Mark in GA
Member
Soon I will be taking my family (wife and 2 daughters) hiking in the mountains of NC and TN. Generally, I carry a S&W 642 as a CCW. I also have access to an all steel 640 38 +P and a 640-1 357. The odds of running into a unhappy Black Bear may be low, but I would rather be prepared just in case.
In an ideal world, I would be packing my 4" 629 loaded with WFN cast loads, but that isn't feasible on this out of state trip. So, I have the following components on hand to build a load and the three S&W snubs listed above. What would you do?
Bullets
0.357" Hornady 125 gr. XTP
0.357" Hornady 158 gr. XTP
0.358" 158 gr cast SWC
Powder
HP-38, HS-6, H-110
Have both 38 special and 357 mag brass and plenty of CCI 500 and 550 primers.
My first inclination is to go with one of the 158 gr bullets loaded stout. Obviously, the most powerful would be to carry the 640-1 in 357 mag with a 158 gr loaded heavy with H-110. What do you think? Go with a heavy mag load or stick to 38 +P levels?
Mark in GA
In an ideal world, I would be packing my 4" 629 loaded with WFN cast loads, but that isn't feasible on this out of state trip. So, I have the following components on hand to build a load and the three S&W snubs listed above. What would you do?
Bullets
0.357" Hornady 125 gr. XTP
0.357" Hornady 158 gr. XTP
0.358" 158 gr cast SWC
Powder
HP-38, HS-6, H-110
Have both 38 special and 357 mag brass and plenty of CCI 500 and 550 primers.
My first inclination is to go with one of the 158 gr bullets loaded stout. Obviously, the most powerful would be to carry the 640-1 in 357 mag with a 158 gr loaded heavy with H-110. What do you think? Go with a heavy mag load or stick to 38 +P levels?
Mark in GA
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