JCN’s take on modern fighting revolvers

[jetfire]

So instead of 38, I go with 9mm. But I like 357 mag in barrels longer than 2.5 if the gun is heavy enough.

4 inch guns are where 357 really shines, and if I was carrying a 4 inch it would definitely be rocking some good old fashioned Magnums

[JCN]

I think there are a lot of normal (not short barrel) loads that punch way above 9mm+.

I get 1375fps with remington 125 sjhp

1135fps with AE 158gr jsp

1150 with 140gr xtps

1200 with 170gr Keith

1230 with 158gr swc-wn

All in a 2.75" gun

I think 2.75-3” is where it starts to separate out above 9mm. But have to definitely vet the ammo to make sure it’ll expand. I have had a number of regular revolver rounds fail to expand in anything under 4” barrels.

[JCN]

4 inch guns are where 357 really shines, and if I was carrying a 4 inch it would definitely be rocking some good old fashioned Magnums

I’m with you on the 4”. But I’d take a 9mm LCR over a short 686 with 38 special.

For whatever reason, 9mm is more shootable AND better ballistics in the short barrel revolvers <2”

[JCN]

To that extreme of short barrel 9mm, I picked this one up.

[JTMcC]

An interesting observation and hypothesis that I have had is:

Moon clips can act like a “sealing plate” so that I can chamfer cylinders more aggressively and not have any loss of function.

When I chrono tested my 327, I actually had about a 30-45 fps increase in velocity when using moons. The gun actually even sounded different.

For that reason and for pure speed, I like moons for fighting and gaming revolvers.

My only issue with moon clips is it makes it more difficult to scavange revolver ammo for my carbine or a second revolver of a different frame size.
I'd have to hear solid evidence of 7 shot moons with long .357's loading quicker. 38 Shorts sure, but I've never heard from people using 7 shot .357 moons, yet.

They are pretty fabulous in 45acp tho.

[03RN]

I think 2.75-3” is where it starts to separate out above 9mm. But have to definitely vet the ammo to make sure it’ll expand. I have had a number of regular revolver rounds fail to expand in anything under 4” barrels.

140gr xtp @ 1150 and 1630


I just chronoed some fiochii 148gr jhpat 1150 but I haven't heard very good reviews on those bullets.

The 170gr SWCs work great. Recently got a yote and blew a grapefruit sized hole through his offside shoulder with bone fragments 5 paces away

[JCN]

My only issue with moon clips is it makes it more difficult to scavange revolver ammo for my carbine or a second revolver of a different frame size.
I'd have to hear solid evidence of 7 shot moons with long .357's loading quicker. 38 Shorts sure, but I've never heard from people using 7 shot .357 moons, yet.

They are pretty fabulous in 45acp tho.

I did use 8 shot 38 special moons for the FBI protocol. My current Frankenightguard takes 8 shot moons.

Chamfering is absolutely necessary. If I had to depend on speed reloading 38/357, I’d chamfer the crap out of it.

Here is my counterpoint to modern fighting revolvers chambered in 38/357:



That’s shooting Federal HST 9mm 147gr +P in a six shot snubby.

The LCR did just as well and were all in the ballpark of the P365.

9mm is pretty shootable compared to 38/357 in the same size gun.

I want at least those ballistics in a fighting revolver, so barrel length is critical in 38/357.

[03RN]

4 inch guns are where 357 really shines, and if I was carrying a 4 inch it would definitely be rocking some good old fashioned Magnums

Lol, my 4" gun is slower than my 2.75" gun but I think it has more to do with cylinder gap.

[JCN]

140gr xtp @ 1150 and 1630

I just chronoed some fiochii 148gr jhpat 1150 but I haven't heard very good reviews on those bullets.

The 170gr SWCs work great. Recently got a yote and blew a grapefruit sized hole through his offside shoulder with bone fragments 5 paces away

Nice, I love XTPs. They generally don’t expand very much so they tend to overpenetrate if you subscribe to the FBI recommendations. When I tested Underwood XTP 38 special at 1000 fps they went 20 inches in gel.

Personally for self defense I like the Gold Dot / HST bullet.

[JTMcC]

140gr xtp @ 1150 and 1630


I just chronoed some fiochii 148gr jhpat 1150 but I haven't heard very good reviews on those bullets.

The 170gr SWCs work great. Recently got a yote and blew a grapefruit sized hole through his offside shoulder with bone fragments 5 paces away

The 140 Gr. XTP is my favorite .38 Spc bullet.
Around here our "fighting revolvers" engage a lot of critters.