Where are the 125grs ?

[timothy75]

I dont know why but all the gun stores I frequent never ever have 50rd boxes of 125gr 357mags. I think their illegal here or something. All I ever see are 158gr JSP or sometimes HP. I understand 357 is a viable hunting caliber but I think thats the exeption more than the rule and most are used for HD and CCW. Most premium hunting 357's are heavier than 158gr anyway and theres a ton of premium 125gr and lighter availible. So what economic ammo does one practice with who carries 125's that will hit the same poi as their carry ammo? All my 357's require the sights to be cranked way down to hit poa when practicing with 158's. Maybe its a liability to the manufacturers or something but the 125gr going 1300-1400fps is an exellent manstopper and the unavailibility of economic practice ammo (at least in my area) is a disservice to a great caliber.

 

[ugaarguy]

Timothy75, what 357s are you shootng, and where are you located? I often have trouble finding any 158gr loads for my 38s or 357s at "big box" stores in SW Idaho. Most places sell the 125-135gr in both practice and defensive ammo. Remember 158gr was the standard for quite a while. Most of the older fixed sight S&W K-Frames, and many other revolvers, were set up for 148-158gr loads to hit to POA. The current trend is toward snubbies and light loads. Also remember that the K-Frames in 357 often get forcing cone damage from the higher velocity of lighter bullets in full house loads. It's not a liability isssue, it's just a local demand issue most likely. If you want to shoot the heavier rounds you may be able to swap in a new rear aperture and/or front blade so your sights arent cranked to either extreme. Remember, you can also order ammo online in many states. Lastly, Wal Mart, at least in my area, always has tons of 50 round WWB 125gr FMJ in both 38 and 357, so it may be worth a try if your local one still sells ammo. Let us know what you find.

 

[Ichiro]

They are plentiful on the internet.

I've attempted to purchase a certain very common cartridge (.38 special) at my local gun shop and my range, only to find out that they had absolutely nothing in stock in that caliber!

I don't purchase ammo from local retailers anymore. Just internet sales for me. natchezss.com, midwayusa.com, and so on.

 

[Confederate]

The 125-gr. JHP .357 is perhaps the most devastating manstopping round you can get in a handgun. In fact, Massad Ayoob confirmed years ago that it was kind of like the perfect storm in stopping power, combining just the right velocity, mass, penetration and expansion, regardless of who made the ammunition. In one police department which had had problems putting down evil-doers, the change to the .357 125-gr. JHP resulted in a long string of one-shot stops.

On the minus side, the ammo is quite hot and hard on forcing cones if fired constantly. Gas discharges also tended to be blinding and recoil a bit stout, but substantially less than 158-gr. JHP (which also tended to be overpenetrative). Indeed, the 158-gr. JHPs turned out to be rather poor as a manstopper, but quite good as a hunting round.

It's one reason I like the .357. It's a very versitile round. I've also had problems finding the 125-gr. JHPs, so I buy it over the Internet.

 

[C-grunt]

I was at Sportsmans Wharehouse yesterday and they had boxes of 125grn HP. This was only defensive ammo and I didnt look at the big boxes of plinking ammo. If you have one of those stores around, check them out.