fwcofficer
New member
I recently purchased a 686P with a 6" barrel and was wondering what everyone uses for Personal Defense. I know that 125 gr is supposed to be a good performer, but what brand?
.357 Defense Ammo
- Thread starter fwcofficer
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stephen426
New member
Do you live in a house or an apartment? Being from Miami myself, I know a lot of the new houses are built so damn close you can just reach over and turn down your neighbors' tv for them if it is on too loud! 
Standard .357 magnums are already moving pretty fast. A 6" barrel will only increase the velocity even more. I would say that over penetration should be a serious concern. With that said, I would consider pre-fragmented ammo such as Magsafe or Glasers or a light agressively expanding hollow point.
I personally would not use a .357 magnum as a home defense weapon (provided I had a choice) . I would be concerned with long term hearing damage (not that other calibers are that much better) and excessive muzzle flash in a dark room. If you choose to use the .357 as a home defense weapon, I would strongly recommend you get electronic ear protection. Those will amplify quieter sounds while blocking out the loud ones.
Standard .357 magnums are already moving pretty fast. A 6" barrel will only increase the velocity even more. I would say that over penetration should be a serious concern. With that said, I would consider pre-fragmented ammo such as Magsafe or Glasers or a light agressively expanding hollow point.
I personally would not use a .357 magnum as a home defense weapon (provided I had a choice)
. I would be concerned with long term hearing damage (not that other calibers are that much better) and excessive muzzle flash in a dark room. If you choose to use the .357 as a home defense weapon, I would strongly recommend you get electronic ear protection. Those will amplify quieter sounds while blocking out the loud ones.
trooper3385
New member
I agree with Stephen until he gets to the part of hearing protection. Definetly would not go without it at the range or when practicing, but when it comes to home defense, that would be on the bottom of my list of priorities. I don't believe I will be worrying about hearing protection before having to shoot an intruder. I've been a State Trooper for awhile and hearing protection is not normally worn while patrolling. However, he does make a good point on over penetration. A .357 mag with a 125 gr bullet would be one of the ultimate manstoppers. Thats the gun and bullet weight used by LE for yrs and is still being used. But when it comes to home defense, you need something that works well for quick, reactions shots more than something your going to be sitting there aiming at for awhile. I think if you talk to just about everyone in LE, there going to tell you there first choice would be the shotgun. If you have a chance to grab the shotgun, you do. You use your side arm if you don't have time to gun to the Shotgun. I would go for a shorter barrel pump shotgun, probably with #4 shot. You get into the buckshot or slugs, your getting back to the over penetration. Also, hearing that shotgun rack will probably get most burglars turning tail without having to fire around. If thats out of the question and your going to stick the the .357, I would go with a hollow point designed to expand rapidly. My duty weapon is a .357 sig with 125 gr speer gold dot hollow points. There designed to expand rapidly and not penetrate all the way through. The ballistics to a .357 sig and a .357 mag or nearly identical. I saw a man that was smaller in size that an officer shot 5 times at close range (under 10 yrds). He was carrying 125 gr gold dot and all 5 penetrated through, but they did leave exit holes the size of your fist. If you have a choice, go with the shotgun.
Sir William
New member
I prefer 180 gr Winchester Supreme black box JHPs.
Any bullet designed for optimum penetration for SD purposes is going to penetrate through walls. If over-penetration is a real concern, try the 125gr. loads vs the 158gr. loads. Any modern JHP is going to stay in the BG and stop him. Some lower-power 357Mag loads like Federal's 130gr HS or Rem's 125gr. GS come to mind. The latter is similar to a +p 9mm. If you want that kind of performance though, it is silly to own a 357Mag in the first place.
I've been using the same Ruger SS Security Six with six inch barrel as my home defense gun for 22 years now. At the time, the hot police load was the Federal 125 grain JHP. That's what I used then and that's what I still use today. Federal still makes it as one of their Classic loads. You put one of those in their chest, they will most likely stop doing anti-social activities.
Gregg
Gregg
What about a +P 38special with a lighter weight bullet. Perhaps something like the 125 grain Speer Gold Dots for 38 special. Out of a 6" barrel you'd be getting the very most out of the +P, but not have as much over penatration, have less muzzle flash, and faster follow up shot/shots if needed. Good placement is the VERY most important thing in staying safe and being the one talking to the LEO's when it's over..
CraigJS
CraigJS
azredhawk44
Moderator
Stay away from .38special in a .357 for personal defense.
The .357 personal defense rounds are not full power .357 loads. They are the optimum amount of power to effectively expand and stop one attacker. Consider them .357 "lights". A "heavy" .357 load will chop thru 3 people.
The .38 loads will bounce as you light them off inside of the cylinder and may not hit the forcing cone perfectly aligned, causing less accuracy.
That, and I've watched a forcing cone fail and explode right in front of me. Scary, especially if you aren't plinking and you REALLY need your gun right then.
I use .357 Federal Hydrashoks at 158gr in my sp101.
The .357 personal defense rounds are not full power .357 loads. They are the optimum amount of power to effectively expand and stop one attacker. Consider them .357 "lights". A "heavy" .357 load will chop thru 3 people.
The .38 loads will bounce as you light them off inside of the cylinder and may not hit the forcing cone perfectly aligned, causing less accuracy.
That, and I've watched a forcing cone fail and explode right in front of me. Scary, especially if you aren't plinking and you REALLY need your gun right then.
I use .357 Federal Hydrashoks at 158gr in my sp101.
Like I said, any decent JHP design in the 357Mag is going to stay inside the BG, especially the 125gr. variety which tend to penetrate about 12" or so. The 158gr HPs tend to penetrate more but they will still stay in the BG. Any self-defense round designed to penetrate sufficiently for self-defense is going to penetrate through a wall, whether it is 357Mag or 38spl. Don't worry about it. I don't get all these concerns with over-penetration. 125gr. 357Mag loads expand very aggressively, they won't overpenetrate.
Garand Guy
New member
azredhawk
That's gotta be one of the biggest loads of fertilizer I've ever heard! 357 SD loads considered light?
Try a box of Winchester 145 gr Silver HP. They are designated "Personel Protection" and there is absolutely nothing "light" about them.
That's gotta be one of the biggest loads of fertilizer I've ever heard! 357 SD loads considered light?
Try a box of Winchester 145 gr Silver HP. They are designated "Personel Protection" and there is absolutely nothing "light" about them.
fwcofficer
New member
I would like to try full power .357 Mag loads, what should I be looking for. I want the most recoil I can feel out of a .357 mag.
Either handload your own or get with Double Tap or Buffalo Bore. Double Tap's 158gr load at over 1400fps from a 4" barrel will definitely let you feel some recoil. This load does well over 1500fps from 6"+ barrels. Doesn't cost any more than the average Winchester stuff found at your local gun-shop either.
