Best .357 SD rnd 125gr HP or 158 HP

[The grons]

I have a Taurus I think 686 .357 K frame; the barrel is 4" from front to back (not including the cylinder); what is the best SD round 125 gr or 158gr?

 

[rcmodel]

125 - Less chance of over-penetration, and more chance of the HP opening like it is supposed too.

http://www.handloads.com/misc/stoppingpower.asp?Caliber=5&Weight=All

rc

 

[The grons]

Thanks, I would have thought the 125 would have over penetrated because it is a hotter round?

 

[FullEffect1911]

158 grain .357 magnum HP's tend to be too heavily constructed to be of much use in a two legged SD situation. If it is .357 mag power you are looking for the 125 grain projectile is probably the best bet. The blast and recoil will be stout. They make both full house and mid range loads that will be effective.

Another alternative is a heavy buffalo bore .38 +p, they are basically a .38 on the low end of .357 mag ballistics. Both of BB's +p .38 loads will be effective, one is a 125 grain and the other is a 158 grain. So if you are fixed on 158 the Buffalo Bore load is a good one.

 

[The grons]

I have a speed loader with .38 +P Glaser and a speed loader of .357 125 gr. I like shooting the 158 gr at the range for a nice kick and feel the ground shake. Question on barrel length: if the barrel of my gun is 4" from front to back; do you add 2" for the cylinder when discussing barrel length of revolvers? So in essence would my gun be a 6" barrel?

Thanks,

John

 

[frankiestoys]

Taurus 686?????????????? I think you mean Smith and wesson.

 

[Gary K]

Speer has a dandy 135 gr HP too, just to add to the confusion.

 

[Nicodemus38]

barrel length in a revolver is the barrel, the cylinder doesnt come into the equation for barrel length at all.
what you do is take your unloaded revolver and rotate the cylinder so that the web between to chambers is under the forcing cone. then take a cleaning rod and put it down the barrel and let it rest on the cylinder face. put a piece of tape around the rod were it touches the barrel. remove and measure from the tip of rod to the bottom of the tape. thats the barrel length.

 

[kanook]

which load does said firearm like the best. My Security Six hates lite ammo. It shoots nicely with 158grain, but put some 180s in it and it's very happy. When I got some 125grain and saw my target, I thought what happened.

 

[bestseller92]

I have a Taurus 669 and I keep Remington 125 grain JHPs in it, the same load I use in my Ruger GP100 and Sp101.

For woods use, I go with 158 grain JHPs or JSPs.