GP100 ammo ?
- Thread starter fxstchewy
- Start date
- Status
Macchina
Member
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2006
- Messages
- 998
For a GP100 you have two things too weigh:
1. This gun will handle ANY 357 ammo! You will probably be able to handle the heavier loadings too due to it's weight. You have 6 shots, they should be as effective as you can handle. Speed almost always equates to being more effective. To prevent over penetration you want a good hollowpoint (as you probably know). Use common sense here too: look at your house and know which directions lead to people: don't shoot that direction. Any ammo that is faster in a long-barreled gun will also be faster in a short barreled gun. The "short barrel" loadings just decrease flash and boom (and usually velocity too) which brings me to the second point:
2. Noise will be a huge problem indoors. Possibly not in the short term but definitely long term. Long barrels and slower loadings both create quieter loads...
My recommendation would be something a bit more potent than the 135 Gold Dots. Take a look at some of the slightly heavier loadings (158g). Perhaps the standard velocity 357 158g JHP.
1. This gun will handle ANY 357 ammo! You will probably be able to handle the heavier loadings too due to it's weight. You have 6 shots, they should be as effective as you can handle. Speed almost always equates to being more effective. To prevent over penetration you want a good hollowpoint (as you probably know). Use common sense here too: look at your house and know which directions lead to people: don't shoot that direction. Any ammo that is faster in a long-barreled gun will also be faster in a short barreled gun. The "short barrel" loadings just decrease flash and boom (and usually velocity too) which brings me to the second point:
2. Noise will be a huge problem indoors. Possibly not in the short term but definitely long term. Long barrels and slower loadings both create quieter loads...
My recommendation would be something a bit more potent than the 135 Gold Dots. Take a look at some of the slightly heavier loadings (158g). Perhaps the standard velocity 357 158g JHP.
Last edited:
jdmb03
Member
If you want a .38 I would go with a 158gr. JHP.
http://www.hornady.com/store/38-Special-158-gr-XTP/
http://www.hornady.com/store/38-Special-158-gr-XTP/
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Yes, for home defense the Speer .38 Special +P load will be fine as will most any name brand .38 Special ammo. Find an ammo you can shoot well and your gun likes and stick with it. All the speed in the world will do you no good if you don't hit what you shoot at. you also do not want to "flash bang" yourself firing off a full power .357 Magnum round inside a small dark inclosure like your bedroom at night.
Speed of the projectile doesn't always translate into more efficiency. Hitting what you shoot at will stop the threat and a .38 Special is not a varmint round.
Macchina
Member
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2006
- Messages
- 998
I've always thought this was a very dumb saying. No offense because you didn't invent the saying...
What if you said: "gas efficiency doesn't matter if you get in a fatal accident"? That doesn't mean gas efficiency doesn't matter! It sounds ridiculous when you put it another way, doesn't it?;
The saying is a falacy: the speed of a bullet not hitting the target is irrelevent, but that doesn't mean the speed of the bullet hitting the target is also irrelevant!
Velocity may not matter on a miss, but it sure helps on a hit, and isn't that the whole point of it all?
KansasSasquatch
Member
That saying is NOT a fallacy. It uses a qualifying word, if. Your example is also terrible. Gas efficiency doesn't matter IF you get in a fatal car accident, because you won't be driving that car anywhere, anymore, to save money on fuel.
Edit: To add my point of view to the original topic. I like 158gr ammo out of a GP100, .38 or .357. For defensive rounds I'd try to find a good 158gr hollow point in .38spl, either standard pressure or +p, .357 inside a house is gonna be louder and more distracting than necessary. I wouldn't be against ammo marketed for a short barrel, but I don't think it's be necessary for a 4" barrel.
Last edited:
SEE IT LIKE A NATIVE
Member
I keep my gp100 and speed six full of remington golden saber 125 grain loads ! Easy shooting , feels like a hot 38 special , low muzzle flash , reliable expansion and excellent accuracy ! There is nothing wrong with the rounds you chose ! i just was telling you what I use and why ! Kevin
Tony_the_tiger
Member
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2011
- Messages
- 905
I keep mine loaded with Buffalo Bore 180 grain hard cast wadcutters. My Gp100 is sighted in for that round as I typically use it for hiking. This round has excellent characteristics for barrier penetration. Different bullets will have different points of impact in your firearm, so whatever you choose make sure you understand how that changes when you switch loads.
However, for home defense my primary firearm is a Remington 870 with Remington 00 buck or Brenneke Classic Magnum slugs, depending on how I feel.
I am also a fan of Buffalo Bore's loading of the Barnes 140 grain XPB bullet for short barrels. In my Sp101 2.5" barrel it exceeds 1100 ft/s on average and has excellent penetration characteristics while remaining very controllable. Corbon makes a 125 grain version of their DPX barnes bullet that also travels about 1200 ft/s. I am a fan of the DPX and Buffalo-Barnes all-copper lines.
As to your question, the Speer 135 grain .38 +P and the Speer 135 grain .357 are good controllable rounds for the purpose of self defense. However, in my opinion meeting the minimum FBI penetration standard (approx. 12" in ballistic gelatin) leaves something to be desired in terms of planning for scenarios where barrier penetration may be an issue. Speer's 125 grain .357 magnum is a wonderful round. I do carry the 135 .38 version in a S&W 442. The Gp100 is an entirely more capable weapon and that is a consideration depending on your personal perception of need. Lots of good choices out there, just make sure you shoot a handful of them to know that you can hit with it.
However, for home defense my primary firearm is a Remington 870 with Remington 00 buck or Brenneke Classic Magnum slugs, depending on how I feel.
I am also a fan of Buffalo Bore's loading of the Barnes 140 grain XPB bullet for short barrels. In my Sp101 2.5" barrel it exceeds 1100 ft/s on average and has excellent penetration characteristics while remaining very controllable. Corbon makes a 125 grain version of their DPX barnes bullet that also travels about 1200 ft/s. I am a fan of the DPX and Buffalo-Barnes all-copper lines.
As to your question, the Speer 135 grain .38 +P and the Speer 135 grain .357 are good controllable rounds for the purpose of self defense. However, in my opinion meeting the minimum FBI penetration standard (approx. 12" in ballistic gelatin) leaves something to be desired in terms of planning for scenarios where barrier penetration may be an issue. Speer's 125 grain .357 magnum is a wonderful round. I do carry the 135 .38 version in a S&W 442. The Gp100 is an entirely more capable weapon and that is a consideration depending on your personal perception of need. Lots of good choices out there, just make sure you shoot a handful of them to know that you can hit with it.
Last edited:
Short barrel ammo? As in made for a snubby? You've got a 4" .357 mag for home defense; you might as well load it with .357 mag ammo. JMHO.
Edited: I guess I understand not wanting the flash/retort of a .357 mag inside, but I'd want to use a 158 grain .38 jhp in that 4" barrel.
Edited: I guess I understand not wanting the flash/retort of a .357 mag inside, but I'd want to use a 158 grain .38 jhp in that 4" barrel.
Last edited:
I have read a test somewhere that the Speer GD 38+p short barrel ammo did 16" penetration out of a GP100 with a 4" barrel, i will see if i can find it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnhjGPhvsIo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnhjGPhvsIo
RealGun
Member
Find something subsonic but still in 357 cases. Personally, for home defense at night I would prefer my Glock model 22 with night sights, plus flashlight and laser mounted on the rail. The .410 Coach Gun is good too.
Among revolvers, the .38 Special Interarms Rossi 851 is a good example among my guns. To rely on a 357, of which two of mine are 4", I would load my own, if intending to shoot indoors. I use SR4756 at 7.0 gr (yes, I know that powder will be dropped). I developed that load with 125 gr lead to make my Ruger SP101 more fun and cheaper to shoot, eschewing any notion of using 38 Special.
Among revolvers, the .38 Special Interarms Rossi 851 is a good example among my guns. To rely on a 357, of which two of mine are 4", I would load my own, if intending to shoot indoors. I use SR4756 at 7.0 gr (yes, I know that powder will be dropped). I developed that load with 125 gr lead to make my Ruger SP101 more fun and cheaper to shoot, eschewing any notion of using 38 Special.
amd6547
Member
I have owned a few 357's over the years, and currently own a 3" GP100. I can see people complaining about 357 control in an ultralight snubby...
But, out of an average medium frame, I don't see it. I've shot plenty of heavy magnum ammo out of medium frame guns, and find them easy to shoot.
The GP handles them particularly well.
If I want to defend myself with a 38spl, I will use my Model 15. In the GP100, I want magnum ammo.
But, out of an average medium frame, I don't see it. I've shot plenty of heavy magnum ammo out of medium frame guns, and find them easy to shoot.
The GP handles them particularly well.
If I want to defend myself with a 38spl, I will use my Model 15. In the GP100, I want magnum ammo.
RealGun
Member
Shoot some 357 in the dark sometime. Also appreciate that hypersonic ammo like 357 includes a sonic boom, which you will remember, trust me.
PJSprog
Member
I have 125gr JHP handloads in my 6" S&W 686. It's my go-to home defense gun.
Honestly, though, any .357 Magnum load that you can shoot accurately will do the job ... as will any .38 Special load, +P or otherwise. The real secret is to practice with whatever you're going to use; practice a lot, enough to be confident that you will hit your target. That's really the key.
Honestly, though, any .357 Magnum load that you can shoot accurately will do the job ... as will any .38 Special load, +P or otherwise. The real secret is to practice with whatever you're going to use; practice a lot, enough to be confident that you will hit your target. That's really the key.
In a gun as heavy as a GP the 158 gr. would most definitely be my first choice. I have some 180 gr. hard cast handloads that will work very nicely in that gun. (I have a 4 in. GP also) If you have a heavy gun then you're better off using a heavy bullet over a light one in my experience. And as noted above, a heavy .38 Spl. load is plenty for house work.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
It takes a lot to offend me and you have the right to think something is dumb but I disagree. There is the law of diminishing returns. How much deader than dead do you need to make the bad guy? One of the failings of a super high velocity ammo is recoil and there are many out there who do not practice. Usually those people are the ones asking these questions. It doesn't make the question bad but the answer should be helpful. If you are attacked buy someone large or more than one assailant you will need to fire a followup shot or more. If the recoil is unmanageable to the shooter it will make good followup shots difficult if not impossible. So, the saying the bullet speed means nothing unless you make good hits is valid. Even if they do practice very heavy ammo will sometimes cause a flinch so even the first shot may not hit. Like I said before, the .38 Special is not a varmint round and will stop the bad guy if you do your part.
You can think it's dumb but helping someone not to make a possible fatal choice it's stupid IMO.
Panzerschwein
member
I keep a GP-100 with a 6" barrel for home defense duty.
I chose one of two loads:
Federal 125 grain semi-jacketed hollow point .357 Magnum (left in picture)- the legendary "357B" load that gave the .357 magnum is near mythic reputation of neutralizing the threat with extreme prejudice.
Propels it's SJHP bullet at about 1600 fps from a 6" bbl creating roughly 700 ft lbs. of muzzle energy. Creates massive wound trauma through hyper-expansion and fragmentation of the exposed lead hollowpoint, while the tougher jacketed base of the bullet continues to penetrate deep to reach vital organs. Usually expends all energy in the target in the form of a huge permanent wound cavity, leading to massive hemorrhaging and the rapid drop in blood pressure needed to incapacitate an aggressor if a CNS shot is not achieved. A classic load that has stood the test of time and perhaps is the single most effective loading in the single most effective handgun caliber suitable for self defense ever made. It will do the job.
I also like to use the Speer Gold-Dot 125 grain JHP .357 Magnum load (right in picture), and I'll explain why. It too delivers it's bullet at about 1600 fps from a 6" barrel for 700 ft lbs of energy, but can have some advantages over the older Federal load.
While the famous Federal 357B load is tremendously effective, in some situations it's SJHP design does not lend itself to maximum performance when intermediate barriers are presented between the target and the shooter. While delivering high terminal performance in living tissue, the Federal semi-jacketed bullet can fail when it is fired through cover such as automobile glass, sheet metal, wood and dwelling walls. This is due to the exposed soft lead hollowpoint and non-bonded design of the bullet.
With the Speer Gold-Dot .357 magnum 125 grain load, a specially designed fully jacketed hollow point bullet is used that can effectively defeat barriers and still deliver good terminal performance inside the target. It does this by using what's know as a "bonded bullet", this is where the copper outer jacket is chemically and physically bonded with the lead core. What this does is create a tough bullet that will expand very consistently under many circumstances, but that will hold together when encountering barriers. This makes the Speer Gold Dot loads so popular with Law Enforcement personnel, who may need to shoot through cover provided by automobiles and structures in order to eliminate a hostile.
So in closing, it's very difficult to go wrong with either of these loads for home defense. Depending on your situation/the time of year, etc. they both complement each other in there capabilities and provide excellent stopping power.
Pick your poison.
I chose one of two loads:
Federal 125 grain semi-jacketed hollow point .357 Magnum (left in picture)- the legendary "357B" load that gave the .357 magnum is near mythic reputation of neutralizing the threat with extreme prejudice.
Propels it's SJHP bullet at about 1600 fps from a 6" bbl creating roughly 700 ft lbs. of muzzle energy. Creates massive wound trauma through hyper-expansion and fragmentation of the exposed lead hollowpoint, while the tougher jacketed base of the bullet continues to penetrate deep to reach vital organs. Usually expends all energy in the target in the form of a huge permanent wound cavity, leading to massive hemorrhaging and the rapid drop in blood pressure needed to incapacitate an aggressor if a CNS shot is not achieved. A classic load that has stood the test of time and perhaps is the single most effective loading in the single most effective handgun caliber suitable for self defense ever made. It will do the job.
I also like to use the Speer Gold-Dot 125 grain JHP .357 Magnum load (right in picture), and I'll explain why. It too delivers it's bullet at about 1600 fps from a 6" barrel for 700 ft lbs of energy, but can have some advantages over the older Federal load.
While the famous Federal 357B load is tremendously effective, in some situations it's SJHP design does not lend itself to maximum performance when intermediate barriers are presented between the target and the shooter. While delivering high terminal performance in living tissue, the Federal semi-jacketed bullet can fail when it is fired through cover such as automobile glass, sheet metal, wood and dwelling walls. This is due to the exposed soft lead hollowpoint and non-bonded design of the bullet.
With the Speer Gold-Dot .357 magnum 125 grain load, a specially designed fully jacketed hollow point bullet is used that can effectively defeat barriers and still deliver good terminal performance inside the target. It does this by using what's know as a "bonded bullet", this is where the copper outer jacket is chemically and physically bonded with the lead core. What this does is create a tough bullet that will expand very consistently under many circumstances, but that will hold together when encountering barriers. This makes the Speer Gold Dot loads so popular with Law Enforcement personnel, who may need to shoot through cover provided by automobiles and structures in order to eliminate a hostile.
So in closing, it's very difficult to go wrong with either of these loads for home defense. Depending on your situation/the time of year, etc. they both complement each other in there capabilities and provide excellent stopping power.
Pick your poison.
GP100man
Member
The 38s get a Lyman 358156HP runnin at 850 fps
The 357s get a NOE 360-180 HP runnin in the 1k range
Alloys closely monitored for reliable & consistent opening of the HP
What does get scrutinized to death are the primers & seating em solidly & consistently, then the seating & crimping closely monitored in seperate steps.
I don`t load my SD/HD ammo light heartedly & I don`t recommend it to the novice.
I do & if you don`t ,we can still be friends
The 357s get a NOE 360-180 HP runnin in the 1k range
Alloys closely monitored for reliable & consistent opening of the HP
What does get scrutinized to death are the primers & seating em solidly & consistently, then the seating & crimping closely monitored in seperate steps.
I don`t load my SD/HD ammo light heartedly & I don`t recommend it to the novice.
I do & if you don`t ,we can still be friends
Panzerschwein
member
I would recommend sticking with factory ammo for HD/SD OP. Read my above post, one of those two loads will do you nicely.
RealGun
Member
At a minimum, any reloads I made for SD would be with new brass, possibly primed.
- Status
