I have to agree with the 158 grain Blazer rounds. I've got 600 rounds of them in stock. They are aluminum casings; I used to be able to get them in brass, but I haven't seen them available for quite awhile. I also have 200 rounds in American Eagle - 158 grain, brass casings. All of the rounds are JHP's.
SHTF: 357 Loads - Which one would you use?
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NinjaFeint
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I am also throwing my hat in on the Blazer Aluminum. I can also say that I have a GP100 so I would shoot whatever I had or could find because there is no damaging that gun.
Elm Creek Smith
Member
+1. I use it for my Taurus 85SSUL and for reloads for my S&W 13 after the speedloaders are empty.
ECS
Charshooter
Member
I like the 158 grain and heavier for anything than coyotes, but for most hunting, I use a 44 magnum. For small critters than become pests the 125 will do the job. I also like shooting the light and faster bullet in my little Marlin.
I loaded some good 180 grain cast bullets, but as I said, I hunt with the 44 magnum in the brush.
I loaded some good 180 grain cast bullets, but as I said, I hunt with the 44 magnum in the brush.
rswartsell
Member
Which revolver you actually have is pertinent if you use the advice for habitual shooting as lighter frame revolvers (assuming you intentionally posted on the correct forum) such as J and K frame S&W will suffer from frame stretching and flame cutting from a steady diet of warm 125 gr loads. That being said (assuming you mean as a PD load for humans) you could hardly do better than a 125 gr magnum (probably the champion sub .40 cal fight stopper) and Gold Dot bullets (consistently ranking among the best performing HP even among the best of the latest technology).
You can make some reasonable points about shooting to point of aim (revolvers typically being regulated for a 158 gr bullet) and heavier slower expanding bullets being better for larger bodied game.
You must define what you mean by SHTF and choose accordingly.
You can make some reasonable points about shooting to point of aim (revolvers typically being regulated for a 158 gr bullet) and heavier slower expanding bullets being better for larger bodied game.
You must define what you mean by SHTF and choose accordingly.
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oldfool
Member
like some have said..
if you think one will do but the other will not
you are overthinking it, friend
PS
I voted 158 gr, but mostly just because I love k-frames best-of-all
if you think one will do but the other will not
you are overthinking it, friend
PS
I voted 158 gr, but mostly just because I love k-frames best-of-all
oldfool
Member
hope you don't mind company
'cause that strange old guy hiding with you behind that stash
will be me !
PS
and not because I am "hittin' on you", scout's honor !
just me and my 66 and my '92
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ArchAngelCD
Member.
I reload and use a lot more 158gr bullets than 125gr bullets in my .357 Magnum ammo. Actually, I hardly ever load a 125gr bullet unless I get a VERY good price on them, then that are for plinking anyway.
Hardballing
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I voted 125 jhp because that is mainly what I have my sights set for in L and N frames.
But in SHTF, I'd shoot ANY, and would throw in a pile of .38's as well.
Are you counting zombies in that SHTF?
But in SHTF, I'd shoot ANY, and would throw in a pile of .38's as well.
Are you counting zombies in that SHTF?
biohazurd
Member
Like others have said in that situation any quality .357 would be sufficient.
For those of you who advocate Aluminum blazer for SHTF, how do you address the issue of galvanic corrosion of an aluminum case in a steel chamber?
Of course it's no big deal for range use since you're a)in relatively dry condition, and b) the case is only in the chamber for a few minutes at most before it's fired.
But in a situation where the round might be left chambered for days on end in all sorts of weather, I don't know that I'd be comfortable with it.
I picked 158gr. I feel like it's the more versatile load. 125gr is great for humans, but not so much against medium/larger game. 158 can handle both humans and game.
My EDC load is DoubleTap's 158gr. That would also be my SHTF load. It's a heavy bullet with crazy energy that ought to penetrate and expand like mad. Aside from stout recoil (which I don't mind in my 3" SP101), what's not to like?
Of course it's no big deal for range use since you're a)in relatively dry condition, and b) the case is only in the chamber for a few minutes at most before it's fired.
But in a situation where the round might be left chambered for days on end in all sorts of weather, I don't know that I'd be comfortable with it.
I picked 158gr. I feel like it's the more versatile load. 125gr is great for humans, but not so much against medium/larger game. 158 can handle both humans and game.
My EDC load is DoubleTap's 158gr. That would also be my SHTF load. It's a heavy bullet with crazy energy that ought to penetrate and expand like mad. Aside from stout recoil (which I don't mind in my 3" SP101), what's not to like?
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I'll add that since we are specifically talking about SHTF situations here and not just everyday self defense, there are different issues to consider. One of which is an increased need for barrier penetration. The 158gr. load offers better barrier penetration than the 125gr.
MCgunner
Member
I'm a country boy. In my little version of SHTF (it's really a myth IMHO, but lord knows what the next 7 years has in store) food procurement is probably more important than killing people. To that end, I've stored (since the election) fishing stuff, some of it illegal, but legality would take a hike if I'm hungry. But, hunting will always be part of my life regardless of any odd scenarios. So, I stick with the heavies.
FWIW, I carry a 140 Speer JHP over 17 grains 2400 for self defense in this caliber. it hits hard. I shot an 80 lb pig in the head a while back using my 3" medium frame carry.. The bullet hit in his skull and the ballistic pressure from it popped his right eyeball out. It was a little grotesque, but illustrated the power of the caliber to me. In my mind, about any load in the caliber is fine for defense. I carry a lot less most of the time. If you're carrying a bullet that expands, don't sweat over the grain weight of the bullet. But, a big, flat point SWC will penetrate better and leave an impressive trail of tissue damage. I've seen this with my own eyes. From a rifle, it's VERY impressive.
So, I am swayed to the heavies for that reason. Virtually any magnum load will kill a human. Hogs are a little tougher target.
FWIW, I carry a 140 Speer JHP over 17 grains 2400 for self defense in this caliber. it hits hard. I shot an 80 lb pig in the head a while back using my 3" medium frame carry.. The bullet hit in his skull and the ballistic pressure from it popped his right eyeball out. It was a little grotesque, but illustrated the power of the caliber to me. In my mind, about any load in the caliber is fine for defense. I carry a lot less most of the time. If you're carrying a bullet that expands, don't sweat over the grain weight of the bullet. But, a big, flat point SWC will penetrate better and leave an impressive trail of tissue damage. I've seen this with my own eyes. From a rifle, it's VERY impressive.
So, I am swayed to the heavies for that reason. Virtually any magnum load will kill a human. Hogs are a little tougher target.
Another factor I did not cover is the weapons involved. This being the revolver sub-forum, I answered earlier regarding my revolvers. For my/our 1894C Marlins, 158-grain is the default choice, period, and I want to try them with various 180-grain loads when I have the time.
buck460XVR
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Actually, if it was the end of the world.....I doubt that it would matter.......i.e., no world, no people....no people, no need for bullets of any kind. I'll just stick with my aluminum foil hat.
BTW.....I voted for 158s. They are much more versatile outta a .357 than 125s.
oneounceload
member
I would prefer the 158 LSWCHP FBI load in 38+P, just as effective, less noise, flash, and recoil
MCgunner
Member
Just as effective? I'd feel mighty under gunned hunting hogs with it.
No way it's "just as effective" as a magnum, especially a heavy bullet magnum, man or beast. You're talkin' 300 ft lbs vs 800 in a 6.5" revolver vs 1400 ft lbs in the rifle. The .38 might push 400 ft lbs in the rifle, maybe. I get 1900 fps from a 165 grain bullet in the magnum rifle. That's in .30-30 Winchester territory, pretty close, within a couple hundred FPS.
I gotta go with MCgunner. The LSWCHP +p is not the same as a good heavy magnum round.
The load that i linked to that I carry blasts the 158gr. bullet out the end of my 3" SP101 at ~1300fps. The FBI load would be doing what? 900fps?
If you had to take a pelvic shot to put someone down who was wearing armor, which do you think is more likely to break those huge pelvic/hip bones? Or what about the (admittedly very rare) circumstance of having to shoot through cover?
I know that the lower recoil and blast has its advantages (faster follow-up, preserving hearing, etc...), but I don't think I'd clal the rounds equally effective. It's just that the extra effectiveness of the magnum round has trade-offs.
The load that i linked to that I carry blasts the 158gr. bullet out the end of my 3" SP101 at ~1300fps. The FBI load would be doing what? 900fps?
If you had to take a pelvic shot to put someone down who was wearing armor, which do you think is more likely to break those huge pelvic/hip bones? Or what about the (admittedly very rare) circumstance of having to shoot through cover?
I know that the lower recoil and blast has its advantages (faster follow-up, preserving hearing, etc...), but I don't think I'd clal the rounds equally effective. It's just that the extra effectiveness of the magnum round has trade-offs.
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