Good General Purpose .357 Mag Ammo

[Texasred]

Hey looking to stock up on some good general purpose .357 mag ammo.
I'm considering:
Fiocchi 158gr JHP, nickle plated, XTP bullet
Speer Gold Dot 125gr, nickle plated
Hornandy Leverolution 140gr

I really like the nickle plated feature because the humidity is bad here in Houston. Just wondering what general ideas are. Guns to eat it are:
Ruger SP 101 2"
Ruger GP 4"
Dan Wesson 6"
Smith 686 6"
Smith 686 2 1/2"

I'm looking for medium hot to hot ammo, no speer short bbl or anything that weak. I do reload, but I just don't always have time and want to stock up now while I have the money and I can't find any published velocities.
I think the best deal so far is the 125 JHP Remington 100rd 44.95 pack that they sell over at walmart, That stuff is hot! But it's hard to find.

Anybody recommend some .38 +Ps for my two airweights? Thanks all!

 

[snooperman]

I reload also and being retired , I have much more time than you..

That said, the ones you listed are fine. If you have a lot of brass , you can look at "mastercast" that will reload it for you at a better price. For general plinking their stuff is fine , especially their metal jacket bullets. Their may be others who can give you some alternatives as well. Hope this helps. Good shooting.

 

[snooperman]

For +P ammo for my snubby carry guns ...

I use Speer Gold Dots and also Remington +P lead semi wadcutter hollowpoints (158gr). There are many others that will work just as well such as Corbon.

 

[moxie]

I was going to recommend the 125 Speer Gold Dot on your list, but then note in your text you don't want them. So I'm confused. I do recommend those or the Remington Golden Saber 125 in either .357 mag. or .38+P.
BTW, those Hornady Leverevolution rounds can be fired in handguns, but sure aren't "general purpose."

 

[kludge]

Hey looking to stock up on some good general purpose .357 mag ammo.

Remington 125gr SJHP, 1425fps from my 4".

For the Airweight I would recommend something from Buffalo Bore, the 150gr Wadcutter looks impressive, or the "FBI load" Remington 158gr lSWCHP +P, if your Airweight is +P approved.

 

[MCgunner]

My general purpose and occasional hunting load is a cast, gas checked Lee 165 grain SWC over 14.5 grains of bullseye with a Winchester primer. Clocks 1470 fps out of my 6.5" Blackhawk, yet it's below pressure limits. It's not a good load for a 2" barrel, but it does better than most of the 125 grain stuff which are little better than +P .38s.

I have absolutely NO use for a 125 grain bullet in .357. They don't perform well in short barrels and they're tough on forcing cones and top straps. My carry load involves a Speer 140 JHP and my hunting loads are the 165 and a 180 grain XTP load. The 165 grain load uses a cast bullet and I get my lead for free, just have to pay for the gas check and some liquid alox. It's the load I must use at the range. It's quite accurate, too. I've found no factory load I like any better and couldn't afford to shoot much of 'em, anyway, if I did.

 

[Deaf Smith]

good general purpose .357 mag ammo.

If you have the money, then Hornandy Leverolution 140gr would be a good GP load.

But I'd specialize:
Fiocchi 158gr JHP, nickle plated, XTP bullet for hunting in your Dan Wesson.

Speer Gold Dot 125gr, nickle plated for self defense in everything else.

Deaf

 

[Dr.Rob]

Remington 125 gr JSP (super fast/hot barky ammo at a non premium price) and its usually cheaper than JHP.

Federal 158 Gr SJHP nothing fancy, all business.

 

[Texasred]

Earlier I meant Speer Short BBL not gold dot when I said I didn't care for it. I've edited now, sorry Moxie

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Remington 125 gr JSP (super fast/hot barky ammo at a non premium price) and its usually cheaper than JHP.

I agree completely and like said, the price is right...

 

[Texasred]

Should SPs be used for self defense?

 

[GP100man]

MCgunner

will you please reveal the source of data for the bullseye load.

Seems kinda hi!!

 

[Rexster]

I would use the 125-grain Gold Dots for defense against human predators, and the other two mentioned loads (from the original post) for hunting.

I have used 125-grain (full-pressure) in a defensive shooting. I get my hunting load information from friends who hunt with .357. I use 145-grain .357 Winchester Silvertips in my fixed-sight .357 revolvers, to get a better point-of-impact in relation to the sight picture, and for the somewhat less-snappy recoil, and more reasonable sound and fury, as my fixed-sight weapons are lighter in weight than my adjustable-sight .357 sixguns.

 

[bluetopper]

MCgunner, surely you meant to say 14.5gr of 2400 in stead of Bullseye!!!
That amount of Bullseye would almost be a triple charge.