[The Silver Bullet 1719]

In yall's opinions what is probably that best economical .357 ammo to use for practice? I have heard the S&B is loaded a litte hot for practice so I want to avoid that, and the Remington UMC is pretty inconsistent. What are some of the better options out there?

[Tropical Z]

I usually get CCI's blazer .357hp's from Natchez.Theyre about $9.00 a box if my memory serves me right and very nice for the money.I think theyre packing 535 foot pounds of energy.

[Double Naught Spy]

Best ammo for just what type of practice do you want to be doing?

Are you looking for the least expensive reliable ammo so that you can get in more range time?

Are you looking for ammo that more closely matches your defensive ammo so that you can practice more cheaply than using your defensive ammo but without giving up much of the defensive ammo feel? (comparable recoil and muzzle rise issues)

Are you looking for the most accurate ammo to practice marksmanship?

[ChristopherG]

You can get reloaded JHP or JSP .357s at 1130 fps from Zero ammo--i.e., pretty easy-going as .357s run--for 9.30 a box, reloaded; or, if you send them equivalent brass, just over six bucks a box. Good, accurate stuff. And, free shipping.

rozedist.com

cg

[Clemson]

I personally do most of my practice and plinking with .38 Specials. For good, inexpensive ammunition in either .38 or .357, check out the offerings of Georgia Arms. www.georgia-arms.com

[The Silver Bullet 1719]

Best ammo for just what type of practice do you want to be doing?

I am just going to be doing regular range fun, so pinpoint accuracy is not really needed, and my Trooper has an 8-inch barrel so no defensive purposes. Just basic range shooting for the most part.

[kumma]

S & B at 8.50 a box is my choice, dont know if its loaded hot but is just fun to shoot. Recoil has never been a problem fr me, I also use winchester 110 grain load. It shoots flames from both side of the gun, quite an attractor at the range. I tried winchester 38's in 130 grain round nose but there just not as fun to shoot. to much like a .22

Craig

[Sir Galahad]

You'll love Magtech. It comes in 158 grain SJSP or SJHP. From Natchez Shooters Supplies, Magtech costs $9.70 per box of 50. Sportsman's Guide also has it at $11.97 per 50 for SP and $12.97 for HP. This is great stuff and it comes in nickled cases. I shoot this ammo all the time and it is consistant. Also, Winchester Silvertip 145gr. HPs usually run $20 per 50 and this is also great ammo. But for inexpensive ammo, you can shoot Magtech all day.

[The Silver Bullet 1719]

kumma, its not a matter of recoil, I just don't want to promote wear with really warm loads, and have heard the S&B is a little toasty.

[HSMITH]

Load your own, under $3 a box and ANY power level you want or any combinations. Buying range ammo is just silly IMO.

[Sir Galahad]

Buying range ammo is not "silly" if you live in an apartment where you don't have room for reloading equipment. Not all of us have houses with garages. Further still, some apartments forbid storage of any bulk powder in their apartments as a "hazard" to other tenants. I recall a thread at another gun forum where a guy was evicted when the apartment manager saw his reloading set-up in a walk-through inspection. And, no, not all of us can afford to buy a house, either.

That's why most folks ask about inexpensive ammo.

[HSMITH]

Hey Galahad, 2 linear feet of counter top is all that is needed, not a mansion complete with servants for counters longer than 5 feet. You cannot be evicted or even bothered unless you signed a lease that says you are not to have powder stored on the property. The setup needed is a 2 minute take down and 5 minute set up to load all the shells you can shoot in a month. "Bulk" powder eh? Well, ONE pound of Blue Dot will load the hottest 125 grain bullet load in the books a whopping 475 times ++. Well could you find a way to store a one pound container of powder in your household without being obvious?
You could store it in some tupperware in the pantry for all that it matters.

Most folks think reloading is some sort of hard technical job mixed in with some black magic is why they ask about cheap ammo, not restrictions others place on them. They are AFRAID, LOTS of shooters are scared to load their own, and that is the reason MOST ask for cheap ammo sources.

I have taught 2 people about pistol loading THIS WEEK alone!!!!!!! One has a house and the other an apartment. How many shells have you loaded in the last year? How many shooters have you got going hard enough to bring out new people? Cheap ammo is a great way to get people more active in the sport, and more importantly more active in the politics of the sport.

[Bacchus]

I second the suggestion about MagTech. Nine dollars a box sounds about right, although every once in a while Midway has it on sale for around $7.

One thing: Keep your brass, even if you don't reload. Some ranges will give you credit on ammo if you trade them in.

[Sir Galahad]

Most of the new shooters I've introduced to the sport were impressed with cheap (but highly effective) non-reloadable 7.62x39 in the AK platform. If I hand an AK to a non-shooter who's interested in trying out a firearm, it's amazing how quickly the prejudice against "assault" rifles disappears in a cloud of "I'm getting one!"


Most self-defense experts say you should not use reloaded ammo for self-defense due to legal difficulties with lawyers trying to crucify you for "loading up such deadly ammo." Practice with what you carry, carry what you practice with. Reloading is great for target for some (I still do not have room to stash reloading equipment; counter space---seen my kitchen?? :D ) But for others, its not an option.

[twoblink]

Depends on the length of the barrel. If You are shooting 6" or 4", then I'd get the hotter stuff, I find them to be more accurate. If you are shooting from a snubbie or 3"... I'd get softer loads.

[Clemson]

Practice with what you carry, carry what you practice with.

I just don't buy this argument. If it recoils the same and shoots to the same point of impact but costs a third the price, why shouldn't I practice with it? To do otherwise would be economic suicide.

[Thundercleese]

If it hasn't already been mentioned : avoid Winclean like the plague. Its very hot (my Python looked more like a forward and lateral flamethrower than a revolver on the indoor range), and I've seen rounds seated so poorly that the cannelure wasn't even visible. Bad times, in the .357 power range.

I've got a friend who has one of them fancy HK94 German wonder guns and it had problems feeding Winclean 9mm!