Winchester .357 Magnum 125gr JHP In Clear Ballistics Gel

[5pins]

Test Gun: Smith and Wesson model 65.
Barrel length: 3 inches.
Ammunition: Winchester .357 Magnum JHP.
Test media: 10% Clear Ballistics Gel.
Distance: 10 feet.
Chronograph: PACT 1 XP with inferred sky screens.
Gel Temperature 70 degrees.

People reading my post may think I have I put too much effort into reviewing 9mm ammo. I will admit that most of my testing is in 9mm but today I'm trying something new. This time it is the legendary .357 using the legendary 125gr JHP. Two rounds into bare gel and two in heavy clothing. You may also notice that this is the first time I have given the recovered weights. That is because this is the first time I felt the need to. In all of my past test, the bullets retained most if not all of their weight.

Round one had a velocity of 1361fps, penetrated to 14.5 inches, expanded to .58 inches, and had recovered weight of 95.8 grains. Round two hit the block at 1300fps even and penetrated to 12.75 inches. The bullet expanded to.65 inches and had a recovered weight of 117.9.



In the heavy clothing covered gel round one struck the block at 1362fps and penetrated to 14.75 inches. Recovered diameter was .56 inches and weight was 105.7 grains. Round two had a velocity of 1335fps, penetrated to 13.25 inches and expanded to .60 inches. Recovered weight was 102.8 grains.

 

[ray15]

Nice test; thanks for posting.

This is why the 125JHP 357 magnum load was the gold standard for real-world effectiveness in decades past. It was the only popular choice that produced enough velocity to reliably expand the typical SJHP used in most defensive ammunition under all conditions. But the way your samples were coming apart, I wonder if they'd blow up on a car windshield. I would be interested to know if retained weight is as poor with similar loads, like the vaunted Federal 357B.

Now that most makers have hollowpoints engineered for reliable expansion at moderate velocities the world has largely moved to lighter calibers, but I still love a full-house 357 125JHP. I just wished forcing cones were as enamored.

 

[Deus Machina]

Any chance of testing the .38 Special version?
These look good, and are the same bullet as my current carry load in my M85 UL at about twice the velocity.
I'd carry the FBI load if I could find it locally. Until then, I'm happier finding something that hasn't jumped crimp than one that has the greatest expansion.

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

Decent performance, seems though that the remington and federal loadings are a bit hotter clocking in over 1420 fps in my ruger security six, but if this was the load I had, I could do much worse.

 

[5pins]

Decent performance, seems though that the remington and federal loadings are a bit hotter clocking in over 1420 fps in my ruger security six, but if this was the load I had, I could do much worse.

What's the barrel lenght of your Security Six?

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

4 inch model, they advertise 1450.

 

[RPZ]

Pretty darn good.

 

[SeanSw]

Looks hotter than 9mm +P+ from full size pistol except from a 3" barrel revolver. Definitely not a bad choice. Thanks for the test on the classic.

 

[Riomouse911]

One PD I worked for still officially issues 4” M-66 revolvers with the Win 110 gr magnum load. (folks could carry that revolver or a semi auto or their own. 95% chose their own gun back then, myself included. Now I’m sure it’s probably 100%)

I once asked why the 110 VS the 125, and was told the recoil was less in the 110 gr loading. I don’t know if that was true or just a “ get away kid, ya bother me” answer from the rangemaster because I never compared them side by side, but I do recall hearing about good results from the few instances the 110 was fired at suspects.

Thanks for the posts, I always like reading about your results!

 

[golden]

It is definitely true about the 110 grain having less recoil in the .357 magnum. When I started in law enforcement, my agency issued S&W model 13's with a 3 inch barrel and the 110 grain load. It replaced our previous 110 grain +P+ .38 Special load which had not proven effective. A couple of years after I started, I was carrying my personal purchase S&W 681. We got an alert to not use the 125 grain .357 load which had been shipped to us in error. The alert included a photo of a model 13 that had blown up at the forcing cone.
As a result, we were stuck with a load of 125 grain ammo no one was allowed to use. When I went to qualify with my L-frame 681, they were thrilled and gave me the 125 grain ammo to qualify with. I did, but I really noticed the difference in recoil. Still, since they wanted to clear it out, they gave me 6 fifty round boxes of the 125 grain load for practice ammo!
The range officer remarked, he could see a foot long muzzle flash every time I fired. This was at about 11 am in August.

Jim

 

[Deltaboy1984]

357 mag been a favorite of mine!

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

This was the gold standard for sd loads back in the 80's. According to FBI stats this load, along with Remington & Federal stopped the fight 97% of the time with one shot. I wore out a s & w 66 trying to master Remington's load from a 2 1/2" barrel. It was ferocious.