SHTF: 357 Loads - Which one would you use?

I'm not that choosy. Either load you list above would suit me just fine.

A .357 in its standard loading would be entirely sufficient if you're talking about human targets. No need for anything special. Hollowpoint rounds are nice, but if we are in an environment where there is no rule of law, overpenetration isn't something I'd worry about since there won't likely be friendlies to avoid hitting. If you make two holes in somebody, that's two sites where blood can be lost. They'll either drop from organ failure if one was hit, or blood loss.

Yeah, I would be down with either. The 158 would be better on wildlife, so maybe that one so you could use it as needed in a hunting role?

Though if you just mean for anti-personnel revolvers, I would probably go for the 125 Gold Dot, since I like that load quite a bit.

I'm pretty sure any flavor of .357 will stop a threat if you do your part.. I'm carrying plain Jane Blazer aluminum case rounds right now..

158 gr. Blazer aluminum.
They're functional and I have a lot of them.

Depends on what model of 357mag revolver you've got ... a steady diet of the lighter weight bullets in a S&W model 19 or 66 will tweak the frame and cut the top strap ... can't imagine they'd be all that good on an airweight J Frame either.

Now my Dan Wesson can take pretty much any load but since its fixed sights I haven't had a chance to figure out what weight will hit POA.

I shoot 158's in my .357 (and .38) revolvers. One load fits all as the 158's shoot to point of aim on the fixed sight ones. So I guess my answer is 158.

I would use the one I, and my revolver, shoots most accurately.

I shoot 158's in my .357 (and .38) revolvers. One load fits all as the 158's shoot to point of aim on the fixed sight ones. So I guess my answer is 158.

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That's exactly what I was thinking.

Any load I could get my hands on would probably do under those circumstances.
In real life, I prefer the old stand-by Remington 125gr JHP, it still works as well as it ever did.

Actually, neither. I'd just grab my 165 SWCs. They're my general purpose load. I really don't worry about SHTF stuff. That seems to be what urban types do to justify the ownership of certain tacticool type guns to wives. Me, I'm an outdoorsman and hunter, live in a rural area, own land, like to hunt. My general purpose load has killed 3 deer, two from a 6.5" blackhawk and one from a 20" Rossi 92 carbine. It pushes a cast Lee bullet of the gas checked persuasion with 14.5 grains of 2400. Out of the Blackhawk I get 1470 fps. From the rifle, I get over 1800 fps. I have a slightly better load involving Lil' Gun for the rifle, but I won't use it in the revolver as there are reports of forcing cone erosion with it. The 2400 is an old standby load. I've got something shy of 1000 rounds of it loaded up as it's my most fired .357 load. I carry a speer 140 JHP and load a 180 XTP over AA#9 in the Blackhawk which might be a little better hunting load, but the 165 will get it done.

If it'll kill deer and hog, it'll kill humans if that ever became necessary.

I've got about half case of about 3,000 125 gr. SJHP's left in the garage. They get loaded over 17.5 gr of 2400 in batches to keep my .357 brass full--about 750 cases I guess. Shoot some, reload them, put them back in the ammo dump.

The gun this load is primarily for is an 8-shot S&W N-frame 627, for which they are an awesome match. It's also my carry load for a 2.5" 66 (i.e., a K-frame), but that one shoots primarily .38's for fun and practice. It also does 2200 fps out of my Marlin 1894c, and can be safely used in my 12.5 oz 340pd (but god help the hand that holds it).

So I guess I've made my selection.

Bovice said:

If you make two holes in somebody, that's two sites where blood can be lost. They'll either drop from organ failure if one was hit, or blood loss.

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I think the human circulatory system is a wee bit more complex than that. Even if the number/size of the exterior holes were a limiting factor, which I highly doubt, it doesn't matter whether blood stays inside the body or leaks out if it isn't precisely where it's supposed to be.

I do prefer 2 holes to bleed out. Makes blood trailing game, if necessary, a whole lot easier. But, I don't expect non-hunters to understand that. If you are a survivalist type and think you're going to live off the land with no hunting experience, I think you'd better change your thinking. Hunting ain't that easy, as in a meal every day type of thing, and it takes experience to be proficient at it.

Heavier than 158 grain stuff is my preferred fodder for hunting. It will kill humans, too. 125 grain stuff is too light for a 300 lb hog, never make it past the gristle shield. You might pull off a head shot, but the shoulder is much bigger. If you shoot behind the shoulder, you're going to have a very mad wounded, gut shot hog to track and if you're afraid of street gangs, you just don't wanna go there with a big, mad hog.

Another round you might wanna keep for your gun is light .38 loads, round nose perhaps. This would be for small game hunting if your scenario involves running to the woods and survival. Me, I have a 105 grain SWC mold that is pretty awesome. That bullet is accurate and loaded over 2.3 grains of B'eye gives 900 fps and 1.5" at 50 yard accuracy from my Rossi carbine. It's as good a squirrel gun as my 10/22.

If this were to be a one size fits all situations, I'd go with the heavier bullet. For defense against humans ONLY, I'd prefer the 125 grain HP, which is what I carry in my Highway Patrolman. I use Remingtons.
Might want to pack some 158 gr JSP's for hunting, too.

mark

I voted 158 but I would rather use 180gr LRNFPGC with 15 gr Lil' Gun. It works better with both my 1894C and a 581.

MCgunner said:

I do prefer 2 holes to bleed out. Makes blood trailing game, if necessary, a whole lot easier. But, I don't expect non-hunters to understand that.

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Bovice was talking about human targets and the process of bleeding to death (or at least until one drops), and that's what I was responding to. Of course, if say human targets were to be treated the same as game, then more blood on the ground would be advantageous for the hunter.

MCgunner said:

Heavier than 158 grain stuff is my preferred fodder for hunting. It will kill humans, too.

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I prefer 158-grain bullets (or heavier) in general, whether or not hunting game is a requirement.

I used 125-grain Federal Classic Hi-Shok JHC when my small portion of the world went to spit. It worked.

My $0.02: If both are available to you, get both. 125s are for anti-personnel use, and 158s for hunting medium game animals. As the original post did not exactly define SHTF, I will; have to say what I would do, er, did. I do have a variety of .357 ammo, 125 to 180 grain.

158's for gray zombies, 125's for green zombies.

Mostly, I'll just hide under my toilet paper stash and be very, very quiet.

W.E.G. your posts always get me.

Also, do you plan on keeping a rifle around too? If you've got a rifle that would be better for hunting or shots of opportunity than your .357, that would turn me towards the 125 Gold Dot. Just me though.

NG VI: "Also, do you plan on keeping a rifle around too? If you've got a rifle that would be better for hunting or shots of opportunity than your .357, that would turn me towards the 125 Gold Dot. Just me though."

This is relevant! I replied 125-grain GD, in the poll, largely for this reason. If I have one of my .308 or .223 rifles with me, or an 870 pumpgun, I am more likely to have 125s in my .357 revolvers.

I want whatever is closer to 1000fps, 140-180gr.
Unfortunately medium .357 loads are not a common factory item.
If I were to stock my handloads, they would be 158 or 180's @1000fps.
Otherwise I'd stock up on 158gr .38+P's.

-Daizee

If you have a J-Frame, I like 135 grain Gold Dot for short barrel revolvers.

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