[RC one]

I have a Smith and Wesson M&P 340 in .357 mag with an aftermarket crimson trace laser sight and a tritium front sight. At 13.3 oz(unloaded), it's a pleasure to carry and the potency is reassuring. The five shots of .357 magnum coupled with the laser sight and the tritium front sight make it a lot of pistol in a little package. It has another trick up its sleeve too, the hammerless feature allows it to be emptied from/through your jacket pocket if need be which is a big deal if you really think about it. I like a full sized .45 for concealed carry but, more often than not, this little pistol is way more practical. It kicks harder than my .500 magnum though.

[Texas Jack]

It kicks harder than my .500 magnum though.

I was going to ask about that.

I have a Kel-tek PF-9 (9mm) which is about the same size and it's a beast to shoot. I have to wear a glove on my right hand if I plan to shoot more than a magazine. I can't even imagine how much recoil a .357 would produce.

Also, what holster, or method, do you use to conceal your .45?

[ExSoldier]

I like a full sized .45 for concealed carry but, more often than not, this little pistol is way more practical. It kicks harder than my .500 magnum though.

I'll agree but submit that the imagined enhanced performance of the 357 in such a short barrel is illusory. You're going to get waaaaaay more muzzle flash and recoil but you'll also bleed off velocity like nobody's business and in the end there's not much greater expansion or stopping power than if you chose a standard pressure .38sp. Sometimes, I don't feel like gearing up with my 45 in a CROSSBREED. If I feel a tiny bit lazy, I'll shove my Smith M642 into a front pocket holster with a spare speedloader and go on my merry way. Here in South Florida, I load all MAGSAFE SWAT loads anyway. If I lived where it was cold, I'd have to reassess that choice. The recoil in the 642 is sharp, but I still enjoy practicing. I don't think I'd do that much practice if I were loading 357. That's masochistic.

[Polynikes]

Have you experimented firing your .357 from inside a old jacket? The reason I ask is because I have a Ruger SP101 .357/38 spl with a 3” barrel. With 357 it throws an enormous fireball. I would think a small fire extinguisher would be needed after firing from inside a coat :)

[Hot Tabasco]

the hammerless feature allows it to be emptied from/through your jacket pocket

It kicks harder than my .500 magnum though.

Definitely don't want to fire it from your pants pocket.........