Traditional Best Bullet Weights for .357/.38

[HoosierQ]

Ok. My next purchase is going to be a big .357. Gonna stay loose on 4" or 6", Ruger or S&W for the moment. I may also pick up nice simple S&W Model 10 for a truck gun...we'll see...the .357's the goal.

So I know the 124 is the thing go with for the 9mm...mileage varies of course.
230 is the way to go for a .45 ACP.

So what are the respective best bullet weight for a more or less full house .357? 125? 158? These will be for SD...won't hunt with it unless SHTF or something.

Likewise a .38 +P

I know this is minefield of controversy but I am giving it a shot. I have made poor choices of bullet weight before not knowing the facts (the 147 gr 9mm is an example). Plus, I don't want to hammer the forcing cones.

Thanks.

 

[kanook]

158 imho

 

[Walkalong]

125, 140, & 158 Gr bullets all have their place. I shoot all three in range loads. I would be happy with any good defense load in any of the weights mentioned, including the 135 Gr Gold Dots for short barrels.

 

[wow6599]

I think it was the Marshall and Sanow report that said 125 gr .357 mag was the best; here's what I found while searching for the report -

"The most effective handgun round on the market - regardless of caliber - is the Federal .357 Magnum 125 grain jacketed hollowpoint (357B). This load has more stopping power than any other handgun bullet (and this includes more powerful rounds like the .41 and .44 Magnums)."

http://www.chuckhawks.com/ammo_by_anonymous.htm

Now, for woods carry I would load with something hard, fast and heavy

 

[Water-Man]

Self-defense - 125gr. HP
Deer - 158gr. HP or SP

 

[NG VI]

I have made poor choices of bullet weight before not knowing the facts (the 147 gr 9mm is an example).

Not your question, but the 147 is no longer a poor choice. In fact, it is often the best choice, especially with HST and Ranger-T.

As far as .38/.357, for .357 I'd use anything from 125-158 grains happily, had 125 Gold Dots in my 686 and 28-2. For the .38 I'd use either the Speer 135+P Gold Dot, or a 158 +P hollow point of some sort. Maybe Remington Golden Saber in whatever flavor they offer for .38.

 

[HoosierQ]

Well, I am personaly not unhappy with my 147 grainers in 9mm. I have Hydra-Shoks. They feed very well in both my 9mm pistols. So from a functional perspective, I have no complaints. Folks say they are too slow to expand and whatnot. Once I shoot them up, I may go over to the 124 camp. Of course I have a lot of 115 gr FMJs and would like to hook up with some 124s there as well.

Back on topic. It sounds like as long as I stay in the 125 - 158 range I'll be good. You hear about 110s and whatnot but I want to avoid stuff on the fringe.

 

[John Wayne]

Both my .38 specials are fixed sight models.

My model 442 shoots right on with the 125 gr. and 158 gr. loads I've tried.

My model 10 is close with 130 gr., but right on with 158 gr.

For SD in .357 mag, I would go with the 125 gr. weight, unless your gun really doesn't like it.

 

[Dragk913]

Not your question, but the 147 is no longer a poor choice. In fact, it is often the best choice, especially with HST and Ranger-T.

Do you have a source for this? Or is it just opinion?

Don't mean to sound rude, just like to know more

 

[rmfnla]

We used to load 148 grain HBWCs backwards.

I forget the powder or the charge but we used to get about 900 fps.

Between that big cavity and the soft lead, the slugs would upset pretty good in just about any medium, and recoil was not bad in a small frame.

 

[NG VI]

Quote:
Not your question, but the 147 is no longer a poor choice. In fact, it is often the best choice, especially with HST and Ranger-T.

Do you have a source for this? Or is it just opinion?

Countless hours studying caliber wars on Glocktalk mostly, and also the test seminars ATK has put on, they put up the HST in various loadings against Gold Dot (another ATK product) and often whatever the duty load of the hosting department is, and the 147 grain HST is far and away the best performing 9mm JHP, never seen one shed its jacket, wicked expansion, and consistent too, and it penetrates fairly well. three-quarters of an inch expansion and 13-14" penetration are what it runs in almost every test it is put in. The 124+P HST is great too, but the 147 expands better and penetrates about the same.



On topic, I think that 158 grain bullets are made for different things, there is a defense-oriented 158 Gold Dot for the .357, but some 158 JHPs are hunting oriented, so they are much deeper penetrators and don't expand much in people. Recipe for drilling a neat hole straight through someone.

 

[buck460XVR]

I've always been under the impression most fixed sight .357s were set up to shoot 158s, but dunno, I've never had a fixed sight .357. Both of my 686s prefer 158s and that's the only weight I load, for both hunting and SD/HD. JHPs for target, SD/HD and varmints , JSPs for deer.

 

[Dragk913]

Countless hours studying caliber wars on Glocktalk mostly, and also the test seminars ATK has put on, they put up the HST in various loadings against Gold Dot (another ATK product) and often whatever the duty load of the hosting department is, and the 147 grain HST is far and away the best performing 9mm JHP, never seen one shed its jacket, wicked expansion, and consistent too, and it penetrates fairly well. three-quarters of an inch expansion and 13-14" penetration are what it runs in almost every test it is put in. The 124+P HST is great too, but the 147 expands better and penetrates about the same.

Hmm..I think I'm going to have to do a little more digging, because that sounds pretty awesome.

Thanks for the info!


EDIT: Sorry for derailing the OP.

 

[9mmepiphany]

the default bullet weight for the .38spl and .357mag is the 158gr

the default target load is 148gr

the bullets with the best defense record is the 125gr

 

[atlanticfire]

The 158gr for target is best. There is a place for 180gr when things get serious.

 

[Nicodemus38]

for the 357 the original load used by wesson during his hunting trials was a 158 grain slug moving at roughly 1450 fps from a 6 inch barrel. that i think should still be the measuring stick for hunting loads in 357.

for self defense you cant beat the chicago load slug at roughly 1000fps.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I personally prefer a 158gr bullet in the 38/357 but like said above, there is a place for 125gr 140gr and 170/180gr bullets.

 

[78CJ5]

Both my Ruger SP 101's shoot real good with 125 grain bullets. But 140 or 158 work real well to penetrate for self protection.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

For .357, 158 grain loads. The 125's tend to beat up the guns under extended use. For .38 spl, I'd go with 125's, which maintain decent velocity.

 

[Elvishead]

158 is

 

[easyg]

I would go with 125g.
From all accounts that I have ever heard about, or read about, the 125g .357 magnum round is a very effective self-defense round.

 

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors // SD round ( two legged)

.357 (S&W 586, 6") or .38+P(S&W 442, 1 7/8") I use 125gr. JHP for SD (two legged)

 

[W.E.G.]

Since my use for the .357 revolver is *almost* exclusively target shooting, my favorite load is a mild 125-grain JHP load. Recoil and muzzle blast are a non-issue, and I get none of the lead/lube/fouling issues that are so annoying when plain lead bullets are used.

I don't mind paying a few extra pennies per round to avoid that mess.
The absence of the mess means I can use the same gun for HOT loads on the rare occasion that such may be needed, and I don't have to worry about stuck cases from all that that lead/lube mess that is almost impossible to get out of the cylinders without aggressive cleaning.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

We used to load 148 grain HBWCs backwards.

I forget the powder or the charge but we used to get about 900 fps.

I took a Colt M357 to Viet Nam my first tour. There were no good expanding pistol bullets in those days. My load was a 148 grain HBWC loaded backwards, with 7.8 grains of Unique. It leaded ferociously, but it worked. Twice.

 

[Bula]

I cast and shoot a lot of .38 and .357 loads. 158gr are the standard for fixed sights in either cal. I get zero lead/lube mess with any of my loads. I shoot 148g, 158g, 162g, and 173g loads. If your pistol has adjustable sights it will likely shooot all weights well. That versatitlity is what makes me a huge fan of both platforms. I like the heavies for use in .357's. That 162g is a gas checked Thompson designed Lyman 358156, that shoots great from my carbine.