sp101 bullet expansion

[Revolver Ocelot]

the wife has just picked me up a new sp101 with a 2 1/4" barrel as something else to look forward to when I get home. I was wondering how much expansion would be lost if I used a round in it not intended for a short barrel such as double taps bonded defense offerings (I have alot of it for my gp100 already).

thanks for the input.

-Ocelot

 

[918v]

The bullet will expand less and penetrate deeper but how much can only be speculated.

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

is there a heavier round out there than the speer gold dot that is found to work well out of snubs? I figure I will lose some expansion but at point is the loss great enough that it affects performance of the round?

thanks for the info

 

[MartinS]

Here are some with pictures:

http://www.brassfetcher.com/index_files/Page1716.htm

http://www.brassfetcher.com/Buffalo Bore 158gr (non +P) SWC-HC.html

http://www.brassfetcher.com/158 grain +P lead HP (test 2).html

http://www.brassfetcher.com/38special2inchbarrel.html

 

[357 Terms]

I have been pleasantly surprised with how well Barnes 125grn XPB's expand at moderate speeds (<1200fps)

 

[gamestalker]

I'm currently loading the 158 gr. Gold Dot and the XTP. I have test fired those out of my snub's through 18" of soaking wet denim with excellent results. Both bullets fully expand and still go through and through the box of water with tightly rolled up denim. These were chronographed at 1300 fps-ish. The 125 gr. XTP's also fully expanded but penetration was far more violent @ 1600 fps, leaving a wound channel much larger than that of the 158's. I also tested the 110 gr. Gold Dot and it performed flawlessly as well @ 1600 fps. I could have loaded that one up hotter but I couldn't see the point considering it was getting the job done at 1600 fps.
The real difference I noticed was recoil. The 158's were considerably more comfortable to shoot than the 125's & 110's were. Quite the contrary of what I expected.

 

[goon]

Are you looking for maximum power from the snubby or for a load that's more controllable?

 

[Gary A]

Gamestalker, considering that full power factory 125 grain loads are spec'd at a nominal 1450 fps from a four inch barrel, if your 125 grain loads are getting 1600 fps from a 2.25 inch barrel, your have loaded some very stiff loads. I have no doubt that they work and the recoil is stiff.

 

[Peakbagger46]

I have tested the Gold Dot Short Barrel .357 and some old 180g Winchester Rangers out of my 2 1/2" SP101. Both rounds expanded very well in water and the Ranger (think Black Talon) came out with some nasty barbs. This bullet also shoots to POA in my gun and is my carry round for it.

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

Are you looking for maximum power from the snubby or for a load that's more controllable?

more or less, I know some sacrifice in ballistics will be made to use such a gun but if I can get away with it I would rather lose as little as possible. I noted that the heavier bullets maintain better velocities and ft lbs of force than the short barrel equivilant ammunition but I was unsure of the kind of expansion that would be lost.

thank you martins, I was looking for 357 ammo however, I feel like I would be wasting something carrying 38 ammo in a 357

 

[Yahtzee4U]

Your HP will expand fine. Coming out of a 2.25 barrel (I have the SP too) full power 125gr loads easily reach 1250 fps. That's still faster than most calibers out of a 4 inch barrel, but if your still concerned get the Corbon DPX round. I personally wouldn't get the Speer Gold Dot for short barrel, all of the speer short barrel loads just seem like a normal round with way less speed, but hey maybe that's just me.

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

all of the speer short barrel loads just seem like a normal round with way less speed, but hey maybe that's just me

I agree completely, I steered clear of it all together, it just seemed closer to a 38 +p round rather than a 357

any other suggestions for ammo?

in the past I noticed the 158 gr rounds hit closer to poa than the lighter rounds when shotting my friends sp101 at the range.