Have snub. Need food.

[denfoote]

For the revolver, that is!!

What's an adequate loading for a .357Mag snub revolver?? I can pretty much guess that with a 2" barrel, there isn't going to be much expansion from any of the hollow points, so what will at least work?? Should I be looking at HP's at all or just stick with wad cutters??

Also, where can I find ANY data for a 2" barrel?? I know that there has to be some out there, given the length of time the snub nosed revolver has been with us!!

Thanks in advance for helping out this helpless bottom feeder!!!

 

[Rob96]

In my Ruger SP-101 I carry either Winchester 110gr JHP's or 125gr Remington Golden Sabers. In informal soaked newspaper testing the 110gr JHP expanded when fired thru 3 layers of gov't issued field jacket. Haven't tested the Golden Sabers yet.

 

[WebHobbit]

Pretty much ANY .357 HP load that is 110-145 grains in weight will expand pretty reliably from any barrel length. It's when you get into .38 level power that snubs can get into expansion reliability problems.

My recommendation?

110 grain SJHP

Go with Federal or Remington if you can find it. The Winchester load is available EVERYWHERE and is "OK" but a little inconsistant from my experience.

Can anyone tell me what the deal is with Federal???? I used to find it everywhere (including Walmart!) and now I can't locate ANY off the shelf locally.

 

[Mike Irwin]

I'm very happy with 125-gr. Remington Golden Sabre in my 2.5" Model 19.

 

[mikey357]

Like Mr. Irwin, I also like the Remington "Golden Saber" reduced-reoil load in short-barreled .357's...I understand that Pro-Load has an equivalent "Tactical" or reduced-recoil load, but I don't see very much of that brand in this neck of the woods...FWIW....mikey357

 

[makdaddy03]

I load my 357mag. up with 158gr semi jacketed hollow points. Just about any manufacture suits me. ( only in 357mag. of course).

 

[Poohgyrr]

I always want to see what my accuracy is with different rounds. I don't shoot snubs as accurate as some guys I have seen, but I am better with some loads. Usually, different rounds will be about the same for me, and then whichever; 125's penetrate walls less, 158's penetrate thick heavy winter clothes better.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I experimented with everything from 38 special 130 gr fmj's through hot loaded 125 gr .357's, and I found that MY snubby likes 158 gr bullets best. Even in semi wadcutter trim thats a serious load at 357 velocity. The worst load was the 38/130/fmj, the best a handloaded wadcutter, with federal 357/158/sjhp a close second.

Try a bunch of different ammo. You might be suprised at the results.

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. In this thread, if interested, there's a range report on a 2 1/2" Model 19. I also added some chronograph data farther into the thread that was kind of disheartening. I'll retest and do some other rounds in the future.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15853

Best.

 

[mec]

The 110 Corbon did 1466 from this 2.25" sp101. This is almost as fast as the factory rating from a 4". the 125 grain load did 1357 from the 2.25, is advertised at 1450 from a 4" and averaged an actual 1513 from the 4" GP 100 at the right.

I would expect the 124 to expand from a short barrel like this also.

I clocked a 125 grain Speer gold dot at 1241 from the sp101 and would expect expansion from that load too. TheSP101 displays quite a loud muzzle blast but the grips control recoil from this sort of load quite well. A 180 grain bonded core soft point corebon did 1142 from the SP101 and kicked like murder. I don't believe it is designed to expand at that velocity.

 

[denfoote]

Thanks Stephen!!!!! Right now , I have it loaded with PMC "starfire" 150gr JHPs. Anybody know anything about them?? According to the published data, they are only comming out at 1200fps!!! I think I will shoot them off and buy some of the 125gr Remington SJHPs!!