.357 snubbie: Ammo for each season?

B

Biff Tannen

New member
I carry a .357 snubbie for SD...
For the most part, I've read that JHP are the way to go, but grain and brand should pend on the seasons when people might be wearing more or less layers, leather or puffy jackets, or just tee shirts, etc...
QUESTION: What ammo (grain, brand, etc.) do you all recommend for each season?
Thank you much, any insights or comments are much appreciated!!
 
I like Gold Dots in just about every caliber. They make .357 in both 125 and 158 grain. I like the 125s. You could carry them year round without fear.

In the winter, if you worry about hollowpoints clogging up, you could try Hornady's Critical Defense line. They seem to do very well in independent ballistic tests.
 
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For years I have used Fed/Win 125gr JHP. The Rem had too much blast from the short bbl. More often than not, I load up with some old LE 110gr +P+ .38 spec as they are more controllable.
 
I forgot to mention that Gold Dot has 135 grain specifically for short barreled guns like snubbies. The bullet is designed to expand at the lower velocities experienced with shorter barrels.
 
what are your seasons?

seriously, to contemplate a specific round for each "season" you need to address the seasons you live in, and the variations inside each season.

ive been to chicago in mid summer, most people were still wearing fall clothing.

if summer clothing is the same tshirt and shorts they wear in summer, but simply add a windbreaker for fall, and long pants for winter, then there is no real concern.

but if fall and winter clothing is 2 flannel shirts, and a heavy insulated coat then you really have to worry more about penetration.
 
I carry mine with Cor-Bon or Buffalo Bore 125 grain JHP.

Even with a full set of winter clothing and an extra set of clothing under neath these rounds will still have enough penetration to kill even in the worst case (so long as you do your part)
 
Personally, I don't like carrying .357 ammo in my short barrel .357 but that's me. Thought I'd share this too:

Best Ammo for Self Defense

Speer Gold Dot 135gr +P (53921), specially designed for snubnose guns. More information from Doctor Roberts: "With few exceptions, such as the Speer 135 gr +P JHP and Barnes XPB, the vast majority of .38 Sp JHP's fail to expand when fired from 2" barrels in the 4 layer denim test. [...] There is no reason to go with .357 mag in a J-frame, as the significantly larger muzzle blast and flash, and harsher recoil of the .357 Magnum does not result in substantially improved terminal performance compared to the more controllable .38 Special bullets when fired from 2” barrels."
Click to expand...

I use the GD 38spl 135gr +P JHP ammo in my S&W 640-1 .357 (2" barrel). It does well for me and should get the job done. Good luck in your decision.
 
I use Remington 158grn SJHP year-round. The soft, exposed lead tip of these loadings seem to promote expansion even through clothing and intermediate barriers and the extra weight provides more than ample penetration. Also, loadings with the heavier 140-158grn bullets don't typically have as severe flash and blast as the lighter weight alternatives and they tend to lose less velocity from short barrels than their lighter counterparts.
 
I prefer Gold Dots in all my carry guns. Pick a SD ammo you like and feel confident in and you are all set. I don't feel there is any need to change ammo depending on the season.
 
One of the advantages of .357 is that you have to work pretty hard not to get a pretty decent defense round out of any hollow point and for most times of the year (light or heavy clothing).

In other calibers, I also pick loads that work year round. Some calibers, you have to do a little more work finding ammo that works year round but it's usually possible.
 
I use 125gr Barnes XPB's in my 2.25in sp101and 140gr XPB's in my 4in 357's. I dont load them too hot, moderate loads will get the job done in about any situation. They run about 1200fps outa the snubby and about 1330fps outa the 4in. All year 365.
 
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Just pick one good JHP load and PRACTICE.

Shot placement is stopping power. Even a good +p+ .38 load will do fine if you shoot strait. And since we are talking revolvers you all know spray-n-pray don't work with wheelguns.

Deaf
 
At any given time it may be required that I be able to punch through Grundens and Carhartts. I'm confident that my year-round 180gr Gold Dots are up to the task.
 
LOL, there's never a shortage of opinions, huh?

You didn't say what kind of snubbie you carry. Full power .357 ammo thru, say, and Airlite or Ti has been known to make experienced shooters wince and refuse to finish one cylinder.


In any event, no one has mentioned CorBon's 125 gr. DPX in .357. It's a reduced velocity load that chrono's at 1300 fps from my 3" M66 (almost a snubbie) and is easily managed in that gun. DPX expands reliably thru the heaviest clothing and penetrates well. Even in the .38 Spl load. The .357 should work just fine.:cool:
 
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