Carry load for 3" K-frame?

[Marko Kloos]

At the moment, I carry my Model 65 with .357 Magnum, Speer Gold Dot 125gr loads.

On occasion, I load up with .38 Special +P (Remington Golden Saber), or Federal .38 Special +P+ Hydrashoks.

I realize that the Magnums have more steam even out of a 3" tube, but I find myself pondering whether the reduced recoil and increased controlability of .38 +P loads are worth the ballistic trade-off. Then again, I don't really like to downgrade in the ballistics department.

What's the general consensus out there? Anyone have hard numbers for .357 versus .38+P/+P+ out of a 3" barrel?

 

[ACP230]

Steve Camp posted a thread on his two and a half inch Smith .357 that included ballistic info on factory ammo and a reload or two. I'd think the numbers he posted would have to be close to those you'd get.

 

[Mike Irwin]

Remington Golden Saber 125s.

The recoil impulse is not bad, yet expansion and penetration are excellent.

 

[VictorLouis]

Golden Sabre reduced vel. loads, or Silvertip. For me, I've went down to +Ps in my J-frames for less blast, number one, and controllability, #2.

 

[bpisler]

I like the starfire 150gr out of my 3" 65 mostly cause they hit POA.The remington 357 golden sabres would not be a bad choice or if you like the 38spl +Ps the corbon 125gr might be the way to go.Corbon lists these at 1100fps from a 4" barrel,they're what i carry in my 3" M-60.

 

[SPG]

Fed 357 125 gr JHP's an alltime favorite. SPG

 

[DeltaElite]

lendringser,
I also use the 125gr Gold Dots, but in my 3" Smith 13.
It appears great minds think alike.

I prefer the power of the 357 and the 45acp and the 10mm and the 41magnum and the 44magnum. I see a trend here.

 

[tbeb]

If you like the full power magnum 125 gr. JHP's then use them.

If not then try the Winchester Silvertip 145 gr. JHP. Back when I carried a 2 1/2" S&W model 66, this was my load of choice. They give real good expansion and penetration. Also the flash is less than most.

 

[mikey357]

...I kinda' like the CONTROLLABILITY of the 125-gr. "Golden Sabers" in .357 Mag...use 'em in my three-inch 65, my now-departed two-and-half inch 66 and my four-inch 19's and 686's...works for me!!!....mikey357

 

[Johnny Guest]

If the mag loads are a little fierce, you might want to try loading the first two or three chambers up with Rem or Win .38 Special 158 LSWCHP +P. Good, accurate, controllable, and with decent velocity and excllent enetration. THEN would be plenty of time for the Remington 125 Magnums. I personally prefer the Remington 158 JHP loads, but I'm a heavy-bullet kind of feller.

Friend Stephen A. Camp listed some good loads for use in short-tube magnums at
http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15853

Worth reading--as is ALL of Br. Camp's stuff. His observations concerning the 2-1/2 M19 will surely have a lot of validity in a discussion about a THREE-inch .357. [Whoops--Just noticed that ACP230 has already made the same comment. ]

Best,
Johnny

 

[Abner]

Here are some velocities out of my 3" S&W M65LS. Velocities measured at 10', 70 degrees, twelve shots fired, dropped highest and lowest, averaged the remaining 10.

M65LS 3â€
Remington 125gr. Golden Saber .357
1214 fps for 409 fpe
factory rated 1220fps from a 4"

Winchester 110gr. JHP White Box .357
1183 fps for 342 fpe
factory rated 1295fps from a 4"

Federal 147gr. +P+ Hydra-Shoks 38 Spec
903 fps for 266 fpe
not sure what factory is on this one.

Remington 158gr. +P LSWCHP 38 Spec
872 fps for 267 fpe
factory rated 890fps from a 4" 38 spec barrel

Federal 110gr. Personal Defense 38 Spec
912 fps for 203 fpe
not sure about factory on this one either.

The full house .357 just kick too much for me to control in rapid fire and damn, they just hurt. The top two above recoil much less. You can get a quick double tap. I have uncle mikes boot grips on the gun.

 

[Brian Williams]

Handloaded 158 gr LSWC either 13.5 of 2400 or 6.5 gr 231 for my 3" mod 13

 

[Mordoc]

I have a 3" GP-100. I don't carry it often because of weight but it is my current house gun. I gave up on .357's due to flash. With Hydroshocks you almost don't need a tactical light! I agree that the 145gr. Silvertips seem best in this reguard. I keep it loaded with 158 gr. LSWHP's in .38 spl. Due to the short barrel I don't feel I'm losing a lot. Now, if it only had night sights.

 

[gumshoe4]

I'm carrying the Remington .357 125-grain JHP medium velocity in my SP101. I find that that round is much more controllable than W-W .357 110-grain JHP white box. I have no hard numbers, sorry, but from a recoil standpoint, the Remingtons seem about halfway between .38+P 158-grain LSWCHP and the 110-grain mag loads.

Bob

 

[Rob96]

I am currently carrying Speer 125gr Gold Dot +p 38spcls. in my SP-101. Great controlability and accuracy. In testing it also gives good penetration and expansion.

 

[JPM70535]

Another vote for the WW Silvertip in 357. I found it to be the best choice for my mod. 66 2-1/2" back when I carried it for my off duty piece. The flash is really not that bad although it certainly isnt non existant.

JPM

 

[Sarge111]

Do you want it to hit hard?

Federal 125 JHP full-race magnum