Oh Lord!!! Not another ammunition question!!!

[denfoote]

I'm carrying my Taurus 605 and want to know which of these two brands of ammo is better.
I have on hand both 158gr Hydroshoks and 158gr Golddots.
Both hit to POA, so that question has already been answered!!
The fixed sights have been regulated for the 158gr bullet, which explains my use.
I'm interested in bullet performance, so get out your jello molds and please give me some data!!!

Help me Obwan!!! (sorry, the wife has Starwars on the video right now)

 

[Ben Shepherd]

I prefer gold dots. Both slugs have expanded well for me in informal testing, BUT: The gold dot loads were more consistant in velocity over the chrono.

 

[Brian Williams]

Yes.

 

[RyanM]

That's .357 magnum, right? Neither is that good. The entire Hydra-Shok line tends to fail to expand through clothing. 158 gr Gold Dots handle clothing okay, but expand rather small and penetrate 16"+. They're more of a hunting load. You'd probably be better off with 145 gr Silvertips, or 135 gr Short Barrel Gold Dots.

 

[Dr.Rob]

I've seen a 158 hydra shock go right through a deer in winter hide... that's an inch of thick hair, PLUS leathery skin, suet and muscle... and the exit hole certainly showed evidence of expansion, destroyed both lungs on the way.

Not jello and strictly anecdotal, but that convinced me.

In a short barrel, your results may vary.

 

[denfoote]

Thanks for the replies.
Ryan, yes it's a .357, so the 135gr special +P round is of no interest to me.
The fixed sights on the Taurus are regulated for the 158gr bullet, so I kinda want to stick with that. Also, the same ammo will be used in my K-frame Smith, which needs the heavier bullet to avoid the problems associated with the frame.

 

[Jim March]

Actually, you might consider the Buffalo Bore 158gr lead hollowpoint.

Yeah, it's "38+P". But it's by far the most stout 38+P factory load available, bar none, end of discussion, nothing else in current production comes close.

Your problem right now is that most of the 158gr JHPs in 357 are made for hunting. Which means they're tuned to be shot out of 4" or more tubes. From a snub, I'm not sure they're going to expand.

Someone mentioned a deer shooting. Odds are that was at least a 4" gun, could have been a 4.68" or 5.5" or more single action something-or-other or a 6" barrel DA from Ruger or S&W.

It's VERY unlikely somebody shot the deer with a snubby.

I guarandamntee ya the BuffBore plain lead hollowpoint doing 1,000fps is going to expand, bigtime, and quickly...while punching 12" deep.

The other round I like a LOT in 357 snubbies is the new 357 loading of the Gold Dot 135gr slug. It *might* surprise you by shooting very close to point of aim in your gun. It is also the most accurate load I've tried yet in my Ruger New Vaquero. If it shoots point of aim or close enough in your gun, horsepower will be about the same or more than the BuffBore 158 38+P. The hollowpoint cavity in the 135gr Gold Dot projectile is enormous. It too will expand reliably and punch 12+ inches.

Either of these will be more controllable in your gun than 158gr 357 hunting loads.

NOTE: the same 135gr Gold Dot projectile is also sold as a 38+P. That's not the load I'm suggesting. It runs about 850fps from a snub, the 357 variant runs 1050-1100fps.

 

[RyanM]

145 gr Silvertips are probably your best bet, then. Heavy and slow enough to work fine in a K-frame. And sight regulation is not a big deal. I have no idea what my SP-101 is set for, but at 7 and 10 yards, it hits to point of aim (center hold) with 125 gr Winclean .357, 130 gr Rem UMC .38, 125 gr Rem .357, 158 gr .38s with black powder (handloaded), 158 gr .38s with IMR HiSkor 800-X (handloaded), 158 gr .38s with Power Pistol (handloaded), 158 gr .357s with IMR (handloaded), and 158 gr .357s with PP (handloaded).

 

[denfoote]

I didn't realize the Hydroshoks and Golddots were for hunting!! I don't hunt!!
I may have to give the silvertips a try!!!

 

[Sunray]

"...sorry, the wife has Starwars on the video right now..." Pay more attention. It's Obiwan. Snicker.
Use the brand that gives you better groups.

 

[sm]

denfoote,

Shorter answer - Yes

Short - 145 gr STHP are a good load too.

Hey I like 158 grainers in .357 and in .38spl. I am older, older folks are just hard-headed .

 

[Jim March]

Want a hard-hitting sorta-heavy personal defense load? Cor-Bon's 140gr is worth considering...

 

[joneb]

I'm guessin the 605 is a short barrel 2 1/4" ? You may not have anough velocity in a 158 grain loading for HP performance ? I see your concern good luck, I'll watch this one

 

[Dr.Rob]

Yes the deer was killed with a 6 inch Ruger Blackhawk, as I said, results in a short barrel might be different.

Saw the same load from a 3 inch SP101 finish off an antelope and it was shocking. Don't know if the bullet expanded, we didn't recover it.

Those Remington 125's clock over 1100fps from my snubby Colt Magnum Carry, and they are unpleasant to shoot. No 158 gr bullet ever got close to that speed from my Colt.

 

[sm]

Dr. Rob,

How about POA/POI on those Rem.125 grainers from your Colt Magnum Carry?
SP101 ?

 

[kmrcstintn]

I don't know if I am helping with this...

1) Speer also has a 'short barrel' load in .357 magnum that is designed for snubs like your 605 (manufacturer stats: 135 grain Speer Gold Dot; .357 magnum; 2" barrel; 1000 fps & 300 ft-lbs at muzzle); it gives you a bit more than the .38 +p 'short barrel' load they make; I would still choose a stout .38 over a .357 out of a snub (read point #4)

2) 158's are very heavy for defensive work...especially out of a short snub barrel...there may not be enough velocity (due to an incomplete powder burn out of a 2" barrel) to generate expansion and transfer the projectile's energy into the target

3) Most .357 magnum loads are 'optimized' in guns with 4" or longer barrels; guns with 3" barrels allow 'improved' performance over guns with 2" barrels

4) Another point to consider...shooting .357 magnum loads from a snubby usually generates a tremendous muzzle flash (powder that didn't burn in the barrel) and deafening noise; now transfer this info to an indoor area in the dark; you are now disoriented and seeing spots...how can you effectively place a followup shot or even identify if your target has gained ground on you?!?

5) Overall, it is your choice what you shoot out of your gun(s)...IMHO...stick with a stout .38 special like:

Speer Gold Dot 135 grain 'short barrel' load or a time proven 158 grain lead semiwadcutter hollowpoint in .38 +p (Remington seems to expand better due to softer lead);

6) if you must use a magnum load:

Speer Gold Dot 135 grain 'short barrel' load or Remington Golden Sabre 125 grain (moderate load: 1220 fps per manufacturer) or Winchester 145 grain Silvertip

You asked for opinions, you got 'em

 

[denfoote]

The Speer 135gr loading is intriguing. However, I have yet to see it on any of the dealer's shelves I have visited and the ones whom I have inquired after have not heard of it!!

My local Sportsman's Warehouse does not carry it, neither do gun shops I have visited within 35 miles of my home!!

This is most curious!! I had originally considered this round, but quickly came to the conclusions that: 1) it was not out yet in sufficient supply, 2) it really was not that popular, or 3) it was so popular that dealers could not keep it on their shelves!! I eliminated (3) when I got puzzled looks from the proprietors!!!

If anybody here knows of a shop within 30 miles of Buckeye AZ that does carry this stuff, let me know!! The Metro Phoenix area is 75 miles wide and 125 miles long and I'm not keen on driving all day just to find a box of ammo!!

 

[Dr.Rob]

sm, I don't like shooting those 125's at all, they shoot high, like 3 inches at 7 yards and power wise 125 @ 1100, is pretty much the same as a 124 gr 9mm. Only the 9 has less flash, bark and recoil. Those Remington 357/125 jsp's make me flinch.

I much prefer shooting a heavy, if slower, bullet from the snubby that doesn't beat me up so much.