.38/.357 Carry Loads

[golden]

In my .38 Special and .357 magnum revolvers, I carry:

1-. HORNADY .38 Special standard pressure 110 grain FTX. I use this in my alloy framed guns which I very rarely carry.

2. FEDERAL HST 130 grain jhp in my steel framed S&W model 36 2 inch and model 15 and 19 which are 4 inch barreled guns.

3. The HST load has about the same shape as a full wadcutter load and is difficult to load from a speedloader, so my reloads are usually the REMINGTON 125 grain +P sjhp, which usually shoot well in my revolvers.

4. I use the REMINGTON 110 grain jhp .357 magnum ammo in my RUGER Security Six and GP-100 revolvers as well as my S&W 586 and 681. I will not use .357 ammo in my S&W model 19 as I prefer to limit K-frame guns to .38 Special ammo.

Jim

 

[styles]

158 gr lswc
Penetration > expansion
Try handgun hunting and report back on the need for expansion.

 

[Apuesto]

3. .357 Magnum having gained its reputation from service revolvers with 4-6” barrels, is there any advantage of .357 Magnum over +P .38 Spl in a three inch barreled revolver (IE Ruger SP101) ?

On your 3rd point. Yes, there is a huge advantage going .357 over .38 in short barrels.

Some numbers from www.ballisticsbytheinch.com

Cor Bon 110 gr 2" barrel .38 = 675fps,
Cor Bon 110 gr 2" barrel .357 = 928fps

and

Federal 125gr JHP 2".38 = 700fps
Federal 125gr JHP 2".357 = 949fps

A .357 out of a 2" barrel performs about the same as a .38 out of a 4" barrel, and out of a 3" barrel, a .357 will outperform a .38 from just about any (regular) length handgun barrel.

If you can stomach the recoil of a .357, it's the way to go.

 

[George P]

Hot loads from a snub is NOT a very a pleasurable experience; 5-6 hits from a regular load is a lot better than many misses from some uber SD load

 

[Crowman]

I tailor my loads depending on the tool and the job. I live up in the woods bordering National Forest and got all sorts of critters and varmints wandering about. My preference is for hard cast bullets. My ridge walking gun is a 4.2” barrel Ruger GP100 Match Champion with fixed hard use Novak Sights. I load it with a 38 snake shot for Mr. No Shoulders and Buffalo Bore or Grizzly 180 grain hard cast RNFP full house Magnums. I ain’t interested in expansion. I want penetration.

My EDC is a new 3” barrel 2019 Colt King Cobra 357 loaded with snake shot and 38 +P Buffalo Bore 158 grain hard cast Keith style SWC. These nearly duplicate the old 38/44 loads that predated the 357 Magnum and deeply penetrate. I do tote a speedloader with 180 grain RNFP just in case...

My dress up and go to town gun is a 2018 Colt Night Cobra loaded with 158 grain JHP. Here, I don’t want excessive penetration since there are usually people milling about. I stay with 158 grain bullets because factory fixed sights are regulated to that weight. Mine shoot to point of aim with them. The 180 grain magnum loads in the Ruger and King Cobra print a bit high due to longer dwell time in the barrel.

 

[skeeterfogger]

For carry. Maybe something that won't hit 2 more people beyond the target.

 

[Pat Riot]

Your ability to put shots exactly where you want them with your chosen gun is going to dictate your success in a defensive shooting scenario. Pick the load that lets you do that, even if it is boring. I am very fond of 125 grn .38 +P Golden Sabers out of my S&W Model 66-3.

I agree with Stevekozak regarding accuracy.

Out of my j frame revolvers the round that I keep and carry is the Hornady “American Gunner” 125gr XTP. It isn’t sexy but it is accurate.
I see by Lucky Gunners test it Totally Sucks in regards to expansion but in penetration it does well.

Edit: I forgot to add that I am going to retest some various cartridges. The expansion of my load of choice is abysmal and truly surprised me.

The reason I picked this load? Accuracy.
I tried many different loads and this one shot best for me on paper OUT OF THE CARTRIDGES EASILY AVAILABLE ON STORE SHELVES. Sorry, not yelling. Trying to make a point.
I do not mail order ammo. It’s cost prohibitive, I live in CA. But even when I lived in Oregon and North Carolina I always bought ammo off the shelf.
There are a couple of rounds that also shoot well out of my guns but I call them “Unicorn Ammo”. I never see them in the shelf anywhere.

It is important to pick a cartridge that is readily available or really stock up when you do find it. One must practice with one’s carry guns and the ammo used for self defense.

 

[Crowman]

For carry. Maybe something that won't hit 2 more people beyond the target.

Yup. Tailor the load for the application.

 

[StrawHat]

When I carried a 38 Special it was loaded with hard cast DEWCs at 850 fps. Read about them here.

https://www.grantcunningham.com/2011/11/ed-harris-revisiting-the-full-charge-wadcutter/

Kevin