SimplyComplicated
Member
- Joined
- May 26, 2010
- Messages
- 8
Well, I took the plunge and got my first gun. A nice S&W 65-4 with a 4 inch barrel. Refinished with a matte finish, and the top strap and forcing cone are in phenomenal shape. It's cherry . FWIW, I was told that based on the serial number it was produced in '93. Only $380 bucks too! There might even be a few more of them on GunsAmerica .
Lovin the Pachamyr grips!
Now I need some advice on two fronts.
1: The old weak forcing cone/etching the top strap issue that 65/66's suffer from. It's a 357 mag, I want to shoot it as such. I plan on putting around 500 rounds through it a year.
Please weigh in, can I safely shoot 357 mag ammo out of this baby as long as I stay with 158 grain bullets? The ammo I've found in that range is somewhere in the neighborhood of 1100-1250 feet per second. 125 grain stuff hits 1500-1600. I know that light projectiles are a NO NO, but I've heard people say they've put thousands of 158 grain rounds through 66's. Am I okay in the 1100-1250 feet per second range?
I'm really planning on maybe a 50/50 blend of plain 'ol 38 special (+P is pricier) and 357 mag 158 grain in the aforementioned 1100-1250 feet per second range (probably closer to the 1250 number as it seems 357's run fast.
2: HD ammo
Okay, here is my situation. I'm a commuter student, and my parents are cool with the whole thing, but I do need to ensure their safety. I've got a space in the hallway where I could shoot and not risk hitting them in their bedroom, but there is only an outside wall after their wall, and then about 15 feet until our neighbor's house. I also want to ensure my neighbors' safety as well. This gun is a LAST resort option and is only for if determined attackers breech the second floor in spite of my mom's screaming. It's also kept in a digital safe so if I'm too groggy to get it out, I'm not going to get shot with my own gun .
Am I going to be at risk for over penetration with 158 grain 357 mag JHP rounds? Assuming I make it into the bad guy, am I in the clear?
Should I look into some 38 special +P+ rounds? The extreme shock rounds I liked in frangible ammo are 1500 feet per second minimum. Somehow I can't see my gun enjoying that treatment. I looked into glasers, but I hear those things aren't so hot. Maybe the under penetration issues wouldn't be as much of an, uh, issue with 357 mag? Again though, the glasers run HOT as far as how many feet per second they travel at. An 80 grain projectile seems risky in my gun. I wouldn't even feel comfortable testing them at the range.
So, lay it on me. Bullets for the range, and bullets for home defense.
Lovin the Pachamyr grips!
Now I need some advice on two fronts.
1: The old weak forcing cone/etching the top strap issue that 65/66's suffer from. It's a 357 mag, I want to shoot it as such. I plan on putting around 500 rounds through it a year.
Please weigh in, can I safely shoot 357 mag ammo out of this baby as long as I stay with 158 grain bullets? The ammo I've found in that range is somewhere in the neighborhood of 1100-1250 feet per second. 125 grain stuff hits 1500-1600. I know that light projectiles are a NO NO, but I've heard people say they've put thousands of 158 grain rounds through 66's. Am I okay in the 1100-1250 feet per second range?
I'm really planning on maybe a 50/50 blend of plain 'ol 38 special (+P is pricier) and 357 mag 158 grain in the aforementioned 1100-1250 feet per second range (probably closer to the 1250 number as it seems 357's run fast.
2: HD ammo
Okay, here is my situation. I'm a commuter student, and my parents are cool with the whole thing, but I do need to ensure their safety. I've got a space in the hallway where I could shoot and not risk hitting them in their bedroom, but there is only an outside wall after their wall, and then about 15 feet until our neighbor's house. I also want to ensure my neighbors' safety as well. This gun is a LAST resort option and is only for if determined attackers breech the second floor in spite of my mom's screaming. It's also kept in a digital safe so if I'm too groggy to get it out, I'm not going to get shot with my own gun .
Am I going to be at risk for over penetration with 158 grain 357 mag JHP rounds? Assuming I make it into the bad guy, am I in the clear?
Should I look into some 38 special +P+ rounds? The extreme shock rounds I liked in frangible ammo are 1500 feet per second minimum. Somehow I can't see my gun enjoying that treatment. I looked into glasers, but I hear those things aren't so hot. Maybe the under penetration issues wouldn't be as much of an, uh, issue with 357 mag? Again though, the glasers run HOT as far as how many feet per second they travel at. An 80 grain projectile seems risky in my gun. I wouldn't even feel comfortable testing them at the range.
So, lay it on me. Bullets for the range, and bullets for home defense.