357 ammo
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bikerdoc
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I use it. It is a good round.
MedWheeler
Member
That's a pretty broad question. Ballistically, the round is a stellar performer. How well it would work depends on other factors, such as psychological and physiological responses of the person shot, the location of the impact point, the number of impact points, the ability of the shooter to place the shot(s), etc...
If you're competent with the round in your chosen platform, carry it in total confidence. It would be difficult to find something superior enough to switch.
If you're competent with the round in your chosen platform, carry it in total confidence. It would be difficult to find something superior enough to switch.
Sergei Mosin
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Has a good reputation for penetration with expansion. I carry it in both my LCR and GP100.
22-rimfire
Member
Good choice.
If you can place the bullet where it needs to go then there's not enough difference between loads to even worry about. I would pick a load you can hit with every time and have quick follow up shots with and call it good. IMO too many people believe their ammunition choice will give them some advantage. It really doesn't.
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Arizonagunrunner
member
I think they dont compare to the R357M1 or the Federal 357B. For me, I'd stay away from them.
22-rimfire
Member
Considering I use run of the mill 125 gr HP's for self defense, the Golden Sabers are a step up in preformance. I don' get into this boutique defensive ammo. I can't imagine a torso shot from just about any 357 mag as not being disabling to a perp.
herrwalther
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Golden Saber, regardless of caliber is considered one of those benchmark cartridges that others are judged. So yes it is a good round.
SabbathWolf
member
Golden Saber has a pretty good reputation. I have some here at my house too.
However, "most" of the modern 357 125gr HP rounds will serve you well also.
Try a few different brands and see which ones shoot the most accurately out of your gun.
If you still end up with Golden Saber anyways, then no worries. It's a good round.
However, "most" of the modern 357 125gr HP rounds will serve you well also.
Try a few different brands and see which ones shoot the most accurately out of your gun.
If you still end up with Golden Saber anyways, then no worries. It's a good round.
Thursday45
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Although I don't carry it, I wouldn't have any worries should it find itself in my sidearm.
adelbridge
Member
I used a T/C Contender 12" with no b/c gap. I neck shot deer with Golden Saber and it dropped in her tracks but it did not pass through. I would have expected an exit wound but didnt happen. I have also used them in 6" revolver to dispatch rifle shot hogs and still no pass throughs, I suspect the bullet expansion puts the brakes on and delivers 100% energy. Wound channel is not like a rifle wound, very minor. I dont have other pistol caliber wound channels to compare it to but I suspect you need to hit CNS to stop something in its tracks. FWIW i get almost identical performance out of 125 grain UMC JSP pictured below
Byrd666
Member
It's what I have in both of my revolvers.
Lost Sheep
Member
Against a bear I would prefer 180 grain solid. What kind of defense did you have in mind?
Thanks for asking our advice. For social work, it is extremely effective.
While Marshall and Sanow's compilations of data is largely scoffed at (mostly for their data gathering techniques, I think), it does support the 125 grain hollow point as a good round. Do a search on "stopping power" and you will get thousands of links to read.
It will shred a lot of flesh against thin-skinned game (and people), but against heavily muscled thick-skinned creatures, penetration to vital organs is lacking, a nasty wound often serves only to enrage an animal.
Lost Sheep
Sergei Mosin
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Concur w/Lost Sheep - for critter defense, I prefer Federal's 180-grain CastCore load. That one does not go in the LCR!
Confederate
Member
It's one of those namby-pamby loads that require repeated shots to put down a miscreant.
NOT!
Just kidding. Any .357 125gr JHP is a vicious round and generally requires only one inoculation to fend off the great unwashed.
NOT!
Just kidding. Any .357 125gr JHP is a vicious round and generally requires only one inoculation to fend off the great unwashed.
Old_Gun_Hand
Member
They will work very well. That is the load I carry. This should answer any doubts you have. Ballistic Gel test
Lost Sheep
Member
Yes they do.
45 ACP makes a better indoor round, in my opinion. Less blinding (flash), less deafening (supersonic round and extreme muzzle blast). Winchester Silvertips in 45 ACP do very well against people as sell as being chambered in an action type that may be more tactically effective than a revolver.
Opinion: There is no substitute for frontal area.
I think a GREAT anti-personnel round is my friend's 500 Smith & Wesson Magnum 350 grain slugs loaded to 800 fps. More power than the 45 ACP, more frontal area than any commonly available pistol round and as soft-shooting as a 22 rimfire in my friend's heavy 4" factory compensated gun.
125 grain loud, flashy .357" diameter bullet that may expand to .5 or .6" at 1300 fps?
230 grain subsonic .451" diameter bullet that has marginal ability to expand to .6 to .65" diameter at 850 fps
350 grain subsonic .500 diamter bullet at 800 fps that is GUARANTEED .5" diameter and easy on the folllow-up shots.
Which is your choice?
Mine is the 45 ACP. I can't afford a 500 Smith and I get 8 rounds (or 10) instead of 5.
Lost Sheep
nathan, that's incorrect. A hot 110 or 125 JHP will display very different terminal ballistics than a 180 JHP. As of these tests, there were several common .357 loads that penetrated 12" or less in ballistic gel.
Many people just don't seem to understand terminal ballistics. As bullet weights go down, and velocity goes up, expansion and/or fragmention tends to increase, so penetration decreases.
John
Many people just don't seem to understand terminal ballistics. As bullet weights go down, and velocity goes up, expansion and/or fragmention tends to increase, so penetration decreases.
John
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