357/38 special ammo - Rookie question

[Mikenmag]

Hi all,
I've been shooting for about six months and had purchased a 9mm semi auto. Yesterday, I bought a Ruger GP 100 357 magnum. I am looking for suggestions for the best value in practice ammo and the best performance in home defense ammo. I am looking for suggestions on factory ammunition only Any opinions or insight is greatly appreciated.

 

[ugaarguy]

If your GP-100 has fixed sights you'll need to shoot a few rounds loaded with bullets of various weights to see what the fixed sights were set for at the factory. Fixed sights are generally set for 158gr. loads so start there and work down.

If your GP-100 has adjustable sights you'll need to decide if you want to primarily shoot light stuff; 125 to 140 gr, or heavy stuff; 148 gr and up. From there shoot it and adjust the sights to your chosen bullet weight range.

If you go light any of the common .38 Special 125 and 130 gr LRN and FMJ loads are fine for practice. If you go heavy the 148 gr full wadcutter, and 158gr SWC & LRN, again in .38 Special, are great for target work.

For a defensive load any hollow point, that's in the bullet weight range you've chosen, in a premium loading from a major manufacturer will be fine. Shot placement is king so invest in practice ammo.

For home defense I load my .357s with .38 Specials. You're in an enclosed space and the odds are, Lord forbid it happens, that you'll be shooting in low light if you need to fire the weapon in defense. With the combination of low light and enclosed space the .38's lower flash and muzzle blast will be of great benefit.

Hopefully that answers your questions to a reasonable level.

 

[ronto]

The best load for HD is 12ga. 00 Buck. You defend real estate with a long gun not a handgun. Handguns are meant to be carried.

However, while using your GP100 inorder to get to your shotgun, any hollow point ammo you are accurate with will do.

 

[tbeb]

For practice you might like a 130 gr. FMC (jacketed round nose) or a 150 gr. lead round nose. Since you mentioned factory ammo only, then I'd suggest Winchester USA or Federal American Eagle or Remington UMC. If you choose the load I've listed below for self defense, then I'd go with the 150 gr. lead. Or, a factory 158 gr. lead semi-wadcutter if it's as economical as USA or American Eagle or UMC.

Does your GP-100 have a 3" or longer barrel. If so, then for self defense I'd go with a .38 special +P 158 gr. lead hollowpoint made by either Winchester or Remington. The 158 gr. lead hollowpoint was used by many law enforcement agencies such as the Chicago PD and the FBI.

 

[kmrcstintn]

a point to consider in the long gun (shotty) vs handgun home defense debate...

I live in a relatively small apartment; I have a good multipurpose shotty and even have a HD setup that I once used (20" turkey barrel; modified choke; Sellier & Bellot #4 buck); well...after several 'dry run' practice sessions running clearance drills I discovered that the 'hallway' that I have is too narrow and the angles leading into the hallway closet and the bathroom are too sharp to be able to utilize the shotgun (I have to be fully exposed in the doorways to bring the shotgun to bear)

ie: not everyone can use a shotgun properly for HD due to restrictive corridors in the home; not everyone can afford a shotgun & handgun combo :banghead:

BTW: save the smarta__ comments about moving and finding another place to live...not all of us find them funny or hilarious

thank you for your time and attention...

 

[Starter52]

The .38 Spl. 158 gr. +P load is your best bet. If you're concerned that a .38 won't do the job, you can always load the last three chambers with a 125 gr. JHP .357 magnum load.

 

[glassman]

which load

Agree that .38 is a good round in low light situations. My thought on home defense is that a shotgun loaded with #4 shot is your best bet...with a warning. Clearing your house might just be the most dangerous thing you could do. The bad guy knows where you are and you frame real nice in a doorway. My opinion is that you find a defensive position in your bedroom and let the bad guy come to you (I'm assuming that 911 has alredy been called). If you must clear the house, a shotgun becomes too unweildy in tight hallways..a handgun loaded with JHP in that situation might be a better choice.

 

[DawgFvr]

Look...if you purchased the Ruger GP100, why mess around with .38 special? That is like having an automatic transmission in a sportscar...or a stick shift in a Caddy. That revolver was designed to ingest a steady diet of the powerful .357 mag...one of the finest defensive/offensive rounds created. Take a moment and read this thread...see if you do not agree that 125 gr (I prefer Corbon DPX myself) is the ideal manstopper:

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Corbon 357 Magnum 125 gr DPX Ammo.htm

 

[ugaarguy]

Look...if you purchased the Ruger GP100, why mess around with .38 special? That is like having an automatic transmission in a sportscar...or a stick shift in a Caddy.

Several of us have already stated the why. To reiterate, the lower pressure .38 Special, even in +P form, with much less blast & flash is better suited to the HD (Home Defense) role of an enclosed space, likely with little to no light.

As for a Caddy with a manual transmission, I'd love to be able to afford a CTS-V. The engine and manual transmission in the CTS-V were sourced from the Chevy Corvette; for folks who like to carry more than one passenger it's as close to a 'Vette sedan as you're gonna get.

 

[Geronimo45]

Look...if you purchased the Ruger GP100, why mess around with .38 special?

Price. I won't deny that .357's a better anti-personnel round, but .38 Special's a good enough anti-paper-target round.

 

[DawgFvr]

Ugaarguy: Ah...and yes you have stated your reasons...I also heard other proffered reasons I like better: the Shotgun as the better choice for HD...which I totally agree with. Don't get me wrong...I like the 110 gr. Corbon DPX in .38 Special too...that is what I carry in my 642. The stick shift/Caddy analogy was just that...an analogy. If I could afford the CTS-V, well, I'd take that money and get a "real" car like a BMW or a Mercedes...hee, hee. I am thankful, however, that I do not have to resort to the .38 special as a HD choice...naw, that is my pocket gun fodder. Geronimo45...yup, .38 special is much cheaper for paper/practice targets. So are cheap .357 wadcutter practice rounds. Why practice with a foil if you intend to fight with a rapier...eh?

 

[ugaarguy]

.

 

[cslinger]

Count me in the group the believes in 38+P for HD as far as blast, noise, decibles etc. are concerned.

As for cheap fodder WWB works well. As for not as cheap but good practice/passable defensive ammo Remington green box 100 round bulk packs. Decent HP ammo actually

Serious SD ammo I go with Federal premium, Speer Gold Dot or Remington Golden Sabre. But this is one of those decisions kind of like politics and religion if you know what I mean.

 

[22-rimfire]

Take a look at Sportsman Guide's ammo. Prices are pretty good. I just ordered some medium level 158 gr Fiochii ammo. Price runs about $13.00 a box of 50. http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=350965

$10 coupon good until June 15th for orders over $100. SG669. I get emails from them. This covers the majority of the shipping charges.

 

[Vonderek]

after several 'dry run' practice sessions running clearance drills I discovered that the 'hallway' that I have is too narrow and the angles leading into the hallway closet and the bathroom are too sharp to be able to utilize the shotgun (I have to be fully exposed in the doorways to bring the shotgun to bear)

+1 on this. I found out late one night that a shotgun for me was a bad idea for clearing the house after a bump in the night. I agree that it is more effective for SD but for me anyway, the shotgun now stays in the bedroom/saferoom for static defense. For going room to room, a GP100 in close retention works for me.