What is the best factory .357 load for self-defense?

[Lone Ranger]

There are so many factory rounds out there with claims of stopping power/penetration and bullet retention? that I am confused as to what to believe. I have firearms in the following configurations 4in, 6 1/2in and Marlin .38/.357 that I would like to use the same round. This round would be for self-defense and not huning.

Any suggestions would be helpful in narrowing down the choices.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I don't know if there is a "bad" 125g jhp 357 load in terms of SD

I use the tried n true and very hot 125g Remington sjhp

These do 1300fps + from a 2.75" barrel and a smoking 1540fps from a 6" tube. I'm not a huge fan of many of the more modern dumbed down for alloy framed snubby 357 SD loads we have today. (I'm looking at you gold dot short barrel and golden saber)

The bullet isn't the most high tech projectile but its earned a reputation for getting it done. I like them too because they're gettable in bulk at modest prices.






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[rswartsell]

I agree with R.W.Dale about the Remington 125 sjhp. Good round for the configurations you list. Not so much agreement about the Speer Gold Dot Short Barrels. Just like the name says engineered for short barrels (and for that application smartened up is closer than dumbed down) and would be a better choice for a 2", alloy or not than the Remmy 125's. In a 2" they just plain work instead of expending powder for a fireball and pushing a pill that won't expand at the velocities you get.

Each to his own.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm a big fan of the 158gr bullet in the .357 Magnum, especially when shot from a 18.5" Carbine. The energy produced is amazing. I like the Remington load but in 158gr instead of the 125gr load.

I'm also a fan of the Gold Dot bullets so Speer GD ammo is also a favorite of mine. (158gr)

 

[pendennis]

In .38 Special, I like a 158gr SWCHP +P. For .357 Magnum, I like the now-discontinued 140gr STHP.

 

[Ala Dan]

Remington 125 grain SJHP

The Remington 125 grain SJHP is very bad 'bout flame cutting of the top strap~!

 

[AJumbo]

While not an ideal defense handgun, my Blackhawk is most accurate with bullets in the 125-140gr range. The best group I ever fired from that pistol was a three-shot cloverleaf at 50 yards, using Federal Classic 125gr SJHPs (this was no great feat of gunslinging; it took me 15 to drop the hammer three times, and I quit after three because I didn't want to break the spell ) Here in the Arizona desert, those are fine choices because they won't have many layers of clothing to go through. If I was living somewhere colder, I'd gladly swap accuracy for penetration and change to 158gr defense ammo. I consider six inches at six feet to be acceptable combat accuracy.

 

[Rexster]

I used a Federal Classic 125-grain JHP in the early 1990s, in a real-world defensive shooting. While the effect was quite dramatically successful, the bullet fragmented severely, which most modern anmmo is designed not to do. The major ammo makers design their defensive ammo to hold together much better. I doubt anyone could go seriously wrong with any good 125-to-158-grain controlled-expansion JHP these days. Due to availability, I tend to use Gold Dots these days; full-pressure 125 in my big Rugers, and Short-Barrel 135 in everything else. (Federal 125, Remington 125, and Winchester 145 STHP are favorites, but seem unavailable lately; I prefer to keep my defensive ammo fairly fresh.)

With a rifle, I might lean toward the 158-grain loads, but I no longer own handgun-cartridge lever rifles, as Mini-14 carbines have taken their place.

 

[SEE IT LIKE A NATIVE]

I always keep remington golden sabers in 125 grain in my speed six . They are low recoil , low muzzle flash , reliable expansion . Kevin

 

[snooperman]

From 110gr bullet up to 158gr , the hollow points in this caliber have a high percentage of one-shot stops. You can not go wrong with the 357 magnum. Take your pick , they are all very impressive.

 

[19-3Ben]

I'm a big fan of the 158gr bullet in the .357 Magnum, especially when shot from a 18.5" Carbine. The energy produced is amazing.

Yup. HUGE +1. That's why my Rossi M92 sleeps next to my bed post, loaded up with DT's 158gr. Gold Dot load. It's 16" bbl (shorter and handier for inside the house), and I don't think it would lose much velocity compared to the 18.5" bbl.
I actually load the same round in my Ruger Security Six that sees woods-carry duty.

 

[snooperman]

You will get 90-97% stopping power with any of the above loads in a hollow point bullet. I like the 110gr bullet for less recoil in my Colt magnum carry.

 

[PabloJ]

There are so many factory rounds out there with claims of stopping power/penetration and bullet retention? that I am confused as to what to believe. I have firearms in the following configurations 4in, 6 1/2in and Marlin .38/.357 that I would like to use the same round. This round would be for self-defense and not huning.

Any suggestions would be helpful in narrowing down the choices.

There isn't single good one as .357 is poor choice for defensive gun. The .38/'38+p is much better.

 

[fatcpa]

I like Black Hills 125 gr. JHP's. Good ammo at a good price. 50 rounds for around $34.

 

[R.W.Dale]

There isn't single good one as .357 is poor choice for defensive gun. The .38/'38+p is much better.

38 and 38+p is marginally better than a 380 its nowhere in the same class as 357 magnum. A cartridge that all 35 caliber autoloader cartridges aspire to replicate.


Ask youreself when was the last time you heard/read the phrase replicates 38 ballistics in a semiautomatic? With its anemic pressure ratings and resulting low velocities it simply cannot run with its 35k + psi 35cal rivals. 38 is definitely the bottom tier of service handgun rounds before you get into "mousegun" calibers.

To assert that 38 in any form is superior is pure fantasy no matter what criteria you choose to use. Doubly so for the firearms the OP mentioned



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[snooperman]

PabloJ, have you studied the actual stopping power of the 357 magnum that is available from actual shootings by LE? While the 38 special +P loads are used in CCW, it does not even come close to the power of the 357 magnum. If one can handle it, it is awesome to say the least.

 

[Jaymo]

The .38 FBI load is a damned good stopper.
That said, the Remington 125 grain .357 HP is fan-frigging-tastic.
Yeah, it's hot. Yeah, it's loud, painfully so. Yeah, it'll flame cut the top strap a little.
It puts the bad guys down. It hits like a freight train. And, the scalloped jacket looks cool, too.
I've bought it at Wal Mart in 100 round boxes.
Guess which load resides in my GP100?

 

[Hootus]

I wonder.

The carbine will get a LOT more velocity out of the round than a revolver. My .44mag M92 carbine clocks 1750fps and I'd figure the same performance gains over a revolver out of a .357 carbine. Modern high-tech hollowpoints are designed to perform and expand within specific velocity parameters and I wonder if the same loads that work great in a revolver may not work at 1750fps (they might fragment, or fold the petal back against the bullet base to non-expanded measurements, etc). Just a thought....

 

[R.W.Dale]

At the kind of velocities you see from a 357 carbine you're getting into that magic velocity zone where even in the event of a total bullet failure disruption to the system will be massive.

Hot 125g loads will be pushing 2k fps and even with fragile bullets will turn several pounds of whatever they hit into bloody goop and in the process significantly reduce someone's will to press an attack.




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[7mmb]

I just switched to Hornady Critical Defense 125gr JHPs. The flex tip in the hollowpoint cavity keeps clothing from clogging it and initiates expansion. Clocked it over 1400 fps from my 4" GP100.

 

[bsms]

There is no such thing as a scientific study of one shot stops. Too many variables. Nor is raw power everything in self defense ammo. I like my 44 Mag, but it isn't a great self defense gun unless I drop the power down. Against men, a bullet that expands and penetrates 12-15 inches is about as good as it gets. That would be a good 38+P load or a relaxed 357 load. You can go hotter, but you won't go better.

 

[_N4Z_]

I also am big on the 158gr. sjhp's for .357mag. I use the Remingtons when reloading. There is a guy on youtube who tests various rounds in jello. There is a video for the 158 .357mag. Search for tnoutdoors9 and look under his most recent posts.

 

[PabloJ]

PabloJ, have you studied the actual stopping power of the 357 magnum that is available from actual shootings by LE? While the 38 special +P loads are used in CCW, it does not even come close to the power of the 357 magnum. If one can handle it, it is awesome to say the least.

I'm aware of it's legendary stopping power even through barriers. I have never wormed up to this cartridge.

 

[R.W.Dale]

If someone cannot shoot 357's that only makes 38spl better FOR THEM

Not for everyone else




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[Clark]

Before there were any www gun forums, there was rec.guns on the usenet part of the internet.

There for years, the law enforcement statistical anomaly of one shot stops with 357 mag 125 gr being the best was often discussed.

My pet comment was that it made so much noise that it gave the perp and the cop pause.