At the beginning of the year I bot this 386sc Airlite (Mountain Lite), primarily for carrying around on my hip when I go fox hunting. Fox hunting is at night and I like to have a "security blanket" with me as I am usually alone, in the middle of nowhere, and it's 3:30 or so in the morning. Before I bot this gun I was carrying my 4" 629, but I got tired of pulling up my pants after an hour or so being out.
Anyway, all summer I have been shooting 125 grain Hornady's (XTP's) over N-110, 15.5 grains...and the groups at 25 yards have been OK. Now, I carry this gun more than I shoot it so this seemed fine to me. However, this week I bot a box of XTP 180 grain and loaded 'em up with 12 grains of N-110. The gun was shooting those about 8" higher at 25 yards than the 125 grain bullets. So, I adjusted the sight for the 180 grainers and it was "pluggin" 'em in there pretty good! (Out of 7 shots I was getting 6 in the 8" Shoot 'n C...and this was standing, two hand grip). I was also hitting the steel plate (10") at the 50 yard mark with some regularity. I didn't keep track, but more than 50%. I ran out of loads, but the 180 grain bullets did much better than the 125's for consistency. Recoil was not any worse...or it did not feel any worse than the lighter bullet.
I find to shoot this gun best....take an "easy" two hand grip. If I try to take a firm grip, like I would on one of my 629's, the gun just seem's to shake in my hands. This gun is light...only 18 OZ. unloaded.
I was just a bit surprised that the heavier bullet did better than the lighter one from a short barrel. This is my first 357, so I have no other experience with this caliber.
Dave
