.357 Mag in an SP101 for CCW

[Rexster]

It took a second reading of the original post to figure out the exact question. .38 Special +P+ is NOT common or popular. There is no SAAMI spec for it; basically, it was near-magnum pressure ammo loaded into .38 Special cases, for use by police agencies who did not want to be accused of using ma-a-agnummm ammo against good citizens, therefore depriving them of their civil rights. We all know that mere Special ammo thumps folks without violating their civil rights.

Did the OP mean .38 Special +P?

I do indeed carry magnums in my SP101s, generally Winchester 145-grain Silvertips, for closer impact to point of aim, reasonable muzzle flash, and local availability, plus the Silvertips are just a bit lower pressure than full-pressure loads, without being a neutered medium magnum. This round has a track record among LE agencies, against real live bad guys, a very important factor to me.

In the past, when I carried larger .357 sixguns regularly, for duty and some CC, and the SP101s served mostly as back-up, I would just load the snubbies with what the bigger sixguns were eating at the time, usually the full-pressure Federal or Remington 125-grain JHPs.

I just acquired yet another .357 SP101, this time with a 3-1/16" barrel, and I have not settled on a favored load for it yet. I will use magnums until I am too feeble to control them.

 

[ronto]

I carry the DAO in a Mika pocket holster with 135gr Speer GDHP "Short Barrel"...Not too heavy to carry and pleasant to shoot.

 

[LRS_Ranger]

I shoot .357's because I like the recoil. I have a hogue grip on it and that makes it a bit more comfortable. Something about having a deafening blast and a sharp whack in the palm just makes me happy... call it testosterone I guess. Everyone else that has shot it has usually commented on the recoil, and then said "I want it". Nobody has really said that it was painful. Well, I take that back, my 82 year old grandmother accidently grabbed the box of 158gr Magtech's instead of the 38s and (after emptying the cylinder) turned to me and asked what she was doing wrong because "it stings".

 

[Dee]

Well I went out and blew away a few 1 gallon jugs with water today with my 101, I tried both .38 and .357 ammo. This is my 2nd time out with it and first revolver. All I can say is at least you can tell you hit something in .357 ammo, I wasn't too impressed with the impression the .38's made, granted it was just cheap fmj ammo, I was shooting about 15 yards out. Plus I too like the recoil and the loud crack-boom of the .357's

 

[jbrown50]

If I did normally carry .357, it would be the Corbon DPX.

The 125 gr. Corbon DPX is what I carry in my S&W M&P 360. It's a surprisingly 'mild' load in my little featherweight 360, and accurate too. It stings a little but doesn't beat my trigger finger up like the heavier .357 magnums and 135 - 158 gr. 38 +Ps.

 

[spyder1969]

I carry my SP101 with Hornady Critical Defense FTX 38 SPCL +P 110gr rounds. I do not want to risk over penetration in a public setting. If I am hiking I will switch to .357. I love this weapon.