Guns, Bows, Shooting Sports, and Hunting Concealed .357: S&W J-frame or Ruger SP101?

[GO 4LO]

Looking at picking up a small . 357 for concealed carry. Mainly looking at S&W's lightweight J-frames and Ruger's SP101. I've read opinions on several other forums but was curious what folks here thought.



I haven't really decided on pocket carry vs. WB, but I guess it would be nice to keep the pocket option open. Is the SP101 really that bad for pocket carry? How bad are the really light J-frames to shoot Magnum loads through?



If I decided to save money a little while longer and get something more expensive, what do you think of some of the larger 6,7,8-shot . 357's? Is there a big difference in concealability, if I were locked into WB carry anyway?



Thanks in advance.



Chris

 

[cksh8me]

There is two versions of the light weight J frames the lightest costs a bunch more. I'd buy the Smiths over the Ruger personal opinion but I like them better. There is also a SS model J frame that is much cheaper than the other two.



The light weight guns really PAINFUL to shoot with full boat 357 and the recoil can cause the bullets to pull out of the case and jam the gun. Personally I'd shoot 38 +p or 38+P+ and be happy.

The whole idea of the light weight guns is to carry alot shoot seldom.



DO NOT buy a Taurus another opinion based on years at the range seeing them fail.



There's more detail to go into but if you've been reading other forums then you should already have that info.



Good luck

 

[2broke2smoke]

There is two versions of the light weight J frames the lightest costs a bunch more.



the wife has one and loves it ... 12 oz empty ... perfect for concealed carry









"The light weight guns really PAINFUL to shoot with full boat 357"



kicks yes, painful no ... just shoot . 38's if you can't manage the recoil









"and the recoil can cause the bullets to pull out of the case and jam the gun. "



bull ... i've shot dozens of boxs of full boat . 357's through it ... if that happens in any gun then you're shooting junk ammo



have two freinds who purchased the same revolver after seeing/shooting the wifes gun and non have had ANY problems





most import thing is to carry the gun ... that's the biggest advantage to the airweight smith's, a joy to carry and god forbid you ever need to use it you won't notice any recoil

 

[GO 4LO]

Thanks for the help, guys. I just got back from a lunchbreak range trip, and I rented an SP101 2. 25" barrel . 357. Shot 158gr through it. Seemed like a decent little gun, and kicked about like I expected. The one issue I had with it is that my fingers kept wanting to slide up into the trigger guard - I think I'd want a different grip if I got that one. I'm going to have a bruise on my middle finger tomorrow for sure .



I have another S&W revolver already, and this Ruger wasn't nearly as smooth as mine, but I hesitate to make that comparison between a fairly new, well-cared-for Smith and an old rental Ruger that probably hasn't been cleaned for a week.



I like the suggestion you guys made about running . 38 in a lighter gun. I'll look around for a place to rent an Airweight S&W and try that one out, too. Thanks again for the help.



Chris

 

[JCyrbok]

I have a Smith 340PD . 357 that is a great little pocket gun. Its my main carry gun in the summer and a good little backup gun. Its in my pants pocket as I type this.



I run . 38+p Hydrashocks out of it and it is a handful with full . 357 mags.



Guns like these are typically really close range guns. You will likely be touching or very near touching someone that you shoot with these guns. Farthest I have shot with it is 15yards (which we have to qualify at work at).



J-

 

[cksh8me]

2 broke you do not know of what you speak. I've been there done that with the bullets pulling. Some of the models have a warning about this with the gun. I have had to pound the bullets back in to get empty the gun NOT a fun experience.

As for painful well you must be a swinging meat stud because you are the only person I know that doesn't call it painful.

I spent a few years working at ranges I've been there done that.

 

[sarj]

I have 686 S&W and 40 cal. P232 SIG. Not that I would ever have a CCW here in California, but if I did, I could assure the P232 is a much more comfortable CCW than the 357... not that I ever would of course.

 

[2broke2smoke]

2 broke you do not know of what you speak. I've been there done that with the bullets pulling. Some of the models have a warning about this with the gun. I have had to pound the bullets back in to get empty the gun NOT a fun experience.



As for painful well you must be a swinging meat stud because you are the only person I know that doesn't call it painful.



I spent a few years working at ranges I've been there done that.

you are wrong . .



we purchased the gun when they first came out ...



I HAVE shot dozens of boxes of full boat . 357's through it ...



post a link from smith where it states the warning you refer to



i am not a swinging anything ... but the 72 year old female anethesist that i work with did find it uncomfortable to shoot with the . 357's and she only practices with the . 38's now ...



my 14 year old daughter does enjoy the muzzle flash at night with the . 357's, although she will only shoot it one shot at a time



if you have had problems with factory bullets pulling then you should do a google search for the term "LIMPWRISTING" ...

 

[cksh8me]

Yo 2 broke I'm sorry you know it all. After all I've only worked in the firearms industry for almost 10 years. I have a couple of cards that say I'm a firearms instructor blah blah blah.



Ya see my low post count that's because if I don't know what I'm talking about I don't post.

 

[AABEN]

You can stop some of the kick by going to a 110gr HP. you are only going to use it in self defence at a close range.

 

[AABEN]

GO 4LO S&W has a modal 12 out if you can find one it is a 6 shot 38 it is only a few OZ more than the chief and the chief is a 5 shot. I have carried it for 22 years it is a good CC gun 110GR HP 38+p+

 

[2broke2smoke]

Yo 2 broke I'm sorry you know it all. After all I've only worked in the firearms industry for almost 10 years. I have a couple of cards that say I'm a firearms instructor blah blah blah.



Ya see my low post count that's because if I don't know what I'm talking about I don't post.

what?



post count?



i asked you to post a link support the claim you made ...

 

[2broke2smoke]

You can stop some of the kick by going to a 110gr HP. you are only going to use it in self defence at a close range.

blackbear here is a link to smiths site that shows the wifes gun ...



Product: Model 340 Revolver



as stated above it can be rough to shoot for some:-laf



on the lower portion of the barrel, under the caliber is the following warning:



"NO LESS THAN 125 GR BULLET"



to get back on topic ...



for Concealed carry first and foremost you have to have a gun you can carry ...



and for my small framed wife the smith is perfect ...



light ...



no sharp edges (i removed the front site ... again because it made it easier to conceal and she still hits a tennis ball at ten feet)...



and the grip actuall fits her smaller hands pretty well

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

Ruger has come out with a 327 mag (not to be mistaken for a 357 mag) 6 shot revolver that I would like to buy but all the gun stores are waiting to receive their orders. Reports I have read say recoil is mild and the velocity is more than enough to open up a hollow point. seems like a good carry gun. It comes with a 3 inch barrel so may fit into a pocket. The pictures I saw were showing stainless steel. There has been a 32 magnum for a long time but the 327 mag is longer so it wont fit in an old 32 mag and the gun fly apart. Just like the 357 won't fit in an old 38 special. the only amo available right now is the Federal brand but there are bound to be other brands soon. This looks like a real winner to me.

 

[GO 4LO]

I just started looking at that . 327 Mag a little, as well. Says you can shoot . 32 S&W, . 32 S&W Long, and . 32 H&R in a . 327 Mag, as well, just like shooting . 38 in a . 357. Might be an interesting option. I'll definitely do some more research - thanks!



2broke2smoke, do you know about how much those 340's are selling for now? Any chance they're coming down a little now that the Night Guard series is out?



Chris

 

[Rattler]

I like my little Sp101. I keep it loaded with 125 gr. H. P. s'. It is a lot of fun to shoot, and a Ruger is about as tough a gun made. Yes the grips are a little small for big hands, but so are most small carry guns. Randy

 

[2broke2smoke]

2broke2smoke, do you know about how much those 340's are selling for now? Any chance they're coming down a little now that the Night Guard series is out?



Chris

sorry man ... it's been a while ... haven't priced them lately



we paid right around 700$ for the wifes and another shortly afterwords for the lady i worked with ... got both at the local gun store