Lower flash .357 Magnum loads...?

[Sean Smith]

I've got a 4" Colt Python, and I'm interested in a good self-defense load for it. I've tried the Remington Golden Saber 125gr, and while it was accurate and had cream-puff recoil, it had a BIG and very bright muzzle flash. Now, that's fun for scaring people at the range who are shooting mouseguns , but I'd like a .357 load that a) has decent ballistics, and b) isn't THAT bright. Any suggestions?

 

[Boats]

I don't know if it is low flash or not, but this is what I am going to sight in for SD if the fireball is manageable in low light.

Winchester Partition Gold .180gr .357 Magnum--1000fps from a 4" Ruger GP-100

Not long ago, we took a look at the three current 180-grain .357 Magnum loads in these pages, including the Partition Gold JHP from Winchester. Both the Remington JHP and Winchester JHP performed admirably in ballistic gelatin. Winchester made it perfectly clear that handloaders can hope to do no better. That load penetrated 17 inches of calibrated gelatin, expanding to .692 inches while retaining 96 percent of it's starting weight, weighing 173.1 grains.

 

[schromf]

Remington

The Remington 158gr SJHP aren't bad for factory fodder.

I would also try the Federal JHP Hi-shok in or the Speer Gold Dot series.

When reloading 2400 is one of the most accurate powders in a 357 but it has nasty muzzle flash. W-296 is a great powder also and not near the flash ( still some ). Blue Dot is another super accurrate powder in the 357. I have been a big fan of the AA powders for the last couple of years; #9 for heavy bullets, #7 for lighter bullets. The least flash in my short revolvers is with Unique, I know its dirty, not the best powder, but it is extremely flexable and doesn't make my snubbies breath fire.

Another fire breather is IMR 4227, plus it seems to have nasty recoil when you get to full mag loads.

 

[PO2Hammer]

In general, the heavier the bullet, the lower the muzzle flash. Like Boats said, the winchester 180 partition load is exellent. It's extremely accurate in my python with low flash/blast. It's probably not a true defense load, giving deep penetration and limited expansion, but I wouldn't want to get hit with it! Corbon makes a self defense load with a special blend of powder designed for low flash. It's not a max load like FED or REM 125 jhp's, but it's still plenty.
The Winchester partition load grouped around 2 inches at 50 yards when I was testing my Python with a scope mounted-far better than anything else. It's also my Marlin 1894's favorite load groupng around 3 inches at 100 yards. The best Mag load I have ever shot. Recoil seems the same as 125's. Serious juju.

 

[Preacherman]

Try the Winchester 145gr. Silvertip JHP. It's a very potent self-defence load, and has considerably less flash than the typical 125gr. loads, while giving slightly better penetration. It's my carry load in this caliber. (Wal-Mart usually stocks it at a reasonable price.)

 

[Sean Smith]

Thanks for the ideas, keep 'em coming.

I'm probably going to skip the Partition, though, seems a bit on the high side penetration-wise.

 

[bp_cowboy]

I have also loaded up some of the 180's

with some HS-6 and they have limited flash, and the penetration is unbelievable. Like mentioned I would not want to get hit with one.

 

[HSMITH]

Sean, try the Cor-Bon 125's, I have not shot the 357's but other defensive loads from them have all been low flash. The Remington 125 SJHP factory load is a little flashy but hits like a dang truck! I have shot some in low light and the flash is manageable, if all else fails it will illuminate the perp for a more accurate second shot.....

I have not found a suitable powder to handloadload true magnums with no flash. No flash loads top out at about 1100 FPS with 125's for me, with a TOP load of Universal. Beware Universal gets spikey when pressures get up, very minor changes in load make much larger changes than you would expect. Close attention at the top end is needed. I bring up Universal since it is THE slowest no-flash powder I know of.