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March 18, 2014
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Having just swapped out my 6-inch barrel for my 2 1/2-inch one (just for the fun of it), I'm pondering the loss of .357 performance in so short a barrel. I believe this round is optimal in an 8-inch barrel.
A little reading suggests that while the .357 still has greater muzzle velocity than a .38 in this short barrel, the round produces a blinding-at-night flash of light and, of course, much greater felt recoil (compared both to the .38 in the same barrel and to itself in a longer barrel), each making a second shot for self-defense even more a challenge.
Anyone here inclined on principle to go with .38 ammo as you shorten your 15-2's barrel?
As an aside, the more I think about this question, the more I regret having bought on a whim the Wiley Clapp 3-inch version of the GP-100.
Beautiful gun (though the notch cut across the topstrap is a worry), but with hampered .357 performance (so maybe the notch is not a worry...).
Having 6-inch barrels in the 15-2 and 686-4, I'm thinking of selling the refined Clapp and finding the less-refined 5-inch Davidson GP-100. Or, would the switch not improve .357 performance much?
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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I'm not an expert on this, a couple of personal observations:
1) I'm not a fan of .357 in a short barrel, it hurts to shoot it for more than 6 rounds. All of my DW's are in 4", I've sold off everything else. I do think that .357 in 4" rivals a 1911 in .45 ACP for being the perfect fighting handgun
2) If you do carry a .357 in 2 1/2" (and I think that carrying a 4" is just as easy as the shorter barrel) the recoil/muzzle flash ... will not really matter in a six round self defense encounter.
My personal SD choice outside the home is
1) A knife (always) and maximum Situational Awareness. Always know where you are, where you are going, how to get out, and who is around you.
2) Ruger LCP in .380 (as much as I can get away with due to workplace rules)
3) Lightweight Commander in .45 ACP
I will sometimes carry a 15-2/715 in 4", loaded with the hardest hitting lightweight/highvelocity bullet possible
At home is easy. 14+1/with 14 more in a DA/SA 9mm, which gets me to the AR with 30 ready to go and 4 more mags loaded up
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
November 16, 2010
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For a short barrel, you need very fast powders. Most 38 is run with a fast powder and 125gr 357mag seems to be as well. I have chrono'd my 158gr plinker loads (I use common 45acp powders) and 125gr factory ammo to good effect. 140 and 158 357mag ammo is loaded with slow pistol powders and is a waste in a snubbie. Just my $0.02
Supporter
Range Officer
Range Officers
May 2, 2009
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I CCW my 14-2 snubby ...beautiful gun, packs a punch with 158 JHP's... recoil hurts like hell with small wood CCW grips 
.... takes a lot of practice to get used to it--especially if you are going to CCW it.
SHOOT
March 18, 2014
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HPMike800 said
For a short barrel, you need very fast powders. Most 38 is run with a fast powder and 125gr 357mag seems to be as well. I have chrono'd my 158gr plinker loads (I use common 45acp powders) and 125gr factory ammo to good effect. 140 and 158 357mag ammo is loaded with slow pistol powders and is a waste in a snubbie. Just my $0.02
.38 and 125gr .357Mag use fast powder? So less a fireball and therefore less energy lost?
Not wanting to waste my snubbie, I will work with this info (thanks for it). But can you tell me how to determine which factory 125gr load actually uses fast powder, or should I take it as a given?
On a related note, do you know if the rate of powder burn is what separates normal from "short-barrel" ammo, such as Speer's Gold Dot offerings. BTW, is "short barrel" 3-inches or less? I ask because of the creeping doubts about my GP-100.
March 18, 2014
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SHOOTIST357 said
I CCW my 14-2 snubby ...beautiful gun, packs a punch with 158 JHP's... recoil hurts like hell with small wood CCW gripsSHOOT
My carry, when I carry, is a Glock 19 (still looking for confidence in my Nano...). I'm thinking the snubbie configuration (with .38 ammo) for my wife, when I'm out of town. Racking slides and being part of the gun do not appeal to her.
July 9, 2013
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Speer has a "Short Barrel Personnel Protection" line of ammunition. This includes a 135gr Gold Dot in 357 Magnum. I believe the bullet itself is also designed to perform better at the lower velocities of a short barrel. If you click on the following link, it will be towards the bottom of the page.
http://www.speer-ammo.com/ballistics/ammo.aspx
The following is from a 2" barrel.
Velocity(in feet per second)
Muzzle 50 yards 100 yards
990 928 877
Energy (in foot pounds)
Muzzle 50 yards 100 yards
294 258 231
If you ever get into reloading, you can play around with faster burning powders to achieve the velocity you want as well.
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