Poll: What's in your .357 for defensive use?

[sidheshooter]

Granted, I'm a bit of a newbie here, but it still seems to me that there have been a lot of questions about 38/357 ammo around here lately (including an interesting poll by novaDAK in a similar, but slightly different vein).

So then, in the interest of science, what is in your defensive .357 magnum revolvers currently? What factors contributed to your choice and, as well, what barrel length are we talking about?

TIA.

 

[tasco 74]

i had to go with other......

i keep two speed loaders stuffed with federal 158 gr. jsp to use for defense.... the ammo i shoot at the range is my homecast 150 gr swcs from a fine old lyman mould with the proper grs. of bullseye................ same weight bullets in both .357 mag and .38 spl..........

LIFE IS SHORT.....

 

[Oro]

I voted the same as I did in this thread, on the same exact subject, posted a few hours ago:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=432017

Maybe merge them?

 

[Deanimator]

I use the .38 Special "FBI" load for self-defense in all of my .38 and .357 revolvers.

 

[coach22]

Ruger Speed Six Stainless 2 & 3/4 inch 357,
Pachmayr Compacs and loaded with
Buffalo Bore 158 38 +P's.
2 Safariland Speedloaders next to it
with Corbon 125 DPX 357's.

 

[Seven For Sure]

*other*
140 gr. Federal Barnes Expander @ 1,400

386PD or 3" 686+


I like the 158 gold dot too @ 1,250.

 

[saemetric]

Black Talon

I just realized I have 3 boxes of 180 grain Black Talon in my inventory. Any thoughts on this for a defensive load. Ought to really bark out of my 2 1/2" model 19.

 

[stormspotter]

Cast 158 gr. Keith SWC HP loaded over 6.5 gr. unique.

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

My choice isn't in your list.. Any given time 158gn Black Talons are loaded. Otherwise there could be a hand load of 140gn or 158gn Sierra JHC that's surely capable of messing up a perp's day.

-Steve

 

[06]

Eldorado "Starfires" have long been my favorite. wc

 

[BlindJustice]

Double Tap .38 SPecial +P
125 gr. Speer Gold Dot JHPs @ 1,175 FPS
in S&W 686+ or S&W 60 3" Bbl. both of course
chambered in .357 Mag.

With 125 gr. or 140 gr. Hornady XTPs
the muzzle blast and 2.5 foot muzzle flash
is a bit over the top in .357 Mag for HD.

These of course are not top of the list for
HD/SD as the 1911 in .45 ACP imho my choice
the S&W 625 is a close second

Randall

 

[hinton03]

In my Python.

125 Grain Federaal Hydra-Shok, as you said "that's why God invented the .357"

In my light weight 327 NG.

135 grain Speer GD short barrel .38 Spc +P

 

[foghornl]

I have the Speer 158-gr "Gold Dot" for my .357's

Fed 110-Gr "Personal Defense" NON +P for the .38Spl

 

[Water-Man]

Federal Classic Hi Shok 125gr. JHP 1440fps

 

[ddc]

.38+P Speer GD 135

 

[thunder173]

For HD,....I carry what the Michigan State Police and State Conservation Officer's carry in their issued BUG's,....Federal .38 +P Hydra-Shok JHP.......When afield,..I usually stoke it with 158 gr SJHP's........

 

[NG VI]

GA loaded 125 Gold Dots for my 4" Highway Patrolman and 6" 586. Also have 135+P .38 Gold Dot Short Barrel.

 

[Texian]

125 gr. in my 2.5"

 

[jeff-10]

158gr semi-jacketed hollowpoints from Black Hills. When I bought them from Midway the price was right and the reviews stated they were accurate and they expanded too rapidly for hunting so I figured they would be perfect for home defense. That was a few years ago when they were $18/50 . I hate to see what they go for now. BTW, I use a 2.5 inch S&W 686P.

 

[Andy W]

158 gr JHP in a 4" 66 or a 3" 65.

 

[aHFo3]

I use 158 gr Gold Dots in my 2.5" 19

 

[Dr.Rob]

Remington 125 gr JSP's in my snubby, 158gr Hydrashocks in a full sized revolver.

 

[abates226]

Federal Classic 125gr Hi-Shok (C357B)

I have a S&W M19-4 4in with a 586 barrel installed by the factory. This helps hold the muzzle down some, so I don't mind the full recoil as long as it's on a limited basis. Muzzle flash is low with this load compared to some others I've tested, and accuracy is good. I hear that statistically, there is no better fight-stopping combination (at least in a handgun). Of course, like most, I practice with a lot of .38spl and only shoot a handful of the magnums.

 

[_N4Z_]

I voted other.

For a long time I kept Remmy 158 sjhp's in the cylinder.

Those got bumped later for 158gr Monarchs (PRVI Partizan(Serbia)) because I liked the the large flat meplat. They are wider across than most SWC's, and they did nasty damage in my own personal testing.

But now that I load my own it's either Hornys 158gr XPT's or Speers158gr GD's, over 15gr. of Alliant 2400.

 

[novaDAK]

Even with the poll I started in my thread I'm still not sure which to stick with. For now though I'm still loaded up with 158gr XTP @ 1250fps. Figure I can't go wrong with a good full-power 158gr JHP by a reputable company