What 357 load do you carry?

[Styx]

For those who actually EDC a revolver loaded with 357 on a regular basis, what load are you carrying?

 

[ThomasT]

My favorite loaddo is a 158gr hard cast lead bullet pushed with 6.6grs of Unique in a 357 case. Really just a midrange loaddo that gets over 1100fps from a 4" barrel. Way past a 38 special loaddo without the blast of a full power loaddo.

 

[Pat Riot]

I do not carry in CA, but before I moved here in late 2018 I carried my S&W model 327 NG and my model 60 Pro with PMC 158 grain JSP ammo as well as Hornady 158 grain XTP ammo. I mostly carried these loadings when out and about in the country in Oregon.

 

[Styx]

Curious... Why 158 over 125?

 

[Pat Riot]

Curious... Why 158 over 125?

It’s just what I was used to. I know in factory loads the 125 and the 158 have similar energy but I also used these loads in my model 19 on occasion and in my 2 .357 lever guns. I loaded 158 grain bullets in my Cowboy Action loads so 158 just became my all around bullet weight for .357 magnum and .38 special.

 

[amd6547]

My 3” GP100, which gets some carry, is loaded with the good old Rem-UMC 125gn SJHP.
Alternatively, I have some Winchester Silvertip 145gn, a weight not represented in your poll, but with a long history in law enforcement use.

 

[joneb]

Why 158 over 125?

For hiking where live we have bear and mountain lion, so my Ruger Security Six gets loaded with 158gr Hornady XTP FP.

 

[Riomouse911]

My favorite loaddo is a 158gr hard cast lead bullet pushed with 6.6grs of Unique in a 357 case. Really just a midrange loaddo that gets over 1100fps from a 4" barrel. Way past a 38 special loaddo without the blast of a full power loaddo.

When I carried the 2.5” .357 it was the 110 gr Win JHP… recoil was mild in the short barreled K-frame. But my favorite.357 load is a 158 gr SWC over 6.5 gr Unique.

You are right; that bullet and mid-range power level combo is an accurate and fun all around .357 load in all of my .357’s as well .

Stay safe.

 

[.455_Hunter]

When I carry a .357, there is about a 90% chance it's loaded with Federal American Eagle 158gr JSP. Not everybody's life revolves around urban defensive issues. It's a big world out there!

 

[Rexster]

I normally keep 135-grain Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel in the Speed Sixes and SP101 revolvers, and in my 3” GP100.

I use the full-pressure 125-grain JHPs in my full-lug GP100 revolvers, at home and in town. Recently, this has been Gold Dots.

In some environments, I use 180-grain hard-cast, or 158-grain Gold dots. I have, in the past, liked the 145-grain Winchester STHPs, but it has been a while since I have been able to refresh my stock of them.

 

[ms6852]

Why 158 over 125?

I use 158 only. It is what I am used to and I use this in other firearms with longer barrels. I like to keep things simple as possible one load for many firearms. Don't care about energy or anything, big enough for wild animals of all kinds.

 

[Pat Riot]

I forgot to mention that I did start carrying Hornady 125 grain American Gunner .357 magnum just before moving to Granola Land because it was a little more accurate from my model 327 Night Guard. I wouldn’t shoot from my model 19 due to the lighter bullets and possible cracked forcing cone.
One day at the range here in SoCal those rounds caused a bit of excitement from a new kid working as a range master.
I unleashed 8 rounds of this ammo from that 2 1/2” barrel and it scared the heck out of all the younger 9mm crowd around me and that new range master. VERY LOUD and quite the light show.
The amount of flash actually surprised me.
Definitely not a round for preservation of night vision from a short barrel.

 

[DR505]

I still have a bunch of 180 grain Black Talons that I will load into my Model 27 or Model 28 when they ride on my hip.

 

[RealGun]

Missouri has a 140 grain "Zinger" that works fine too.

 

[ThomasT]

When I carried the 2.5” .357 it was the 110 gr Win JHP… recoil was mild in the short barreled K-frame. But my favorite.357 load is a 158 gr SWC over 6.5 gr Unique.

You are right; that bullet and mid-range power level combo is an accurate and fun all around .357 load in all of my .357’s as well .

Stay safe.

Yes the Unique load is really nice in the SP-101 I sometimes stick in my back pocket. Its too heavy for front pocket carry but in the back pocket you don't notice the weight. Add a long tailed shirt or a winter jacket and its concealed well enough that no one has ever noticed it. In that heavy gun the recoil isn't bad at all. Loaded that gun weighs 28oz so it would make decent club if somebody just needs to be tuned up a little but not shot.

 

[627PCFan]

The current carry is 125gn XTP's from Underwood. They actually hit their advertised velocity from my 627. After I rotate through them I'll be back on my 158gn Speer Deep Curls. Love those pedals.

 

[shoebox1.1]

125 Xtp American gunner in my king cobra. Cause that’s all I could get at the time. All my 38 loads are sjhp or golden Sabre

 

[westernrover]

Why shoot a 125? You might as well just shoot 9x19mm.

 

[Pat Riot]

Why shoot a 125? You might as well just shoot 9x19mm.

Why shoot a 9x19 when you can have more versatility with a .357 Magnum?
This thread isn't about "other" cartridges.

 

[Styx]

Why shoot a 125? You might as well just shoot 9x19mm.

Because a 125 357 is generally more powerful than 9mm. Paul Harrell and others have debunked the myth that comparable 9mm is more powerful or just as powerful as 357.

 

[.38 Special]

Lyman's 358156 HP with 13 grains of 2400. It's not a fire-breather, but does have a reasonable reputation, and isn't too hard on my old Model 19.

<edit> This bullet is generally "thought of" as a 158, but comes out to around 150 grains.

 

[westernrover]

No argument that 357 is "more powerful." A 358 Winchester is more powerful too. What does that have to do with carry? A heavier bullet, on the other hand will deliver more penetration with less recoil. Sufficient penetration and minimal recoil are critical factors for applications encountered in carry.

 

[Styx]

No argument that 357 is "more powerful." A 358 Winchester is more powerful too. What does that have to do with carry? A heavier bullet, on the other hand will deliver more penetration with less recoil. Sufficient penetration and minimal recoil are critical factors for applications encountered in carry.

That all matters on the particular ammo design. If you look at Lucky Gunners .38 Special and .357 Magnum Self-Defense Ammo Ballistics Test, you will see that there are 125 grain bullets that explain and penetrate better than some 158 grain. Matter of fact, despite being a smaller bullet, there are a few125 gr jhp seem to expain to a larger diameter vs 158 gr. while still offering optimal penetration. Another thing that I see is that 158 gr seems to over penetrate in more than a few offerings.

I am no expert. I've been carrying 9mm and .38 spc most prominently most my life. I just recently started researching and learning more about 357 self-defense offerings. I am not as recoil sensitive as some others might be, and with a 35oz revolver, I recken there's less recoil than shooting a lot of these extremely popular 16-19oz tiny micro 9mms with a chopped grip 2 finger grip. With that said, I am not knocking 158 grain. There are pros and cons to both per the data I read so far. I am just playing devil's advocate and giving some push back, so I can get your opinion/rebuttle. I might be completely wrong here.

 

[dh1633pm]

Curious... Why 158 over 125?

Mainly because my dad has box after box of 158’s on his reloading shelf. No other reason. Sometimes you use what you got.

 

[Pat Riot]

I think I’m honor of this thread I will load me up some 158 grain magnum loads tomorrow and take my models 327 and 19 dancing.