Ammo for light weight .357

Status
Not open for further replies.
1

1911austin

Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2003
Messages
370
Location
Austin, TX
Hello all,
I picked up a new S&W 340M&P earlier in the week. So far the only defensive loads that I have shot are the DPX 110 grain +P.38spl and Speer GDHP +P 135 grain in .38 spl. Out of the two, I prefer the DPX because they seem more accurate in my new revolver. They are both a little peppy but controllable.

Has anyone compared the .357 mag versions of the DPX and short barrel GDHP out of a light weight gun? Could you share how they compare in terms of recoil and muzzle blast? I tried some full power 125 grain loads and they were no fun to shoot at all.
 
Try the .38 +p buffalo bore 158g SWCHP. They do an honest 1000 fps out of a 2 inch J frame, more than you'll get out of some magnum loadings and are not that bad as far as recoil is concerned. And they'll shoot to point of aim, since most J-Frames are sighted in for 158's.
 
1911austin Congrats on the S&W 340 I long awaited mine took me a year to get but I paid $619 and had to get 2 of them. Check out the Thread started by Dadams http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=282173 from 2 years ago. There are 50+ pages of anything and everything you will ever need to know about your new 340. I Run Glaser Saftey Slugs threw Mine in .38 + P I too found that the .357 were a little Hard on the Hand and made for poor follow up shots. Glaser Slugs are not cheap at $15.00 bucks for 6 round but I bought 3 packages of each one each for test Fire and the Rest for Carry. I would go for .38+ P for Carry anyday because there is no really reason for the .357 out of a 1 7/8 inch barrel I have not shot the Gold Dots yet but have heard good things.

I am Stationed out of Ft. Hood and live in Killeen. I shoot all around Central TX. Got just about every Type of Gun under the Sun from CAS to Sniper Rifles. If you havent been to GT Distributers in Austin look them up they are a LE an Mil Dist but the will sell to TX res. Best Prices I have ever seen
http://gtdist.com/
If you want more info about GT's PM me.
 
I am Stationed out of Ft. Hood and live in Killeen. I shoot all around Central TX. Got just about every Type of Gun under the Sun from CAS to Sniper Rifles. If you havent been to GT Distributers in Austin look them up they are a LE an Mil Dist but the will sell to TX res. Best Prices I have ever seen
http://gtdist.com/
If you want more info about GT's PM me.
Click to expand...

Hi Chachi39,

Thanks for the info.

GT Distributors is where I bought it. They are only a couple miles from my employer so it is an easy lunch time trip. It cost me $625. You can get a 642 there for $389 which is about $100 cheaper than any other gun store in Austin. They also have great prices on defensive ammo for handguns. You can get a box of 50 Gold Dots cheaper than a box of 20 at other local gun stores.

I’m just trying to settle on a good carry round. I want either a really hot .38 +P or a very mild .357. I guess I just need to buy several loads and see shoots well in my particular gun and is fairly controllable.
 
I like Hornady 125 grain FTX in .357 out of my 640. I pretty much like everything Hornady makes. The felt recoil is obviously higher using .357 ammo, but I figure the stopping power is greater also.
 
1911austin check out these Links http://www.dakotaammo.net/Glaser-Safety-Slug/38-Special-Plus-P-80gr-Glaser/02200-02400/500/Product

http://www.dakotaammo.net/Glaser-Safety-Slug/357-Magnum-80gr-Glaser/02600-02800/500/Product each have 2 versions Blue or Silver. I Run the Silver .38+P's and the Blue .357's Man are those .357's HOT! Trust me just get at least 3 packs that way you can test them out. My Local Gun shop has a Laptop they put a round of .357, 45ACP and 9mm through and man are they some big holes. But behind the laptop they had some cardboard that had taken NO damage. And that is a Plus if you only whant to Hurt the Bad Guys.
 
Chachi39,
Don’t take this as being argumentative, but, we are from different schools of thought on what constitutes good self defense ammo. I not a big fan of the fragmenting stuff. I have a firm belief that deep penetration is absolutely critical in defensive rounds. In fact, I believe that penetration is second only to shot placement with expansion coming in third in order of importance. That’s my attraction to the short barrel GD and DPX. Those two, along with the 158 grain +P SWCHP are some of the better .38 special rounds according to my criteria. They seem to get good penetration with some expansion. Shot placement depends on the shooters skills and how well any gun “likes” a particular load.

I was looking to see if anyone had any experience shooting booth the Short Barrel GD or DPX in their magnum flavors out of 13 oz revolvers.
 
Try the Remington golden saber .357. The last time I saw, they were showing 450 ft lbs energy. That is a little light for a .357 magnum.
 
mjb said:
Try the Remington golden saber .357. The last time I saw, they were showing 450 ft lbs energy. That is a little light for a .357 magnum.
Click to expand...
The Remington Golden Saber is a nice shooting 357 round. I use this in my Smith K frame magnums because to velocity is 1250 fps. This round won't hurt a K frame magnum.
regards,
roaddog28
 
The GD short barrel .357 is what I've settled on. More velocity than similar .38 +P in a load that's at the top end of what I can handle for recoil in my Airlite. I'm of the belief that there are many quality JHPs on the market, and that the Speer GD is a fine choice.
 
The GD short barrel .357 is what I've settled on. More velocity than similar .38 +P in a load that's at the top end of what I can handle for recoil in my Airlite. I'm of the belief that there are many quality JHPs on the market, and that the Speer GD is a fine choice.
Click to expand...

This is starting to look like the load that I will choose as well. I do want to compare it to the DPX .357 mag load.
 
1911austin I agree with you on the DPX and other deep pen ammo. I run DPX or Power Ball in all my other CC Guns but I have only tried a few in .357 and .38 and I like the Glaser saftey slugs as well as Gold Dot .38 + P but my grouping has been better with the Glaser thats why I would recommed it. I like to shoot all the Defense rounds I buy at least a few mags or more to know how they hit on paper and then at fruit or wild hogs to see the actual dammage. I will say every DPX round I have fired will drop a hog and all hit well on paper from 9mm to 45ACP I just havent go my hands on any in .38 or .357 yet. But yes I agree on first hit on target means more to me than anything else thats why I always run diffrent HP for personal tests. I have never tryed the Glasers till I got the 340 and I was impressed but I have used my the Gold dot in .38 +P on my wife 637 and they were fantastic. Probably cause there is a hammer on hers and not mine. I am still getting used to shooting the 340 but do really like how it shoots.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

S
  • Locked
Informal 38 Snub Ammo Tests: Corbon vs Speer vs Remington
Replies
21
Views
2K
RyanM
R
Tony_the_tiger
  • Locked
Range report s&w 442 SB gold dot vs. DPX
Replies
9
Views
940
Haywood
Haywood
T
  • Locked
Pick home defense load for 2 3/4" Ruger .357
2
Replies
34
Views
2K
Jack2427
J
D
  • Locked
SD .357 loads for Air Lite J-Frame?
Replies
23
Views
1K
jfh
jfh
1
  • Locked
any/all .38special Snub Nose shooters
Replies
16
Views
1K
tbeb
T
Back
Top