.357 Gold Dot 158 gr in Snubby?

T

The_Shootist

New member
Right now I'm carrying the FBI load in my 3" SP 101 .357. However, I had heard that the above ammo had a good rep out of snubby size guns and was a "medium" .357 load and probably realistically controllable out of a snubby size revolver. The fact that it was 158 gr means it will likley shoot to point of aim in my Ruger.

Anybody want to issue any pros/cons? I've heard pretty firm thumbs down from various sources about using .357 ammo in snubby type guns (ie wast of power, large muzzle blast, loss of velocity, uncontrollable...etc...etc) so I'd be interested in hearing what members here think.

Or maybe I should wait until Speer starts shipping the new 135 gr in .38 spl+P
:D
 
I personally prefer a lighter bullet in my pre-agreement Smith & Wesson model 60, but there's no reason not to use rounds with heavier bullets.

Recoil is noticeable, but by no means painful or uncontrollable.
 
The 158 Gold Dot is a great bullet, but is designed to function at 357 velocities--which have 1100 or so as a ground floor. Only a chronograph will tell you if you can get that kind of speed out of your particular snubby. With a three inch barrel, you might well be able to do it. If not, then you'll need to use a slightly lighter projectile, if you want to use a JHP.

If you want a good heavy-bullet round for your snub, just hold you breath until Buffalo Bore releases their version of the .38+p FBI load this summer, with a gas-checked LSWCHP and some kind of pixie dust allowing it to get better than a thousand feet per second out of a snub. That'd be a fine load--just an improved (if rather shockingly pricey) version of what you're running now.

As far as concern about shooting 357s in a 'snub', you should be aware that your gun hardly qualifies for concern. My 'snub' weighs 12.5 ounces; yours weighs (acc. to Ruger) 27 ounces--nearly as much as my 'mid-sized' K-frame. You can shoot 357s all day long from that little beast. In fact, a nice mid-range load you might try is the Winchester Silvertip in 145 grs. There's also the popular Golden Sabre 125 gr 357. You've got a sturdy gun and should take advantage of it; You've got nothing to worry about.
 
and some kind of pixie dust
Click to expand...
I'm thinking that pixie dust is spelled Lil'Gun.

This is from Hodgdon's website:
Note *
Data is for the 158 gr .357 magnum not .38 spl.
H110 16.7 1591 40,700 CUP
LIL'GUN 18.0 1577 25,800 CUP

Remarkable stuff that powder. True .357magnum velocity @ roughly 40% less pressure. I can see where true 1000 fps velociteis are 100% possible @ .38+p levels in a snubbie.
 
Speer, Georgia Arms and Proload all claim to be driving 158 Gold Dots at 1,250fps from a 4" tube, and both Speer and GA are generally pretty credible about such matters. Dunno the Black Hills claimed numbers offhand.

If they're pulling 1,250 from a 4", I'd say the same round from a 3" oughta be OK at least out to 50 yards. The "floor" is 1,100 with that load and you want at least 50fps on top of that for "murphy factor". With a 2" tube I'd be nervous...3", as long as the gap isn't crazy and the gun is unported, *should* be just fine. And they won't beat a K-Frame up very badly. Should be controllable enough in a 3" SP101.

Given how shockingly good the 10mm Gold Dot 155 has been performing at just a wee bit more speed, I have a sneaking suspicion these Gold Dot 158 357s are a "sleeper", under-rated compared to the 125s and possessing more of a "deep punch" while still expanding.

I've been watching this round for some time. I suspect it's a real contender.
 
Isn't the GDHP what Buffalo Bore loads? They've got some smoking numbers . . . check out their site or sixgunner.com's handguns board for chrono info. It's a nice round.
 
One thing about using Gold Dots..................as I experimented with loads in my 2" Rossi & 4" Security Six, I found that accuracy with 158gr Gold Dots decreases as speed (powder load) increases. Actually, they fly pretty well using LSWC load data.

SO beware the high numbers that might get published with factory loads. If they ARE that hot, expect sub-standard accuracy; and if they're accurate, be suspect of the published velocity numbers.

BTW - I had the same experience loading 60gr .32ACP Gold Dots and I'm just heading to the range this week with some 200gr .45acp "Dots" to test the same theory.
 
I carry the 158gr Gold Dots (albeit in the form of Georgia Arms "Deer Stoppers") in my 3" 627. The thump is noticeable, but controllable.
 
Gold Dot in 158gr .357

Thanks for all the responses! I ordered 4 boxes of 20 rds each from Cheaperthandirt.com and now am eagerly waiting to try them out :D

Its kinda pricey at $ 11.50 per box of 20, but this is a premium round that I don't plan on plinking at the range with - more like shooting 60-70 to get a feel for the point of aim/controllability out of my SP101.

Thats the nice thing about a revolver - unlike having to fire 200 rounds through a semi to see if it feeds right etc, for self-defense purposes you'll know with a revolver probably faster if a particular brand is ok. Then after that, a couple of boxes every 3-4 weeks to keep your hand in.
 
[Jim March]"I have a sneaking suspicion these Gold Dot 158 357s are a "sleeper", under-rated compared to the 125s and possessing more of a "deep punch" while still expanding."

... I have the same hunch, although it's been so long since I browsed new .357 ammo I wasn't aware of their existance til a month ago. But on seeing them on a shelf I bought them straight away.
 
<nods>

My only concern is whether they'll go fast enough out of a 2" barrel. Chrony results will tell the tale - you want 1,150fps, as the "floor" on these is 1,100 for expansion and you want some "Murphy factor" past that.

They should be OK in a 3", and should rock in a 4"/5"/6".
 
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