Eightball
Member
Pretty basic question--how many people carry .357 Mag defense loads, versus .38 special in their .357 carry pieces?
How many actually carry .357 in their .357 carry piece?
- Thread starter Eightball
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Feanaro
Member
I carry the most powerful load I can manage. That being a .357 Magnum 140gr JHP.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
I have a S&W M638 so I can only carry .38+P ammo but when I carry my 2.75" Ruger Police Service-Six I load it with Speer Short Barrel 135 gr .357 Magnum ammo.
bpisler
Member
I carry Winchester 357mag 145gr silvertips
in my 3" GP-100 and 3" 65-3,both shoot this
load to POA and have a fairly mid muzzle
flash/blast compared to some 357's.
Recoil is more like a hard push than a sharp
kick like one would get with full power 125gr
loads.
in my 3" GP-100 and 3" 65-3,both shoot this
load to POA and have a fairly mid muzzle
flash/blast compared to some 357's.
Recoil is more like a hard push than a sharp
kick like one would get with full power 125gr
loads.
DaleCooper51
Member
I carry the 125 grain Remington Golden Sabre 357's in my 3" m65.
GOSA
Member
What's the sense in not carrying 357s? If you want to carry 38s, get a 38 revolver -- they're much lighter.
Logos
member
One reason for owning a .357 is versatility.
You can choose from many different loads for different purposes.
The full power .357 is out at the far end of one side of the spectrum and often used for hunting and with a 6 to 8 inch barrel.
In barrels of less than four inches, the difference between +P .38s and .357s is not significant in practical effect on a human being and may be easier to control with less noise and flash.
You can choose from many different loads for different purposes.
The full power .357 is out at the far end of one side of the spectrum and often used for hunting and with a 6 to 8 inch barrel.
In barrels of less than four inches, the difference between +P .38s and .357s is not significant in practical effect on a human being and may be easier to control with less noise and flash.
jamz
Member
Actually, the difference is quite significant. Shoot them both through a chrono sometime. 
I calculated about double the energy delivered to the target for the same weight bullet. (125 grain)
I calculated about double the energy delivered to the target for the same weight bullet. (125 grain)
Baron357
Member
I just got my model 60-15 so right now I am carrying .38+p Speer Gold Dots until I practice a little more and am able to deliver a good double tap with the .357 mags.
ZeSpectre
Member
If I'm carrying my .357 it's probably because I'm out in the woods. In that case it's often full power .357 rounds in the chamber.
Logos
member
Jamz,
Believe me, at self-defense range, the person hit will not be carrying a chronograph.
Believe me, at self-defense range, the person hit will not be carrying a chronograph.
I just got my model 60-15 so right now I am carrying .38+p Speer Gold Dots until I practice a little more and am able to deliver a good double tap with the .357 mags.
Thank you Baron for giving one of the best reasons to carry 38s in a 357. I think a lot of people fool themselves in carrying 357s in a J frame size gun. I've seen posts where some seem satisfied with shooting 12" groups at 7 yds with their airweight J frame 357.
I carried an issued 640 for a while and found that although I could control the357s my recovery time went up a lot with +P+ ammo.
Your M60 absorbs a lot more recoil than an airweight. Good luck with it.
Thank you Baron for giving one of the best reasons to carry 38s in a 357. I think a lot of people fool themselves in carrying 357s in a J frame size gun. I've seen posts where some seem satisfied with shooting 12" groups at 7 yds with their airweight J frame 357.
I carried an issued 640 for a while and found that although I could control the357s my recovery time went up a lot with +P+ ammo.
Your M60 absorbs a lot more recoil than an airweight. Good luck with it.
Brian Williams
Moderator Emeritus
When I carry my S&W 13 or 65, I carry my loaded 158gr SWCs in 357, I only use 38s in a 38 special and 357s in a 357 chamber.
slow944
Member
I always carry the TAP ammo in my 357. I think its 125grJHP.
ChristopherG
Member
The only .357 I carry .38's in is a 12 oz snubby j-frame--and that's because I experimented with it long enough to decide that I give up too much control with any real .357 load in that gun.
In a 2.5" k-frame, I carry a 125 gr XTP over enough Blu Dot to push it about 1250 fps.
In a 4" Security Six, I carry a 158-170 gr HP or SP bullet (most often it's for field carry) over a heavy load of Lil Gun.
In a 6.5" Blackhawk, I--well, I don't carry it---but I shoot whatever I want from the beast ;-)
Handloading affords the luxury of finding that balance-point of power and controllability--for each gun--with a little more precision.
In a 2.5" k-frame, I carry a 125 gr XTP over enough Blu Dot to push it about 1250 fps.
In a 4" Security Six, I carry a 158-170 gr HP or SP bullet (most often it's for field carry) over a heavy load of Lil Gun.
In a 6.5" Blackhawk, I--well, I don't carry it---but I shoot whatever I want from the beast ;-)
Handloading affords the luxury of finding that balance-point of power and controllability--for each gun--with a little more precision.
glockman19
Member
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I load 130 grain Federal Hydra shok for HD/SD loads. For practice I shoot .38 158 grain Speer Lawman or CCI Blaser Brass. For camping I load 158 grain Blaser.
Vern Humphrey
Member
I carried full-charge .357s in my Colt M357 in Viet Nam. My daughter carries .357s in her 3" Ruger SP 101 (which I bought for her.) I feel that gun is about the limit for .357s for most people -- any lighter and you start to develop bad habits in practice (or stop practicing.)
My own snubbie is a Colt Detective Special, and if it were chambered for .357s, I doubt if I'd want to fire a couple of hundred rounds a week in practice in such a light revolver.
My own snubbie is a Colt Detective Special, and if it were chambered for .357s, I doubt if I'd want to fire a couple of hundred rounds a week in practice in such a light revolver.
captainamerica
Member
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2006
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We carry .357 in our 2" snubs.
BADUNAME13
Member
.357 Cor Bons...
fletcher
Member
I use .357 Gold Dots in mine.
I use the 135 grain Speer Gold Dot .38+P in my S&W 640 because my followup shots are so much faster and accurate. I'm a firm believer that being able to hit what you are aiming at when you want to hit it is number 1 priority in defensive handgunning. That split second lag time between shots could make all the difference.
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