HOT .357 Magnum Factory Ammo Question

[RWK]

Warmest greetings, Dan -

Here’s an interesting alternative -- and another view on the same basic issue. I just checked the Buffalo Bore web site http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#357). They are developing two .38 Special P+ loads that appear to have “eye watering" performance:
> 158 grain LSWCHP @ 1000 FPS
> 125 grain Gold Dot HP at 1050 FPS

Now these are not .357 magnums, but once the projectile departs the muzzle, the ballistics and terminal effect are identical. I’m not too sure I require much more than 1000 FPS muzzle velocity to do the job . . . and I occasionally worry that those 1200+ velocities can lead to issues like over-penetration and lethal energy rooms away.

All the best -- Roy

 

[WonderNine]

I wonder if that's too hot for a S&W model 10. I'm sure it would survive, but I wouldn't want to shoot alot of 1,000fps 158gr. out of one. Reminds me of the thread where the guy was shooting .357's out of his model 10.

 

[seed]

P. Plainsman...

Yeah, you're right...I take back my comments about not being able to understand how you couldn't like the Armscors. I took out another box of the Armscors along with a box of .38 specials. Actually I had three boxes of Armscor, but I didn't think I would use all of them. Well, after one box of them through my SP101 3 inch, I was done. They were so freaking hot that I could barely stand to shoot them. My brother had .45 Colt single action Ruger in the next bay with some reloads and it wasn't even close. Those Armscors were loud and deep sounding. It actually brought shooters over from the next set of bays, in the next room to see what cannon was being fired. It also drew an audience from the store area as they peered through the plexi-glass to see the giant fire balls and hear the deep booms. It was stimulating, I suppose -- but it also seemed to spit. My brother got spit on too. The .38's I also used didn't spit. Afterwards, I checked the timing of my gun and it was perfectly fine. So I don't know. A guy who works at the range speculated that the ammo was cheap and perhaps were not all sized properly or something. I can't say. What I can say is that I would much rather have a full size .357 Magnum to finish off the boxes at some point. I know my SP101 can handle them...I'm just not sure if I can handle them in my SP101. Guess I should look into a GP100.

seed.

 

[bpisler]

I fired a box of the armscor 357 mags
thru my M-28 at a indoor range.Very loud and lots of muzzle flash.Recoil seemed to be about the same as my j frame with remington 125gr full power loads.

 

[thatguy]

I was unaware of the Armscor loading. That's the hottest .357 factory ammo I have heard about. I load 125 JHPs to 1725 FPS (clocked from a 5 inch Model 27) and these do produce a lot of flash and bang but seem to be within limits. I shoot them in my K frames too, and recoil is a little nasty but so far the guns seem fine. Most ammo companies have reduced their loadings in the past 20 years or so due to being sued by idiots. Check out a reloading manual from the 1970s sometime. It will list loads way beyond what you find today in manuals or in factory ammo. Thank the lawyers.

 

[P. Plainsman]

Hey seed,

Your description of shooting the Armscor rounds at the range was eerily similar to my experience, right down to the people gawking through the plexiglas. Funny.

I shot them in my GP100. I didn't sense that it was anything the gun couldn't handle, but it was still unpleasant. Wondered if I'd get a tan from the muzzle flash. No spitting, though; I'm sure it was a step up from shooting 'em in an SP.

BTW, can you imagine shooting these rounds from one of the barrel-ported Taurus revolvers, like a 608 or 627? Bring a hamper of cold fried chicken and call it Independence Day!

Taurus makes some cool wheelguns, and I'll prob. buy one sooner or later, but I wish they'd chill with all the porting.