IWAC
Member
I've been shooting and reloading the 357 Magnum for the last 30+ years, and have reached a few conclusions:
Carbide dies are a goodness!
I don't like casting bullets.
You don't need the heavy hitters for home defense, or much else. Sure, the numbers are impressive...125gr. at 1450 fps...a guaranteed one-shot stop 90+% of the time! WOW! No doubt good, IF YOU CAN HIT with it!
I wager few can or will practice enough to become inured to the flash and blast! Women and kids particularly...they just won't put up with the roar and recoil. It's not fun! We might learn something from them, if we really try! More power to 'em!
Drop a few FPS to factory mid-range 357 loads at~ 1200 fps, and the recoil lessens markedly, and they are easier to hit with. Go even further, to a good bulllet in a .38 Special +P load, and the effectiveness percentage is less, but not dramatically so. AND they are easier to place the bullets in the X-Ring with, particularly in many of the small, light framed guns so popular today.
I prefer to play (and it is recreation!) in the no-man's land between .38 Special +P loads and minimum loads for 357 in my manuals, using 357 brass. That's what my brother-in-law and I called "hot .38-mild magnum" loads. We came up with that one before we knew anything about the .38/44, and they work just fine.
I sold most of my.38 Special brass a long time ago. Most? Yeah, I kept a few "just in case". In case of what? you may ask...I don't know...just because, I suppose.
Somehow, the arguments that "you are not getting your money's worth" from the 357 if you shoot anything but maximum loads in it, or "Manly" men don't shoot anything but FULL MAGNUM loads fall on deaf ears... emotional, but lacking a bit in logic, imo.
Powder: They are likely all good, but life isn't long enough to try every powder/charge/bullet available. I know some guys are going to try, even with the shortages, but it has seemed best to me to find a powder or three that will do what you need, and stick with them. Most of the "new and improved" seems very similar the the "old technology" in most cases!
Most of all, ENJOY!
Carbide dies are a goodness!
I don't like casting bullets.
You don't need the heavy hitters for home defense, or much else. Sure, the numbers are impressive...125gr. at 1450 fps...a guaranteed one-shot stop 90+% of the time! WOW! No doubt good, IF YOU CAN HIT with it!
I wager few can or will practice enough to become inured to the flash and blast! Women and kids particularly...they just won't put up with the roar and recoil. It's not fun! We might learn something from them, if we really try! More power to 'em!
Drop a few FPS to factory mid-range 357 loads at~ 1200 fps, and the recoil lessens markedly, and they are easier to hit with. Go even further, to a good bulllet in a .38 Special +P load, and the effectiveness percentage is less, but not dramatically so. AND they are easier to place the bullets in the X-Ring with, particularly in many of the small, light framed guns so popular today.
I prefer to play (and it is recreation!) in the no-man's land between .38 Special +P loads and minimum loads for 357 in my manuals, using 357 brass. That's what my brother-in-law and I called "hot .38-mild magnum" loads. We came up with that one before we knew anything about the .38/44, and they work just fine.
I sold most of my.38 Special brass a long time ago. Most? Yeah, I kept a few "just in case". In case of what? you may ask...I don't know...just because, I suppose.
Somehow, the arguments that "you are not getting your money's worth" from the 357 if you shoot anything but maximum loads in it, or "Manly" men don't shoot anything but FULL MAGNUM loads fall on deaf ears... emotional, but lacking a bit in logic, imo.
Powder: They are likely all good, but life isn't long enough to try every powder/charge/bullet available. I know some guys are going to try, even with the shortages, but it has seemed best to me to find a powder or three that will do what you need, and stick with them. Most of the "new and improved" seems very similar the the "old technology" in most cases!
Most of all, ENJOY!