357 mag - shortly revolver

semi · 03-22-2009, 11:45 AM

I recently picked up a EAA Windicator 357 with a 2" barrel. the price was good so i had to do it. I am a semi auto guy (XD, Bersa) etc.... shooting mostly 9mm and 380 for CCW. I have shot a 357 before out of a 4" ruger revolver but can't remember how stout the recoil was. I am not really recoil sensitive but was wondering just how bad the 357 is out of a small frame CCW revolver. My thought was with the short barrel, it may not be terrible due to the powder not being able to completely burn out but could be wrong. Does anyone have experience with the good old 357 out of a small frame revolver?

That being said, i am also looking for a good .38 special load that would be reliabe for defense and carry. Any suggestions here? All i could find where wadcutters at Cabelas (which i am unfamiliar with and looked strange being stuffed in the brass). i didn't picture these to be a good defense load but more for target. any help?

driftrider · 03-22-2009, 12:32 PM

Well, I don't know how light the EAA gun is, but I shot 5 rounds of full power .357 Mag out of a S&W Airweight snubbie once, and I won't do it again. It just plain HURT. The 4" S&W 500 wasn't nearly as bad. The combination of the powerful cartridge, with the ultra-lightweight gun and the very small grip made the gun not only extremely uncomfortable (actually is was quite painful), but the recoil was also uncontrollable. It takes a lot to accurately shoot a snub nose revolver, but I seriously doubt that a quick and accurate followup shot is possible with that gun. After I shot the 5 rounds in the cylinder, I cleared the revolver, put it down, and will never do it again.

Mike

thndrchiken · 03-22-2009, 01:06 PM

For a carry gun I would suggest a 38 special +p 125 gr loading.