Best ammo for S&W 386PD

[Red Eagle]

Just picked up a nice used S&W 386PD and a new S&W 686-6. Both are 7 shot magniums, but the 386PD is the AirWeight and feels like it is 1/3 wt of the 686. I had thought about .38sp 158gr JHP or some type of 38+p. Any experience or thoughts. I am guessing the 357 mag ammo would be brutal on the 386PD.

[Parrothead]

if you need it---you may not notice the recoil. (this is the story i read on the interwebs.....i can neither confirm or deny)

[Garufa]

No magnum loads will be pleasant out of that 386PD so take your pick.

[I_Like_Pie]

Drive down the road with your window down....Now reach out and smack a mailbox. It is kinda like that with full snort .357 though a 12 ounce pistol.

[hipower]

Drive down the road with your window down....Now reach out and smack a mailbox. It is kinda like that with full snort .357 though a 12 ounce pistol.

Having shot that pistol...I'd say that's a fair approximation. FWIW, the 45acp version is worse.

[Guest dubaholic2]

i agree. ive shot the 340, which is very similar, and it was excruciating. i loaded 5 rounds of .357, and after the second shot i didnt know if i was going to make it through all 5.

[BigJim]

.38 125gr. Federal NyClad for the Airweight

[Oh Shoot]

i agree. ive shot the 340, which is very similar, and it was excruciating. i loaded 5 rounds of .357, and after the second shot i didnt know if i was going to make it through all 5.

That scatmandodium one I shot at our gathering last Sat was the first airweight .357 I ever shot. One round (but I only loaded one round). I know it's a gun to be carried much and shot little, but you still need to shoot a carry gun enough to have confidence you can score with it. I'm really not sure I'd persevere with that baby, though.

- OS

[et45]

Better off trading it for a 642 and some boot

[Patton]

Having shot that pistol...I'd say that's a fair approximation. FWIW, the 45acp version is worse.

Im really surprised to hear that.