I think the .357 Mag is brutal - am I alone?

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I have shot about every major caliber in handguns that there is including a TC in 45-70.The TC is the only one I thought brutal and only shot 3 rds out of it.Of course the ammo was hot rifle ammo which didn't help any.I think recoil is a very individual thing.Some people can handle more and some less.Probably in direct relation to how much pain a person can stand.
That 45-70 was pain.My brother thinks that if it doesn't sound like a 155 going off and recoil like one its not loaded heavy enough.

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Bob--- Age and deceit will overcome youth and speed.
I'm old and deceitful.
 
I have a 6" King Cobra, a 4" M19, and a 2" Magnum Carry. The KC wears rubber Hogues, and the other two have the wood Hogues. I found the MC, despite its size, to have the most comfortable finger-groove grips I've ever shot.

All three are easy to shoot, recoil is a little whippy on the snubbie but easy in the Smith and a creampuff in the KC. That is with .357, of course. All three are pretty boring with .38.

The only guns I have problems with recoil are my Super Blawkhawk in .44 Magnum and my American Derringer in .45 Colt. I tend to hurt the trigger finger of my off-hand with that squared-off trigger guard. Solution? One hand shooting. The Derringer is pretty awkward to shoot, since I can only get that middle finger actually on the grip to hold on, my ring and pinky fingers feel left out.

My 454 Casull is pretty boring, now that I put a scope on it. Only rises a few inches, if that. Sigh. Porting is great stuff, just like CoastieN70 said.

Solid grip, good stance, and practice practice practice practice. I've documented nearly 15,000 .357 Magnum rounds through that KC in the first three years I owned it (it was my only gun for the first 18 months, an E3 isn't rich...especially when all his money is buying bulk ammo!)

Check the thread on Taurus 454's for my 8-year-old girl and the dead bowling pin story. Unless there is a medical problem, recoil is largely a mental issue (until you are trying for .09 splits with a .45 ACP, then you are fighting the gun a bit :) )

[This message has been edited by wakal (edited August 19, 2000).]
 
Owned a passel of 357s over the years, and yes, some aren't fun at all. One trick is to use the lighter projectiles, the 125 load FEELS less brutal and still packs plenty of gee whiz.

About the worst recoiling revolver I've owned is a 640 in 38 Special with my old duty load,110 gr +P+. Can't even imagine what a 158 gr 357 would feel like.
 
I have a 6" model 19 which I consider a bit of a cream puff ( with pachmayer rubber grips ), I once had a remington pattern dbl derringer in 357, though, which only weighed 14 oz. empty. It wasnt bad at all with 38spl w/c, but with 158gr 357, it felt like a ball pein hammer hitting my hand! I never broke a bone, though, so I carried those loads for ccw. Also, it pretty much put other pistol's recoil in proper perspective!
crankshaft
paranoia is a good thing to have when they actually are out to get You!!
 
I agree with Oleg that the flash and noise are a major part of the problem, not so much damage to the hand. However, that flash and noise are also half the fun on the range. My revolvers have the Hogue rubber grip and I am into placing my hand way up at the top. The wood grip that came with my 627 nearly destroyed my fingers with .38 spl.

I started out shooting handguns with a 686+ and PMC .357 magnum target loads--dumb! I now usually shoot .38 spl at about 850 fps, but occassionally shoot some PMC 125 gr. .357 magnums or Federal 130 gr Hydra-Shok self defense rounds to retain a feel for using them for self defense.

I have a constant fight with recoil anticipation with all guns, but after the usual settle down period I find that I can shoot as well with the 125 gr PMC or the Federal Hydra-Shok as with .38 spl. After 50 or so rounds they can be wearying in the hand, but again they are great entertainment.
 
It takes some getting used to, and decent fitting grips make quite a difference. The qualification courses I used to run quarterly required the firing of 60 rds of .357/125 loads. It took a lot of adrenalin and concentration to put them all where they were supposed to go out to 25 yds, but most motivated people did okay. It is still a handful; 90% plus of my practice is with .38 Spls. When the Glock 9mms were approved quite a few officers went to them because they were more within their recoil tolerance. What little work I have done with the .357 SIG caliber Glocks suggests that they would be a good choice today.

The .357/125 is a splendid round but not for everyone...

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A Ruger SP 101 3" w/ 158gr .357 is brutal alright. I still can remember the sting.

Haven't had that much problem w/ recoil until I tried 12 ga. 3" magnums.
 
A man has got to know his limitations I like 12 ga 3 inch mags in a Derringer I like to feel the bones crunch through the arm, smell the cordite, smell the burnt hair from the fireball of firing a 3 inch shell in a 2 inch barrel,I love the smell of gunpowder in the morning!!!!!!!!oh--rah!
 
Even the 41MAG M57, IMHO ,is much easier to shoot than those little hand-bombs.
...Group Small.........dewey

[This message has been edited by dewey (edited August 20, 2000).]
 
Had a Buffalo Arms two shot derringer in .357...and a Dan wesson. I like the .357 and it's my preffered handgun. Thing for me is-like with my Makarov and the Pierce grips. I have small hands...but I prefer a larger grip. The B.A. derringer had hefty grips on itmight be it reduces recoil. Check out some Pachymyer grips for your weapon...might do the trick. Also if you are 'flinching' due to recoil. Have yer ol lady load it for you...leaving blank spaces in the cylinder.

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Satanta, the Whitebear
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magnums kick no way around it. Just practice and have fun with 38 specials or 44 specials and save the powerfull stuff for defense training or for carry. Plink with the light stuff. My 5 shot 45 colt conversion that can launch a 350 grain bullet at 1450 is normally only fired with at least 10 standard 45 colt loads for every full power load. Personally I don't find the 357 mag that bad. The 44 with full power loads out of a mountain gun is not what I would call fun to shoot all day but its handleable in small does.
PAT

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I intend to go into harms way.
 
I have the same gun as you, rock, and I'm also primarily a semi-auto guy. I find the 357 to be quite a handful, but I think it's more the concussion than the recoil that bothers me. I can feel it in my sinuses; feels like if I shoot enough my nose would start to bleed.

Another problem I have with revolvers is getting a proper grip. With autos, you just push the web of your hand well into the tang, but with wheelguns, I keep alternating between a high and a low grip. I need more practice, I guess.
 
Why don't you start with +P 38 Specials and when comfortable with those loads move into 357 Magnum loadings. When you transition to 357 Magnum loads start with mid range loads. Again when you are comfortable with the 357 mag mid-range loads move up to full loads. This is my advise as I don't see a problem shooting full house 357 mag loads in a robust revolver such as the S&W 686. If you talk snub noses it is a bird of another feather. Regards, Richard.
 
Rock Jock you are definitely not alone. As much as i love the few wheel guns that i have , i cringe everytime i shoot my wheel guns in 357. I'm not sure if it's from the blast, and feeling the hairs on my head tingle. Or if it's just the shock in my wrist. I'm not a very big guy 5'05 about a buck fifty i don't have problems controlling the gun. It's just after shooting a box of 50 it feels like the old catholic nun just ran the old ruler across my hand and wrist.
 
I also have shot .357 out of my Model 60. I think it's mostly a matter of loads selected and the round can be tamed--even out of small J-frames. I've shot 110 gr. semi-jacketed HP and don't find them anywhere close to "brutal." I even thought I got decent second shot capability.

Now, it does bark quite a bit though, doesn't it?

Randy

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"Never turn your back on the crew."
 
My 6" GP100 357 is a pleasure to shoot. The gun's weight, combined with Ruger's excellent rubber grips go a long way towards taming recoil. In fact, I like it so much that I am anxiously waiting delivery of my very own Super Redhawk in 44 mag!

Recoil is a subjective thing, and for me the noise is the most objectionalbe part, which has often led to flinching. Therefore, I double-up and wear both 31db foam plugs and a pair of 29db muffs, and have had no problems since. The pressure wave from the muzzle blast is another thing....

The true test is to shoot often. If after a while you still don't like it, then there are way too many other guns & calibers waiting to help you make a change.
 
prescription for 357magnumits

get a short barreled 454 shoot 1 cylinder full or tc in 375JDJ then go back to 357 it will feel like a .22. repeat as needed.


docstodd

kidding aside I have noticed that if I shoot a .22 put it down and shoot a 357. the magnum feels brutal. but if I shoot a 44 put it down the 357 seams quite pleasant. I also feel that good grips and ear protection go along way help with recoil controll. that and a lot of practice
 
In 4" or 6" full lug models the .357 magnum recoil doesn't bother me (though I wouldn't want to shoot it all day). In fact, 10 mm recoil hurts me worse than .357 mag from the long barrels.

In the case of snubby .357 magnums, now THEY DO HURT. I really hate shooting those light 2" or 3" .357 mag snubs with full powered loads.
 
The .357 mag is a great round, but I also rarely shoot it for fun, because I don't find a lot of noise and recoil to be fun for me. I'm not scared of it, understand, I just prefer the milder rounds because I find that I get to flinching with the hot ones. Like many here have said, the gun makes a big difference too. One time, a friend let me shoot one of our combat courses with his 4" bbl S&W .44 mag revolver and hot loads. I think I flinched for two months after that - my scores went down with the .38. Don't get me wrong, there are applications for the magnums, and also a lot of people just plain enjoy the big flash, concussion and noise, and therefore shoot them for fun. To each their own, and good shooting.

-10CFR
 
I've found that perceived recoil increases when using bad hearing protection and when in a small indoor range. Stand too near the wall and the sound bounces back at you.

This is what i did: Double up on the foam plugs and the head set. Move to the center of the range away from the walls or head outside. the 'felt' recoil and the flinching will go down.
 
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