soonerboomer
Member
As a fan of YouTube’s tnoutdoors9 I recently learned of Underwood Ammo (underwoodammo.com). tnoutdoors9 clocked their .357 Magnum load with the 125 grain Golden Saber bullet from a 3” Ruger GP100 at 1441 fps (5-shot avg.). With that kind of velocity from a shorter barrel, I had to try some for myself…
Test Guns:
Smith & Wesson 642 (1.875” barrel)
Ruger SP101 (2.25” barrel).
Ammo Tested:
Speer .38 Special +P 125 grain Gold Dot
Underwood .38 Special +P with the 125 grain Gold Dot bullet (part #128)
Fiocchi Shooting Dynamics .357 Magnum 125 grain JHP
Underwood .357 Magnum with the 125 grain Gold Dot bullet (part #121)
RESULTS (all are 5 shot averages):
From my Smith & Wesson 642 (1.875” barrel):
Speer .38+P 125gr. Gold Dot – 890fps avg. / 50fps spread (advertised at 945fps from 4” test barrel)
Underwood .38+P 125gr. Gold Dot – 1060fps avg. / 79fps spread (advertised at 1200fps from 4” test barrel)
From my Ruger SP101 (2.25” barrel):
Speer .38+P 125gr. Gold Dot – 915fps avg. / 60fps spread (advertised at 945fps from 4” test barrel)
Underwood .38+P 125gr. Gold Dot – 1121fps avg. / 60fps spread (advertised at 1200fps from 4” test barrel)
Fiocchi .357 Magnum 125 gr. JHP – 1254fps avg. / 43fps spread (advertised at 1450fps from 4” test barrel)
Underwood .357 Magnum 125gr. Gold Dot – 1317fps / 96fps spread (advertised at 1600fps from what I assume to be a 6” test barrel)
Observations on the Underwood .38+P 125gr. GDHP:
I was very impressed with this load! I’m getting much better velocity in my S&W 642 snub nose than Speers claimed velocity from a 4” test barrel (1060fps vs. 945fps). Basically, this is a borderline light .357 Magnum load. Recoil was definitely there, but still manageable. This will be my new carry load in my 642. It's almost like upgrading in caliber.
Observations on the Underwood .357 Magnum 125gr. GDHP:
This is good stuff no doubt, but it did not have the WOW! factor of the .38 offering. While it’s super hot at 1317fps, I was kind of hoping to get 1350fps out of it. Regardless, this is the hottest stuff I’ve ever put in my SP101. I normally find this revolver pretty comfortable to fire, but this load stings just a bit. While I'll probably carry this load, I’d hate to touch one of these off in an indoor or small space self-defense scenario. This is an intensely loud round, and it would cause severe hearing damage without any ear protection. Also, the spread in velocity was not as tight as some of the other brands I’ve tried. Overall, its pretty good stuff and well worth the affordable price.
Test Guns:
Smith & Wesson 642 (1.875” barrel)
Ruger SP101 (2.25” barrel).
Ammo Tested:
Speer .38 Special +P 125 grain Gold Dot
Underwood .38 Special +P with the 125 grain Gold Dot bullet (part #128)
Fiocchi Shooting Dynamics .357 Magnum 125 grain JHP
Underwood .357 Magnum with the 125 grain Gold Dot bullet (part #121)
RESULTS (all are 5 shot averages):
From my Smith & Wesson 642 (1.875” barrel):
Speer .38+P 125gr. Gold Dot – 890fps avg. / 50fps spread (advertised at 945fps from 4” test barrel)
Underwood .38+P 125gr. Gold Dot – 1060fps avg. / 79fps spread (advertised at 1200fps from 4” test barrel)
From my Ruger SP101 (2.25” barrel):
Speer .38+P 125gr. Gold Dot – 915fps avg. / 60fps spread (advertised at 945fps from 4” test barrel)
Underwood .38+P 125gr. Gold Dot – 1121fps avg. / 60fps spread (advertised at 1200fps from 4” test barrel)
Fiocchi .357 Magnum 125 gr. JHP – 1254fps avg. / 43fps spread (advertised at 1450fps from 4” test barrel)
Underwood .357 Magnum 125gr. Gold Dot – 1317fps / 96fps spread (advertised at 1600fps from what I assume to be a 6” test barrel)
Observations on the Underwood .38+P 125gr. GDHP:
I was very impressed with this load! I’m getting much better velocity in my S&W 642 snub nose than Speers claimed velocity from a 4” test barrel (1060fps vs. 945fps). Basically, this is a borderline light .357 Magnum load. Recoil was definitely there, but still manageable. This will be my new carry load in my 642. It's almost like upgrading in caliber.
Observations on the Underwood .357 Magnum 125gr. GDHP:
This is good stuff no doubt, but it did not have the WOW! factor of the .38 offering. While it’s super hot at 1317fps, I was kind of hoping to get 1350fps out of it. Regardless, this is the hottest stuff I’ve ever put in my SP101. I normally find this revolver pretty comfortable to fire, but this load stings just a bit. While I'll probably carry this load, I’d hate to touch one of these off in an indoor or small space self-defense scenario. This is an intensely loud round, and it would cause severe hearing damage without any ear protection. Also, the spread in velocity was not as tight as some of the other brands I’ve tried. Overall, its pretty good stuff and well worth the affordable price.
