.357 Mag ammunition

If I was going on a LONG backpacking trip and wanted a selection of ammo, here's what I'd carry if I had 100rds total. NOTE: sights are dialed in perfect for 158gr at 25yds.

10: CCI 38Spl snakeshot - this is your close-range small game-getter for emergencies. They're very light (aluminum case, low total projectile weight) so a flat-pack of 10 as they normally come would be a natural. Good for snakes (of course) but you can probably sneak in range of a squirrel, small bird, etc.

18 (three speed strips/loaders worth): any good 148gr target wadcutter load. This is your super-accurate small-game-getter for stuff bigger than the snakeshot can handle. Call it "woodchuck size"...up through 20 to 30lbs of critter if needed.

36: Buffalo Bore 158gr JHPs based on the Gold Dot slug. Some have mentioned that a lot of 158s may not go fast enough to expand. With Buffalo Bore, this is just NOT the case. Most versatile single round available - superb manstopper, superb for cross-shots on deer. Second choice: basically the same thing by DoubleTap Ammo.

36: Buffalo Bore's 180gr hardcast: this is a primary hunting round - fast, potent, best pig-or-black-bear load in 357 available, period, end of discussion. Second choices: similar loads from Grizzly Ammo or Doubletap, Cor-Bon if you can't get those.

I'd carry loaded with either the 180s or the 158s depending on the likely threat. If the dreaded "two legged rattlesnake" was the most plausible, the 158s, esp. if I'm anywhere near a drug-smuggling corridor or if there'd been pot plantations spotted anywhere near.

In urban areas the better grades of 125gr 357 JHP by Remington, Speer, Cor-Bon, DoubleTap or Buffalo Bore make a lot of sense. They lack both the long-range accuracy and penetration I'd prefer out in the woods.

My daily carry urban loadout these days is six rounds of DoubleTap 125gr Gold Dot full house 357 in the gun, six rounds of Remington 125gr full house 357 as my first available speed strip, six rounds of Speer brand 135gr Gold Dot 38+P available on my second speed strip that I can switch to if I'm going to be in a VERY bystander-dense environment. (My speed strips are mounted such that they have to come out in sequence.)

I carry my one centerfire gun, a full-sized 357 revolver, daily without fail on my AZ CCW permit - I live in Tucson these days.
 
Hiking the WA Cascades, I carry the following:

2 HKS speedloaders filled with Hornady 140geXTP and two more filled with
Federal 180gr Hot-cast lead.

Never had to fire, but have executed "strategic" retreats.

Its their woods, I'm just visiting.
 
Hello blume357,,,

That's not a bad idea at all,,,
I've actually been considering a .357 rifle,,,
Not for that specific reason but it's a good justification. :D

My personal tastes lean more towards single-shot rifles rather than repeaters,,,
There is an H&R Synthetic Handi-Rifle at the Evil Pawn Shop I haunt,,,
Cosmetically the rifle is a pretty beat up specimen,,,
He has offered to let me take it to the range,,,
This might be the excuse I need to do it,,,
I think he'll let me have it for $125.

Thanks for the good rationalization idea,,,
As if I really need an excuse to buy another gun. ;)

.
 
blume357

the solution is to buy a lever action 357... that 125gr ammo will shoot fine in it.
Click to expand...
With the higher velocities possible in a 357 rifle, a 158grn (and heavier) bullet is a much better choice than the 125grn because:

1) a heavier bullet has more momentum down range and thus penetrates better.

2) it's higher BC allows it to maintain it's velocity and resist wind drift better at longer ranges.
 
Hello COSteve,,,

I think blume357 was referring to the nasty recoil I experience when using it in my revolver,,,
The ammunition I bought would shoot very pleasantly from any rifle.

.
 
Different strokes for different folks.

My Marlin 1894C is not as accurate with 125 grain bullets, as with 158, 170, or 180 grain. I load a lot of 158 grain SJSP for general shooting, but have gone to 170 grain Speer bullets for when I go into the 'outback'. I'd rather have the heavier bullet if I run into a hog, deer, or black bear. It might be overkill for coyote, or other varments, but I find it accurate in my revolvers, Desert Eagle and lever gun.
 
I have to agree that a 125 grain in a carbine is inefficient. You can drive the 158 to almost that same velocity in a rifle, and you will gain effectiveness/penetration because of the increased sectional density and weight.

It's not an issue that the 125 grain will not perform at carbine speeds, the issue is that a 125 grain just isn't as good as a 158 will be at that speed. If you have the power available, utilize it firing a heavier bullet.

My current loads in my carbine when stored for home defense are 125 grain HP, the same I use in my handguns. I've never bothered getting 158s that were dedicated to that rifle alone, but I SHOULD. It's the smartest thing.
 
mass and bullet characterisitics

with equal energies would a 125g+.357mag be more likely to not penetrate as well as the 158g+.357mag??

with equal energies does the greater mass of the 158g make it more likley to stay on course, so to speak???
 
I use federal 125gr JHP otherwise known as 357b. Actually just got back from the range and shot a couple cylinders full from my model 60 and shot some of the best groupings of my life. It was just one of those days.
 
Are you looking for bullet, or cartridge ? I like 158 grain Gold Dot Hollow Point bullets, and Winchester 180 grain Partition Gold for cartridges.
 
How do I feel?,,,

How do you guys feel about corbon 110 gr jhp as an SD round?
Click to expand...

They hurt my poor widdle hands in a small revolver,,,
I say that jokingly but it's true.

I inherited a box of 20 rounds,,,
I shot a few out of a borrowed Model 13,,,
The only thing I can definitely say about them was OUCH!

I can shoot them out of my big Colt Trooper with no problem at all,,,
I kept ten rounds in my ammo shelf just to say I own some.

.
 
I do not care for 110 grain bullets in the .357 magnum. The high velocity, big flash often results in some flame cutting in revolvers. The extra high velocity from a carbine might just exceed the design parameters of the bullet and it 'shatters', limiting penetration. My Marlin does best with 145 - 180 grain ammunition. 158 grain I consider the 'Bread & butter' of the Marlin .357 magnum lever gun, and 240 grain the same for the .44 magnum Marlin lever gun.
 
  • W-W 145gr Silvertip
  • W-W 180gr Partition Supreme ◄ excellent all-around choice
  • R-P 165gr Core-Lokt ◄ discontinued?
  • R-P 180gr SJHP
  • Federal 140gr Vital-Shok (Barnes' XPB bullet)
  • Federal 180gr Cast-Core
  • Federal 158gr Fusion
  • Federal 158gr Hydra-Shok
  • Speer 125gr & 158gr Gold Dot
  • Hornady 140gr & 158gr XTP
  • Hornady 140gr LevrEvolution
 
Heavier bullets are definitely easier to shoot. At least in my opinion. And with today's ammunition capable of taking 158 grains anywhere from 1250-1500 fps, why would I ever want to use a 110-125 grain bullet? So I can impress people at the range with the noise/flash?

The 357mag revolver is by far the MOST VERSATILE pistol of ANY caliber. There isn't another one that can compare. You can get really light rounds with the energy and velocity of a 380acp. You can use the whole line of 38spl. You can shoot loads equal to the 9mm, 40sw, 45acp, 10mm, and full loads equally that close to a 41 magnum. While the 357mag pistol is probably the most versatile, that doesn't mean that every weapon is that versatile.

I.e. I don't shoot 180-200 grain rounds out of my S&W model 13. However, I LOVE shooting those rounds out of my Winchester model 94. I also like to shoot the 125 grains out of the same rifle for smaller game. I also stick with the 110-125 grains for the 38spl ammo I use. With less powder, basically, I prefer the lighter bullet to make up with some velocity. So, basically:

100-125 grains: 38spl for pistol or 357 magnum for rifle (Small Game)
140-158 grains: 357 magnum pistol (Self Defense)
180-200 grains: 357 magnum rifle (Deer size Game)

NOTE: For plinking, I use pretty much whatever is cheap, on sale, or that I have sitting around. Normally plenty of 38spl from 110-158 grain.

No one is saying that anyone has to shoot a particular ammo. That's totally up to the individual. I just really love the 158 grain 357 magnum for self defense. That's what the pistol was designed around. Not that it can't shoot "Faster and Lighter" bullets...... BUT WHY????? So, a 125 grain bullet goes about 150-200 fps faster, but it's about the same amount of initial energy because it's lighter. 1250+ fps is fast enough for a 158 grain bullet to expand, so the 125 grain doesn't improve in that area. The 125, because it's lighter, will slow down quicker and not penetrate as far. Sorry, but I just don't see the advantage of a 125 grain 357 mag over a 158 grain. Yea, it's louder, it flashes more, and it stings your hand,,,,,, are those the POSITIVES??? Maybe 30-40 years ago the 158 grain bullet was too slow to expand, but the average 158 grain today is running 1240-1250 fps. That is plenty fast enough to expand. I prefer using the 158 in 357 magnum. Easier to shoot. Penetrates better. Expands well. And better accuracy. Again, just my opinion and my personal experiences.
 
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