bullet weight preference for .38/.357

[Bama Drifter]

158 LSWC
loaded to .38 +P for use in Smith 19 and Colt SAA
My recipe is 5.5gr of Unique and SP primer (not mag) using "retired" .357mag factory brass. As both revolvers are investment grade, a light target load is preferred.

 

[chaim]

For self defense I prefer 125gr JHP in .357mag, 125gr JHP or 158gr JHP or SWCHP for .38/.38+P. For the woods and possible bear defense, I prefer 180gr. For practice and reloading (for practice only, my self defense and woods loads are all commercial loadings), I prefer whatever is cheapest at the moment I'm buying

 

[RealGun]

158 and larger has too much inertia in the smaller guns, punishing the shooter. The 125 gr seems to solve that for me. K frame or larger and comparable other guns seem fine to me with 158 gr.

I have read mention that the 357 was developed with 135 gr.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I like 125 gr loads for urban settings where over penetration may be an issue, or Speer's 135 gr 38 short barrel stuff for in the home. If I'm poking around in the bushes around my particular area, I like 158 gr Speer Gold Dots, as they will easily stop anything I encounter, provided I can hit my target.

If I ever feel the need to carry 180 gr loads, I'll bring a bigger gun.

For target practice I like 158 gr bullets.

 

[FLNT4EVR]

For HD I load my 357's with 150 grn hardened WC'S from RimRock bullets . they are hardened to 22 bhn ,and will penetrate damn near anything.

 

[Richard Head]

I like the heavier bullets in 357 Magnum. The 170 grain Keith SWC's are very accurate bullets in all my 357's and leave a lot of room in the case for powder. I load them long with 2400 or PP300MP and get high velocity with excellent accuracy. The Cast Performance 187 (185 grain actual weight) WFN is another fine bullet, but it's a little expensive. I shoot more 148 grain dewc's wadcutters than anything in the 357 these days. 125 grains is too light imo, I don't bother with anything under 148 grains with my 357's.

 

[TfflHndn]

I have target loads I like in 125rnfp, 148wc and 158swc. Just depends on what I feel like shooting at the moment. I tend to stay away from plain lead, and go coated or plated. Less gunk messing up my dies from the lube. Gold Dots and H110 or Blue Dot for defense loads.

 

[bikerdoc]

158 jhp in the Ruger police service six.
110 jhp in the snub SP101
125 jhp in the Smith 649

Mostly 132 gr PMC in wifes 38

 

[Jlr2267]

158gr XTP or hardcast SWC

 

[dawei]

I own two snubnose 357 Magnum revolvers at present. Both shoot to POA out to 25yds with 158gr ammunition; 38 Special and 357 Magnum. I use the 158gr XTP as my carry load for both guns.

 

[edmo01]

I was wondering what everyones bullet weight preference is for their .38 or .357, but mostly .357 for general duty. I have a fondness for 140gr. bullets, and they seem to perform well. These loads aren't for SD since I use store bought ammo for that. It just seems to me that the best performance are had in the 135 to 145gr. range for both, at least as far as accuracy, and velocity and power. I just never liked 158gr pills, just as I don't like 147gr for 9mm. I dont have a carbine, yet, and these are mostly for varmints around the property, paper, and maybe hunting if i ever make it out. In Iowa, there isn't much that cant be stopped by a 38.

You seem to have answered you own question...

If the 140 grain bullets are working for you, stick with them.

Now, as a handloader I dabble with several weights in the 38/357 rounds. For general plinking I load 125 gr copper plated bullets. They don't lead my barrels and are fairly cheap $$-wise so I can make a lot of rounds for a little investment.

For really accurate 38 loads I like the 148 gr soft lead wad cutters over a light loading of powder. I'm still one of the guys who loads a lot of bullets over Unique powder. I've also had good luck with hard cast 148 & 158 gr lead rounds.

If I'm loading 357 Magnum rounds for whitetails I tend to choose 158 gr jacketed bullets with full power powder loads. The heavier weights will keep pushing through the animal even after hitting bone and tend to give deeper penetration. My magnum powder is still 2400 since I have several pounds of it on the shelf.

Remember, one of the nice things with revolvers and handloading is you can mix and match many bullet weights and velocities. The choices and fun are almost endless.

Edmo

 

[Cocked & Locked]

Life is easier when I load/carry/shoot 158 grain LSWC's and XTP's in my .38 and .357 revolvers

a few of them dressed for success...

 

[chaim]

Life is easier when I load/carry/shoot 158 grain LSWC's and XTP's in my .38 and .357 revolvers

a few of them dressed for success...

C&L, those are some beautiful gun/holster/grip combinations, especially the last two (I'm a sucker for stag and elk grips). Where did the grips come from? Who made the holsters?

 

[Cocked & Locked]

C&L, those are some beautiful gun/holster/grip combinations, especially the last two (I'm a sucker for stag and elk grips). Where did the grips come from? Who made the holsters?

Thank you Sir! The square butt stag grips on the 6" 10-5 came from Ebay years ago. I added the S&W medallions. The holster that one is in was made by Idaho Gun Leather.

The round butt stag ones on the 2.5" 19-2 I got off Gunbroker. That holster, and the one the Python is in, were made by Tom Dyer of Saguaro Gunleather in Kingman AZ. He has retired and closed his business. He also made custom horse tac.

Each set of those two sambar stag grips cost $75.00 at the time.





Here's some elk antler ones...made by Ken Driskill








and some more sambar stag...



Got some more but on 1911's

 

[chaim]

Now that is just cruel...

Too bad Tom Dyer retired, I would love to have a holster like that (though there are quite a few holster makers who make a nice carved or stamped holster). That M19 and M66 (or is it a 686) are gorgeous. I've been putting it off (money) but I think it is time for me to order some elk for my S&W 625MG and S&W 65LS (not stag, I think it looks better, but way too expensive these days).

 

[lemaymiami]

The only handgun I still own is the same S&W model 10 heavy barrel I was issued the last week of 1973 (I was allowed to purchase it from my department when I retired out in 1995)... it has a standard 4" barrel in 38...

As for ammo we long ago learned (maybe more than 30 years ago) that the heaviest round downrange from any handgun has a better impact than any lighter round (there's a reason the old GI 45 hardball in 230grain had such a great reputation as a fight ender long before modern, much improved auto pistols.... and the cartridge loadings for them.). My standard gear for the above revolver is the old FBI 158grain, soft lead hollow point semi wadcutter (but darned if I know where I'd purchase any today - or what the brand/designation to look for...). If I could, I'd want heavier if possible....

Once again for any handgun the heaviest round you can use accurately is my preference, period.... By the way I've seen more than a few handgun slugs taken from autopsied remains - hardly any of them in hollowpoint expanded at all from a pistol (no matter what all that advertising shouts....).

 

[Cocked & Locked]

lemaymiami...I agree. I prefer the heavier bullets.


chaim...You're right. That one is a 66-no dash.

One more Tom Dyer holster. Had him make this one for a 2.5" S&W N-frame (629-5 44 mag)

 

[Crayfish]

I prefer 125's in my 3" carry gun and 180 hardcast for woods carry around here (GP100). I consider that a minimum Grizzly round for the lower 48 variety. The only thing with the lighter bullets with a fixed sight gun is I had to file down the front sight to hit POA since they shoot so low.