.357 Magnum Too Much Recoil?

[Super Sneaky Steve]

You guys are fussing over problems that are easily overcome with this type of ammo here.
http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=107

BB makes a few kinds of ammo like this for your .357 and they address the sound, flash and recoil.

The 125 grain JHP .357 magnum is the best man stopper. Others come close but there's only one best and this is it. With this new ammo you guys don't have anything to complain about anymore.

 

[Jaymo]

I have shot a .357 full house 125 grain HP in a bedroom once.
It's not something you want to do. It's not something I'd ever repeat.
I was deaf for about a half hour after, and had ringing in the ears for a couple of days after.
The muzzle blast from a hot .357 is much worse than from a .38, .44 special, or .45 acp.
My .357s don't get used for HD anymore. My .44 special is better than a .38 and has much less painful/damaging blast than a .357.
I wouldn't use 7.62x25 for HD for the same reasons. Loud, high pitched crack when it goes off.
Sound is much different in a house than outside. Outside the sound waves travel and dissapate. Indoors, they echo off walls.
I have a .45 caliber precharged pneumatic rifle that sounds like a car tire blowing out when it's fired or dry fired indoors.
Outdoors, it just makes a "sprong" sound that isn't very loud at all.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

It is excessive in a small-frame revolver, but OK in a revolver with some weight to it, e.g., the Ruger GP100 or S&W 686. Heavy use of it in the medium-frame S&Ws has been known to crack barrel forcing cones.

 

[DenaliPark]

Do yall think the typical self defense .357 magnum load (1450 fps, SJHP, 125 grains) has too much recoil and muzzle blast/flash to be a preferred self defense round out of a 6" revolver?

Yeah, I do! Further, it's not going to be running along at 1400 fps out of your six inch .357, likely it will be clipping along at 1500 +... In my estimation you're better off with a +P 158 gr .38 spl, a very proven performer that isn't supersonic, and it won't deafen, or blind you nearly as dramatically as will a .357 magnum loading in a closed environment...

 

[kludge]

Do yall think the typical self defense .357 magnum load (1450 fps, SJHP, 125 grains) has too much recoil

no, not even out of my SP101

and muzzle blast/flash

inside, yes

to be a preferred self defense round out of a 6" revolver?

.38 SPL+P out of a 6" will do fine though. I prefer 158gr loads, or 140gr XTP. Also I would trust .38 SPL standard pressure loads from Buffalo Bore.

.357 135gr Gold Dot "Short Barrel" is good too, it's not full tilt ammo.

(FWIW Remington 125gr SJHP runs 1425fps out of my 4" guns)

 

[Brett Byers AKA Slow]

In a 6" weapon no problem at all...less weight, shorter barrel = more recoil and blast volume but manageble recoil still IMHO

 

[Owen Sparks]

Jeff Cooper said that the .357 Magnum is not really itself when the barrel is shorter than 6 inches. To really milk it for all it is worth find a lever action in .357 with a 20" barrel.

 

[Black Butte]

Not enough recoil. Go with a .44.

 

[Warp]

Kinda hard to carry a rifle most places though

 

[napjerk]

Thousands of cops used them for decades.

 

[armsmaster270]

I like 145 gr Silvertips

 

[FoghornLeghorn]

the typical self defense .357 magnum load (1450 fps, SJHP, 125 grains)

I think that's way overkill for a self-defense load, unless you're talking about defending yourself from a bear.

Man is a thin skinned creature and a hollow point only needs about 1000 fps to open up. A 38 +P round should be fine.

 

[rich642z]

Somebodies been drinking scared of recoil koolaid.

 

[[email protected]]

Well, I finally shot my first 357 Sunday. I have a Ruger Police Six with a
2.75 barrel. Factory grips. I shot the 125 gr heavy Buffalo Bore. This should
be going around 1450 from my barrel. I'm almost 70. I had my 44 Bulldog along
also. Now I can see what all this hype is first hand. I thought the 357 was
medium on recoil. It was a little loud, but I have shot a lot louder. Shot my
Bulldog also and it was louder and sure had more recoil. Trouble with a lot of
people now days, they don't know how to shoot a handgun that recoils. I
remember about 45 years ago a fellow wanted to shoot my Ruger 45 Colt with
my handloads. I began to tell him how to hold it, and he told me right off that
he was used to shooting 357 magnums and he knew all about how to shoot.
Well I just let him have at it. Well when the 300 grain bullet started moving
at 1350 fps down that short 4 inch barrel, it came right back at him and hit
him right smack between the eyes. Seemed he didn't know about shootin big
guns as he thought. Anyway if you know how to hold them, they don't kick
and will not hurt you. Old Elmer Keith taught me many years ago. You all have fun now. Phil

 

[1911Tuner]

Somebodies been drinking scared of recoil koolaid.

I don't think it's an issue with being afraid of recoil. More a question of being able to adequately control the gun for followup shots, which is more important in a defensive revolver than one used to hunt with. The level of control with a given gun/load combination will, or course, vary with the individual.

 

[TonyT]

I am much more concerned with the noise from a supersonic 357 Mag than the recoil - you will be temporarilly (at least) deafened after shooting one in close quarters without hearing protection. I prefer the subsonic 45 ACP.

 

[teumessian_fox]

Somebodies been drinking scared of recoil koolaid.

What an absurd post. The greater the recoil the greater the time to get back on target. That's the name the game.

 

[[email protected]]

That's right. Gives you more time to think about the second shot. Remember
the second mouse gets the cheese.

 

[wlewisiii]

Do yall think the typical self defense .357 magnum load (1450 fps, SJHP, 125 grains) has too much recoil and muzzle blast/flash to be a preferred self defense round out of a 6" revolver?

No, though I prefer 158 gr. SJHP or LSWCHP.

 

[snakyjake]

I'm not sure how much I trust specialized round to reduce recoil and flash. Can't help to think what I have to give up in order to get that.

 

[snakyjake]

When I considered the different ammo selectons (38+, 357), I considered some scenarios that I think a 38+ was tactically better...for me.

I asked myself these tactical questions:
What if I have to shoot with my off-hand? What if I need to shoot around a corner? What if I can't get the proper grip and stance? What if I was inured?

As the research shows, placement and number of bullet holes matter. As long as the ammo meets FBI requirements, I consider the tactical advantages to meet those goals.

Another tactical advantage I give myself is where I conceal my gun. It's hard to beat a coat pocket. Can't do that with a big heavy gun.

Jake

 

[22-rimfire]

Based on my outdoor nightime plinking with a 357 mag, I'd say, it has too much flash and recoil for a practical home or self defense caliber.

As a new shooter, I felt it also had too much recoil to be a pleasant round to shoot often. But with practice and experience, the recoil is managable.

In terms of recoil in geneal, if you think the 357 has high recoil, then shoot 44 and 41 mags (or larger) a while and then go back to the 357 mag. That is what I did and shooting the 357 became very managable.

 

[Jaymo]

Funny thing, my Taurus 44 Mag 4" and my Ruger Redhawk .44 mag 7.5" kick less than my Taurus 65 and Ruger Speed Six .357s did.
Of course, they weigh more. Then again, they're shooting a more powerful cartridge.

kwhi43 loads his .44 specials up to .44 mag pressures. His Bulldog is definitely going to kick more than his .357. He uses real man loads in that Charter.
Hot loads from a Charter Bulldog .44 are fiesty. The gun only weighs 21 ounces.
I prefer rubber grips and .44 special +p loads in my Charter. I'm a big sissy.
I have the utmost respect for kwhi43 being able to shoot loads that hot in his Charter.
Mine kicks enough with standard pressure to make me dislike the wood grips.

 

[chrt396]

125's are more controllable in your pistol than 158's.

The muzzle blasts are awesome. You will get big fire balls out the end of your muzzle.

125's should be an excellent self defense round.

That's the fun! Using some 2400 powder..and shock and awe begins at the range. I love those 12 inch fire blasts coming out of the muzzle. Even better on a 41 magnum!

 

[Waywatcher]

A year ago, my answer was yes, and I loaded .38+P

Then I started doing weights, pull-ups, push-ups, etc.

The answer for me now is definitely, "No, not too much recoil." At defense ranges, I can get the gun back on target as fast as I can roll the trigger. My last try at the range was 6 rounds Rem 125 SJHP .357 at an IPSC target at about 6 yards. Starting from low ready, all six were As and the total time was about 3 seconds--about 0.50 second splits. (I was timed)