Future CCW, Present Camp gun, Smitty J frame

[IchWarrior]

So here is the quandry I am currently in, I trying to find a piece that I can bring in the woods for the bear/cougar/snake encounter. I have a Colt Python, but its a little too heavy and too nice to pack easily and comfortably.

My current ideal choice would be a S&W 360, in .357 mag. How stiff is the recoil in a little J frame? I reckon I could shoot .38's through it for practice and messing around the camp if I want to shoot. Come packing time Ill probably feed it 158 Speer Gold Dots. I hate to question the good ole .357 mag, but will it have a decent wollup on smaller black bears or cougars? It would definatly be better than nothing... but will it be good enough is my question...


As for CCW, its a few years off. Im so darn skinny I have a snowflakes chance in hell to conceal anything of great magnitude, but having had a little bit of exposure to a little J frame, I think I could sneak one in my pocket or IWB. Really, I have being in the woods, and not having a piece accesible because its too heavy, or a long gun that I dont want to pack.

Thoughts, comments, flames, bring it on;)

[gregarat]

I wouldnt count on a 2" .357 doing much to a bear, I real cant say wether or not it would wollup a bad kitty. I just dont think it has enough of a barrel. Just empty the cylinder into the critter;) . I could be wrong, its just a guess.

I bet it would have a stiff recoil, but I dont think it would be painfull. Like you said, you can practice with .38s. When you need the .357, I doubt you would be worring about recoil.
How much does the S&W 360 weigh?

Im a skinny guy myself. I think wearing the proper garment, and a well fiting holster goes a long way.

If there was a snuby .357 on the rack when I got my .38. I would have got the .357 instead of the .38. Just make sure its stainless.

[Larry in Bend]

If you're worried about bears----how do you know that the problem bear will be a small one? If you're going to to use a .357, I'd go to a 4" K/L frame and load it with Federal 180 grain hardcast ammo (assuming you don't handload). Don't rely on hollow points in a .357 for bear work. My bear pistol is 5" S&W 629 .44 mag loaded with 285 grain hardcasts. That's still marginal. The 360 w/ Gold Dots would be fine for cats / humans providing you can hit with it. I've not shot that particular model but I have a Model 60/2inch /adjustable sights in .38 special that is much more difficult to hit with than my K frames (2 1/2"or 4").

[muskrat30]

The post is a little old, but anyway. I have had similiar thoughts & here's what I did. I got a S&W 340PD J-framed 12oz Scandium 357 mag. This is a double-action only model without even a shrouded hammer. First off it is a little much with any full power 357 loads. I recently shot some 38 target loads & then tried my working loads which are 38 +p 125 grn HP's. The HP's are tolerable with bare hands when trying out a few. I was up North & out in the bush a short time ago & carried it some. If I was on a remote AK river it may not be my 1st choice but for the lower 48 it is better than nothing & helps with the overall mindset. I have a 'belly wrap' type holster that you can wear over or under your clothes. Since WI is dragging it's feet on CCW it is most likely over the clothes for me. That's where this gun really shines, especially for the 'low probability' user.

If I was to shop again I think I would save a little $ and get a slightly heavier J-frame with a shrouded hammer to allow single action use. There is the bodyguard model in 38 that is still only 15oz's or slightly more. These small lightweight guns are not for blasting off 50 full power rounds at the range. I have other heavier guns for that.