LSWCHPs I shoot. They're advertised at 910 fps from a 4" barrel, and I wouldn't count on them making much more than 800 from my little barrel; but they're also very soft swaged lead, so they might have a good chance of expanding. There have been good discussions about SWCHP bullets in the .38, and in snubs in particular; the search function will pull these up.
Two things prevent me from looking into Nyclad. First, I've never seen them; and second, they're only available in 125 gr, right? I haven't found anything in 125 grs to be as accurate as anything in 158 for my gun; and I figure accuracy is more important than expansion (I mean, hitting 1" closer to my point of aim makes more of a difference than an additional .2" of expansion, right?). There's also penetration to think about, but that merrygoround has been ridden many times on TFL, and I won't start it up again.
Am I wrong about Nyclad's bullet weight? Do they make a 158 gr.?
Cw
I have an S&W M60 and have fired an Airweight and a Scan/Ti, or whatever they call the latest featherweights.
Velocity from a two-inch bbl. will run about 775-825 feet per second, depending on ammo brand, lot, and the particular gun. I sometimes wonder if the phase of the moon has to be figured in. (Just kidding!) This is with the lead HP.
Velocities of 125 grain bullets often aren't much better, so the added weight and momentum of the heavier bullet should aid penetration. Autopsies usually show some expansion from the lead bullet, even from snubs.
Recoil is noticeable in a .38, but nothing even a healthy teenager shouldn't be able to handle with a little practice.
I have fired these from the lightweight guns, and recoil then becomes enough that you won't want to shoot more than one or two cylinders full at the range without a break. BUT: these guns are meant mainly for carry. If you have to shoot someone or a rabid dog, etc., few rounds typically are fired.
I don't know that I'd want a .357 that small. It wouldn't surprise me if firing considerable magnum rounds from a Scan/Ti gun might not bruise or do worse damage to your hand eventually. I'm not especially recoil sensitive, but a 2.5 inch bbl. M19 gives all the .357 recoil I want!
If you do want to try 125-130 grain .38's, I've had excellent accuracy from the Hydra-Shok, the Speer Gold Dot (which is quite hot for a Plus P .38) and Remington's basic JHP. In Marshall and Sanow's statistics, these hover right at the same level of stopping power as the 158 grain lead HP. The Winchester 130 grain SXT also seems to do well. But in tests on living animals (pigs,etc.), the 158 grainer penetrates better. Either .38 round is better than a .380 auto. That's something to consider in choosing a load that may have to go through winter clothing or have to kill a big, mean dog.
Lone Star
Velocity from a two-inch bbl. will run about 775-825 feet per second, depending on ammo brand, lot, and the particular gun. I sometimes wonder if the phase of the moon has to be figured in. (Just kidding!) This is with the lead HP.
Velocities of 125 grain bullets often aren't much better, so the added weight and momentum of the heavier bullet should aid penetration. Autopsies usually show some expansion from the lead bullet, even from snubs.
Recoil is noticeable in a .38, but nothing even a healthy teenager shouldn't be able to handle with a little practice.
I have fired these from the lightweight guns, and recoil then becomes enough that you won't want to shoot more than one or two cylinders full at the range without a break. BUT: these guns are meant mainly for carry. If you have to shoot someone or a rabid dog, etc., few rounds typically are fired.
I don't know that I'd want a .357 that small. It wouldn't surprise me if firing considerable magnum rounds from a Scan/Ti gun might not bruise or do worse damage to your hand eventually. I'm not especially recoil sensitive, but a 2.5 inch bbl. M19 gives all the .357 recoil I want!
If you do want to try 125-130 grain .38's, I've had excellent accuracy from the Hydra-Shok, the Speer Gold Dot (which is quite hot for a Plus P .38) and Remington's basic JHP. In Marshall and Sanow's statistics, these hover right at the same level of stopping power as the 158 grain lead HP. The Winchester 130 grain SXT also seems to do well. But in tests on living animals (pigs,etc.), the 158 grainer penetrates better. Either .38 round is better than a .380 auto. That's something to consider in choosing a load that may have to go through winter clothing or have to kill a big, mean dog.
Lone Star
Gearhead Jim
Inactive
FWIW, my new 340PD, shooting .38 spl, produces velocities almost 100 fps slower than my 640, using the same chrono and same box of ammo. Flash gap is similar in both guns, so I'm not sure if the difference is in chamber or barrel tightness, or something else. The old wisdom is that .38's fired in a .357 will lose some velocity, but 100 fps seems like way too much.
LSWCHP+Ps do respectably well in the expansion department. In my own personal tests, they do rather well, better than most of the more recent offerings.
Another round that deserves consideration is the 130gr SXT (+P).
I found it to expand after a couple layers of denim (not too common from a snub), though it suffered from repeated core/jacket seperation.
I should have pictures of each if one should want a peek.
Another round that deserves consideration is the 130gr SXT (+P).
I found it to expand after a couple layers of denim (not too common from a snub), though it suffered from repeated core/jacket seperation.
I should have pictures of each if one should want a peek.
In my 340PD the FBI loads are really easy to control. Anyone should be able to handle them, including women. With the 158gr +P Win X38SPD the #5 bullet pulled only about .010" Accuracy is good.
Another round is the 125gr Proload Tactical Lite .357. It's easy to control. I think it exits at about 1020. The #5 bullet pulls about .015 to .020" but doesn't jam the gun.
I'm still using the Fed 357B 125gr .357 Hi-Shok, but with modified grips. It has terrible recoil in the 340PD. Not sure my hand will be able to stick with it. Might loosen up the gun too. But I carry it for its full pocket power.
As for the 340PD itself, mine is really well made. Very tight. It's a serious gun that I'm happy to recommend to anyone.
Another round is the 125gr Proload Tactical Lite .357. It's easy to control. I think it exits at about 1020. The #5 bullet pulls about .015 to .020" but doesn't jam the gun.
I'm still using the Fed 357B 125gr .357 Hi-Shok, but with modified grips. It has terrible recoil in the 340PD. Not sure my hand will be able to stick with it. Might loosen up the gun too. But I carry it for its full pocket power.
As for the 340PD itself, mine is really well made. Very tight. It's a serious gun that I'm happy to recommend to anyone.