.357 bullet selection

[SHusky57]

I like the big holes of the 45 ACP, but I think it's universally agreed that the .357 magnum is effective. I prefer a revolver in home defense for the simple fact that they are super reliable.

I am trying to pick a load.

Right now I have 125 gr. Speer Gold Dot .38 +P ammo in it - for a few reasons.
1) I have no .357 on hand
2) Concerns about noise

I am looking to remedy number 1.

Number 2.... Many will say "it doesn't matter if you go deaf because it's better to be alive and deaf than dead." That's just stupid. There are lots of guns that will not make you go deaf but still protect you. I don't want to get into semantics or internet mythology, but rather, if people have scientific information to contribute this is what I am interested in. So my question in regards to noise concerns is, "is there any reason to expect permanent/critical hearing damage from firing a 125/158/180 grain .357 magnum indoors? Which is louder, 45 ACP or 357 magnum? Is 38 +p out of 6" sufficient? Obviously, any gun being fired without hearing protection will cause some damage. But, .357 mag barks more than any other handgun I have ever shot, besides 44 mag.... and I would much rather be alive and able to hear, rather than dead or alive but deaf. Does that make sense?

Now, to number 1.

A few loads to consider.
First my background: I have 5 acres. I am not worried too much about over-penetration. I am worried about a) expansion/terminal ballistics and b) penetration.

The loads I am aware of and what I feel/think so far:
110 gr JHP - Bullet is too light. I want a bullet that if it hits bone will destroy it.
125 gr JHP - Considering this load.
158 gr JHP - Considering this load.
180 gr JHP - REALLY considering this load. For one, I can keep the same ammo in for hog hunting back-up as for the nightstand. Second, I think that it would have more than adequate penetration against bones and even a lightly armored badguy. Will it still expand enough, or create enough wound cavity to do sufficient terminal damage?

Until I make up my mind, I will stick with 38 +p.

Please no M&S data, it's dated. I want to know experience from cops, hunters, ballistics testing, and real-life.

In particular, I am looking at Buffalo Bore and DoubleTap 180 gr loadings.
Will I go deaf?
Will they do enough damage?
Will they expand?
Is low-flash 9mm or standard .45 a better indoors/home defense load?

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

you likely should state which revolver you have and make this a 'poll'
I'm betting the 158 gr JHP wins out. but I'm not a cop and a relative newbie to loading the .357mag.

 

[buck460XVR]

IMHO.......

1)you' won't go completely and permanently deaf from one or two .357 gunshots indoors.

2) the best ammo for killin' hogs with a .357 is not the best for S.D. With one you need penetration the other you want expansion.

3) any of the ammo you listed will KILL a bad guy just as quick, as long as you do your part.

 

[WTBguns10kOK]

I would never use my 180 Buffalo Bores inside, they're ridiculously loud and I think they'd just go thru a person (exaggerating). Save them for your hunting and use 125/158 hollow points or just stick with your .38, it's fine.

 

[.38 Special]

There are lots of guns that will not make you go deaf but still protect you.

Not any that aren't fitted with silencers, .22 LR perhaps excepted. The threshold for near-instantaneous hearing damage is in the neighborhood of 120 dB. Any centerfire cartridge discharged in a confined environment is going to zoom right past that. Yes, some may be louder than others, but firing a gun indoors is going to cause some hearing damage. I consider it a relative non-issue, and thankfully one that almost certainly will not come up.

I would (and do) choose the full power 125 JHP.

 

[9mmepiphany]

the most proven "stopper" moniker, in LE circles is still held by the 125gr JHP coming out of the .357 mag. it also has a very impressive ball of flame and the crack will certainly get your attention.

the 180gr loads are great hunting rounds...but as already stated, they do the exact opposite of what you want a HD round to do and they make it difficult getting followup shots off.

i finally settled on the Speer 140gr JHP loaded in my 6" Python. extremely accurate and very controllable. a S&W might run the heavier 158gr slug better...different barrel twist

 

[Ben Shepherd]

Shorter barrel gun, I'd really look at the 140 JHP stuff like cor-bon puts out, or more likely the 158 XTPs, Gold dots, etc.

My personal bet the farm load is a 158 Speer gold dot. I've found they expand reliably at lower velocities than the XTP does(always a plus in a short barreled gun), but still holds together at the crazy speeds generated in 20+ inch rifle barrel. And in all my 357s they have proven to be above average in the accuracy dept.

I'd highly advise AGAINST any of the 180 stuff for urban SD use. Across the board they are designed for going deep rather than opening up, over penetration with a non-expanded slug is a very real possibility here.

 

[Gryffydd]

I would (and do) choose the full power 125 JHP.

My 125gr JHPs are almost uncomfortable to shoot even with excellent ear protection. I'd prefer to avoid shooting them with no ear protection in an enclosed space if I have any choice in the matter. Luckily I do...

 

[bang_bang]

I'm loaded up with 158 grain Federal Hydra-Shok JHP.

 

[brettcar]

The problem with the heavier bullets is penetration. You don't want a bullet that misses to go through all your sheetrock walls & into the house next door. The 125gr JHP offers rapid expansion & less penetration. On rabbits & other thin skinned game, expansion is exceptional. If you handload, you do not have to shoot maximum loads. Good Luck

 

[stoveboltgunnut]

Based on your requirements, I am not qualified to answer this question...

that said, I love to work up hard cast 180 or 200 gr loads in my blackhawk. Talk about penetration, oh boy they have it.

I do not know if you want "hog hunting" type penetration in a home defense setting, do you? I think you need to separate the hog hunting loads from the personal defense role and go with a 125 through 158 grain load that suits you.

 

[pps]

I like 158gr SJHP from Remington. Hits to POA in both my fixed sight Ruger and my S&W 627. Also, I want to favor penetration based on what I've seen with game...I don't use 125gr rounds on deer out of a handgun, and some of the inmates I've provided medical care for here in the good state of California are quite a bit thicker than deer.

I want a round that has the potential to hit the heart or spinal cord (with an extremely lucky shot) even if I have to shoot the BG through the a$$ to get the round where it needs to go. If I notice hearing loss after the encounter, then I know I won.

For boar, my round is a 185gr LBT style beartooth bullet over 15.8grains of H110 for 1200fps of bone smackin' delight. Dropped a sow hit broadside with one shot from 50 yards. If you do your job it will do you right...drop your rear sites (if you have adjustable) as this round hits quite a bit higher than the 158gr loadings.

 

[SHusky57]

6" Ruger GP100.

How do I add a poll to the post?

 

[warnerwh]

The 125 grain hollow points have an excellent stopping record. It's of the best listed where numerous shootings were evaluated. They were all torso hits and one shot stops to qualify. I believe they ran about 94-96%. These were of the very best loads for the one shot stops. A load of buck shot is better but still not 100%!

You can't go wrong with the 125gr hp. Lots of power if you don't mind dealing with it. It seems like it was Speer who made a load with the 125 gold dot but loaded just slightly down to about 1250fps. That's what's in my HD gun. This information is from many years ago so someone may correct me if I am in error.

 

[RoostRider]

Switching up ammo for the 'hogs' would be pretty easy.... keep it loaded with man stoppers the rest of the time....

Carry the best ammo for whatever application you have in mind.