What 357 Magnum 158 grain Jacketed Practice Ammo?

[ronto]

Since the fixed sites on my SP101 are set for 158 grain ammo, I'd like to practice with that weight. My carry ammo is the 357 Speer 158gr. GDHP "short barrel", but at over a buck a round to practice with, it's getting prohibitive.
Any ideas for a reasonably priced 158 grain jacketed practice ammo would be appreciated.
Thank you in advance for your suggestions.

 

[Cosmoline]

For mid weight practice, Fiocchi is the way to go. I've been using their 142 grain fmj .357 for several years in my old SP and more recently my Speed Six. It's cheap, full power and very clean. And it feels like 158 and hits at about the same point of aim. Once you blast through 200 rounds of that stuff in quick succession, nothing out of that revolver will phase you.

 

[Geister]

Instead of jacketed, use copper.

 

[P. Plainsman]

CCI Blazer .357 Magnum is a good bet for your needs. It features an old-school 158 grain jacketed hollowpoint. Moreover, it appears to be loaded somewhat milder than "full house" .357 ammo, so it should feel fairly similar to your Speer SB carry load.

Like all Blazer ammo, it uses nonreloadable aluminum cases, but the savings are impressive: I commonly see it in big sporting goods stores for around $15 per box of 50.

I have had consistently good experiences using the Blazer .357 for practice in my Ruger GP100. Unless you really want to be able to reload your practice ammo after firing, I can't see any downside.

 

[TYY]

Magtech 357 158 FMJ is what I use in my GP100 for 357 practice. They run about 1250 fps/550ftlbs. Last year they were about $14 box, now about $18.

 

[Jimmie]

I haven't ordered it yet, but I'm going to try out the S&B 158gr FMJ.

http://www.natchezss.com/ammo.cfm?contentID=productDetail&ammoGroup=2&brand=ZY&prodID=ZYSBA03571

 

[ArchAngelCD]

ronto,
If you're using Speer .357 Magnum Short Barrel ammo it's 135 gr, not 158 gr. Speer's Short Barrel round in both .38 Special +P and .357 Magnum use the same 135 gr bullet.

 

[Bob79]

I'll second the Speer Blazer aluminum cased ammo in .357 mag, 158 grain. If you don't reload, there are no worries. It's cheaper, and shoots just fine. I have also found it to be more mild recoiling than other loads as well.

I also second that Gold Dot "short barrel" ammo is only 135 grain, for both .357 and .38 special. But I'm told it shoots to the same POI as the 158 grain loads.

 

[ronto]

158 Not 135

Bob79 and ArchAngelCD....

I'm looking at the box right now and it says:

Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel

357 MAG. 158 gr. GDHP
23960

The box says "NEW" so I suppose it is. I have the 135 gr. and the bullet design is NOT the same.

Thanks,
ronto

 

[ARTiger]

Speer has a 158 gr. GDHP in it's bullet catalog (part no. 4215), it's the short barrel part that's intriguing. If they really have a new version modeled after the 135 grain design with it's wide, deep HP cavity that could open up all sorts of possibilities for .38 SPL ammo in snubs as well. Ronto: Any way you could post pics of that box and maybe one of the rounds showing the bullet in detail?

 

[ronto]

TO: ARTiger

I have WebTV and can't post any pictures. All I can tell you is the box states what I posted before. The box containing the 158 gr. is EXACTLY the same as the box containing the 135 gr. EXCEPT the part # on the 135 gr. is 23917 and the part # on the 158 gr. is 23960.

As far as the bullet goes, the 158 gr. recess is not as deep as the 135 gr. and is completely clad in copper with 6 serations to apparently facilitate
mushrooming upon impact.

I assume the HP in GDHP means "hollow point" which what is stated on the 158 gr. box.

Hope this helps.

 

[ARTiger]

Thanks for the info Ronto!~ I think I know what bullet that is you are referring to and have a call in to Speer to check. Could well be a good one to load as .38 SPL +P.

 

[Maddock]

The Speer web site shows 23960 as a standard (1235 fps) velocity round.
I found a picture of a box at Midway, and it does not have "Short Barrel" on the box.
I'm also curious, and await ARTiger's conversation with Speer.

 

[ARTiger]

I didn't exactly get their rocket science manager on the phone, but appears it's the 4215 bullet that Speer loads in .357. Which, while a fine hollowpoint, it's not at all the same characteristics as the 135 short barrel which has a larger, deeper cavity and thinner frontal section walls.

Someone could always give it a try, but I don't think it would expand well at the use I was wishing for which was a .38 SPL at <900 FPS. Hunt continues for a heavier .38 caliber bullet than 135 grains that'll expand and penetrate at lower velocities.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Ronto,
I don't want to argue with you but the part # you gave us is listed on the Speer site but it's not a Short Barrel round. That round is listed under Gold Dot Personal Protection but not Short Barrel. http://www.speer-ammo.com/ballistics/ammo.aspx
They are still a good round but don't be fooled into thinking you are getting the bullet that will expand reliably out of a 1.875" barrel. I use those rounds in my 4" barrel .357 Magnum.

 

[Hook686]

Today, 07:48 AM #9
ronto

158 Not 135

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bob79 and ArchAngelCD....

I'm looking at the box right now and it says:

Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel

357 MAG. 158 gr. GDHP
23960

The box says "NEW" so I suppose it is. I have the 135 gr. and the bullet design is NOT the same.

Thanks,
ronto

I'm not sure what you have, but Speer lists 23960 as NOT a Short Barrel round, but as "Service/Defense"

http://glarp.atk.com/2005Catalogs/pdfs/CCI-Speer-centerfire_2005_catalog.pdf

 

[ronto]

Thanks To Everyone For The Information

The box I described is exactly the same as the 135 gr. box and does say "Short Barrel" across the Gold Dot logo.
Maybe someone at the factory used the wrong box in a particular lot.
I appreciate everyones input and I'll switch back to the 135 gr. for SD...Better to find out now rather than when it may really count.
I'll just use the 158 gr. in my 6" Security-Six.

 

[ronto]

Just For The Record

I contacted Speer and told them the 158gr hunting load #23960 was packed in a "short barrel" box. I sent them the empty box and they sent me a box of 135gr GDHP "short barrel". Their mistake and they will correct it...Customer Service is alive and well at Speer.

 

[Don357]

The CCI Blazer is a good bet, and sometimes you can find it for $7.87 per box of 50 at Wally World

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Customer Service is alive and well at Speer

ronto,
I'm glad to hear Speer did the right thing for you. You shouldn't be surprised though, after all, Speer is owned by CCI. Both companies were started by Dick Speer. A company that large sometimes forgets who keeps them in business, Speer and CCI didn't forget!!!