What kind of .357 ammo is in your .357 for SD?

[twinwillows]

125 Gr Federal or Hornaday. Fired in my SP 101 the muzzle blast is just WOW!! Reminds me of shooting 180 gr JHP's in my 44 magnum.

I don't shoot many of them for practice that's for sure.

 

[AgentAdam]

For longer 3-4" + barrels i prefer 125gr GoldDots or Winchester Ranger-Talons/SXT(non Supreme) if they still make them. I would also be comfortable with 125gr HydroShocks,PMC StarFire, SJHP, or HPSWC.

For 2" or less snubbies i use 147-158 GoldDots, Talons, HPSWC,or SJHP,

 

[DAdams]

In my M&P 340 (.357 rated) 1 7/8 snub.... plus p SGDFSB 135 gr. (23921).

In the 686 3 inch. .357 SGDFSB 135 gr. (23917).

 

[thunder173]

In the house,.. it AND a 3" S&W 36 are loaded with .38 Special +P, Federal 129 grain Hydra-Shok's,..I seldom do, but when I carry the .357 in the woods,..it's loaded with a
.357, 158 gr JSP,...I don't cc this one at all. When it gets carried it's always OC.

 

[Water-Man]

Federal Classic Hi Shok 125gr. JHP in the house.
Buffalo Bore 180gr. hardcast in the woods.

 

[SAWBONES]

Buffalo Bore 158gr JHC .357is all that gets carried in my Ruger SP101s (ported and worked over by Marc Morganti), since this is THE load that shoots one-hole groups at point of aim.

J-frames of whichever flavor (scandium, aluminum or steel framed) are loaded with .38 Special+P JHP, NOT with .357.

 

[bestseller92]

Remington 125 grain SJHP magnums in my 4" GP100, 3" SP101 and 6" Taurus 669.

 

[Gryffydd]

5" GP-100
125gr Remington Golden Sabers loaded over 22gr H110. Haven't chrono'd it out of my gun, but it does 1966fps out of a 10" test barrel.

 

[Bill_G]

Winny silvertips in my Ruger Speed Six.

 

[Rob P.]

Federal Premium Vital Shock with 140gr Barnes expander bullets. Lead free which is required in the backcountry here in So Cal but seriously efficient stopping power for SD.

 

[buck460XVR]

I shoot approximately 200 rounds a month thru my 686 at the range.....158JHPs over 17 grains of Lil' Gun. It's is my accuracy load. Why would I put anything else in it for self defense? Inside the house I'll still reach for the coach gun.....

In the review that followed, it was determined that the severe recoil, coupled with the overpenetration of the 158gr round, combined to give the advantage to the bad guy

Iffin the cops had been able hit the BG in the right spot, they wouldn't had a problem with over penetrating. I bet had they hit him in the heart, lungs or CNS he woulda died just as quickly as if he had been hit there with 125s. I assume like most LEOs that used to carry .357s, they practiced and qualified with .38s and then couldn't figure out why they couldn't hit anything when they loaded up with magnum rounds. I'm guessin' the BG in this case was just a better shot than the LEOs.....a fact they probably wouldn't release to the press.

 

[kmrcstintn]

well...depends on what I'm doing...

woods walking or scouting for hunting season...Federal CastCore 180gr swaged solid flat tip leadhead or Blazer Brass 158gr jacketed hollowpoint

overnight stays at hunting camp (indoors against 2 legged critters)...Winchester Silvertip 145gr jacketed hollowpoint or Winchester Personal Defense 110gr jacketed hollowpoint

at home...Remington 158gr lead semiwadcutter hollowpoint .38 spl +p or Remington/Winchester 125gr semijacketed hollowpoint .38 spl +p

 

[22-rimfire]

I use whatever HP's I have on hand. I'm not hung up on brands or am particularly concerned about performance. I normally carry a 38spl when I carry (which is about 1/3 of the time).

 

[AZ Desertrat]

Buffalo Bore 158gr. JHC. or Speer Gold Dot.

 

[ironvic]

I have a jumble of ammo that I use in the .357. My "house" is an RV van, so I tend to favor the .38 Special +p hollowpoints in it. Think of lettin' go with a .357 inside a 50 gallon drum and you'll get my drift.

Vic

 

[thebaldguy]

Blazer 158 grain JHP. Can't beat the price.

 

[PhrankKastle]

I no longer have a .357 but when I did I carried Speer Gold Dots in them. I carry Gold Dot in every handgun caliber (9mm, 44 Mag and 45 ACP) I have.

 

[Confederate]

Iffin the cops had been able hit the BG in the right spot, they wouldn't had a problem with over penetrating. I bet had they hit him in the heart, lungs or CNS he woulda died just as quickly as if he had been hit there with 125s.

Hmmm...the point you seem to be overlooking here is that the 125s are superior to the 158s. In other words, why use the latter when the former are superior? Hitting the right spot is important when shooting, but 125JHPs have been extraordinarily successful when they hit the extremities or, for that matter, anywhere. In fact, there's no other handgun ammo that has as many one-shot stops under its belt. So you can use other calibers and different loads and many will be effective if you hit the bad guy in the right spot. The benefit of using more effective loads is that you can often put the bad guys down if you're a little off.

The .357 magnum is a formidable caliber with whatever load is used. The trick is using the best possible. If you're shooting a bear or a deer, then 158 and heavier bullets are a good choice. For a human being wearing a coat, the best choice is the 125gr JHP.

 

[pps]

Confederate, there is no magic bullet. The 125, while a great round, is not the hammer of Thor. I used to have 125's stoked in my .357 until I started working with inmates.

I switched to the 158gr because I want the greater penetration (than the 125). I want to know that I have a round that can hit vital structures even if the bullet has to enter the arm through leather, go through 4" of muscle, humerus, exit the skin, leather, re-enter leather, chest wall, rib, then lung...heart...or spinal cord. I use 158 for deer, 185gr LBT for boar. Some of these SOB's are much bigger than a deer, and almost as smart. I'll stick to a round that has a good chance of penetrating to the heart, even If I have to shoot through his a$$ to get it there.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Snubby: 125 gr UMC soft point (though its a handful in a small frame revolver)

4 inch or more barrel: 158 gr Federal Hydra Shock. (This load will also work on a snubby)

 

[Cpt. America]

Hornady leverlution 140 gr or 158 gr Hornady XTP.

 

[bearmgc]

Ruger Sp101, Silvertips in .357 or 38+P.

 

[cleetus03]

Ruger Security-Six 6" brl; WWB .357 MAG 125gr JSP

Think about it!

 

[41 magnum fan]

I use either 158 Gold Dots or 158 grain XTP

 

[BlindJustice]

S&W Model 60 3" Bbl. chambered for .357 Mag.

Double Tap. .38 SPecial +P 125 gr. Speer Gold Dot JHPs

If I were hiking/camping and not HD / inside....

Reeds Ammunition & Research
.357 Mag - Hornady 140 gr. XTP JHPs @ 1400 FPS approx.

but I'd also want some Herretts Jordan Trooper grips for it in that case.

Main HD gun is a .45 ACP sub sonic the 60 is a backup

Randall