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.Curious... 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.Why 158 over 125?
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.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.
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.Why 158 over 125?
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.
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.Why shoot a 125? You might as well just shoot 9x19mm.
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.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.
Curious... Why 158 over 125?