.38 or .357

3" SP101

125gr Speer Gold Dot Max charge .38+P 955fps

125gr Speer GOld DOt Max charge .357 1367fps

So with my handloads the mag gains 412fps seems like a lot to me.

That said .38's kill just fine and it's what I carry unless I'm in the woods.
 
"Shoot .38s, load with .357 for carry. "

This was a normal practice for the California Highway Patrol as well as other departments in the early 1970s. That is until the Newhall Incident. That night 4 CHP officers were killed in less than 10 minutes because they were unable to hit the suspects. The officers also had a difficult time reloading. One of the killers stated about one officer, "He got sloppy so I wasted him". Due to this incident CHP mandated officers carry 38 Special ammo as well as many other changes. This is one incident that lead to the police training known as Officer Survival. If you carry 357 ammo, shoot 357 ammo for practice. My wife has my 2 1/2" S&W 66 and uses 125 gr. SJHP 38 Special +P. My 3" 65 uses the same ammo. My heavier 357s are loaded with the same load except in a magnum load. For your 19 I would use a high quality 38 Special load that is easily controled for repeat shots.
 
Consider both. I've loaded my 66 with 38 for the first 2 shots followed by 4 chambers of 357. Make sure you practice shooting that way though so that the difference in blast/recoil doesn't come as a surprise. It was mentioned that 38's kill just fine and I suppose they do, just keep in mind that in a defensive shooting, killing is not your goal, it is of no interest. Stopping the idiot is the goal.
 
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3" SP101

125gr Speer Gold Dot Max charge .38+P 955fps

125gr Speer GOld DOt Max charge .357 1367fps

So with my handloads the mag gains 412fps seems like a lot to me.

That said .38's kill just fine and it's what I carry unless I'm in the woods.
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Care to tell us what powder and charge that is? Inquiring minds want to know.

Also, the 3"=/="snubnose" ....
 
You should seriously edit your question.
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Espcially considering that "constipating weather" (too cold/hot to make a visit to the backhouse) is a non-issue for most of us, what with indoor plumbing and modern heating and cooling ......
 
What are your thoughts?
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I think the S&W k-frames are outstanding revolvers. In my 357s, I normally stoke them with 38+P FBI loads, which should be adequate for any use short of big game hunting.
 
I own J frames, K frames, L frames, and N frames. I love the L and if all I ever wanted to do is shoot 357's then that is the frame I'd use however the K will stand up okay for "occasional use" and it is noticeably lighter and easier to carry.
I think I read that a 357 has an 3 second incapacitation time- one of the best- but still 3 seconds.
On the practice- I fully agree, practice with what you are going to carry for self defense.
 
Good choices for +P rated, steel-frame, 2"-3" barrel, .38 Special snub-nose revolvers are:

- Federal Premium 125 grain Nyclad HP (P38MA)
My preferred 2" barrel snub-nose revolver load
(a.k.a. the "Chief's Special" load.

- Federal 129 grain +P Hydra-shok JHP (P38HS1)

- Remington 125 grain +P Golden Saber HPJ (GS38SB)

- Cor-Bon 110 grain +P JHP - I would recommend this
high-pressure load only for the sturdy (and heavy)
Ruger SP101 snub-nose .38 or a .357 Magnum revolver.

SEE: http://www.chuckhawks.com/ammo_by_anonymous.htm
 
The lightweight or shortie 357s are manageable if reloaded to less than magnum velocities and with non-magnum powders...something on the order of a notch above .38 Special +p. I am currently working with 5.0 gr HP-38/W231) that will be used in my Ruger SP101 3" and my new SW60 Pro Series, both 5 shot, smallish guns that act pretty rude with full up magnums.

I am coming off SR4756, with which I just couldn't find a way to get full ignition and anything but a "dirty" evaluation..
 
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Care to tell us what powder and charge that is? Inquiring minds want to know.
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OK Jim. These aren't over max loadings but they are at max so I'll post the caution anyway.

CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond or not covered by currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The Firing Line, nor the staff of TFL assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.
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The Magnum 125 load uses 21.6gr of H110. This cartridge is a beast and I killed a doe with it last fall in my 77/357 carbine. Full passthrough with devistated internals. Out of my 6" GP100 it makes 1647fps and out of the rifle 2227fps.

The .38 125 load I used 8.0gr of HS6. Out of my 1.87" S&W 642 it goes 911fps. Out of the 6" it goes 1036fps.

If you want my full spreadsheet PM me your email and I'd be happy to send it your way.
 
21.6 gr of H110?

Speer 13 listed a max of 20.0 ...... and got 1282 f/sec with it in a 6" model 19.

It's your gun ..... load it like you want.
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Hodgdon lists the max as 22.0 for a 125xtp. The speeds I listed were from my own chronograph.

I'm currently bumping it up a little to 21.8 with great results. My guns are in great condition and I have no pressure signs in the GP or my rifle. Thanks for your consern though. :D

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol
 
The more loading manuals you have the more variation you will find in the load data. One example is old the Hornady hand book Vol.II, it lists 38spl loads at up to 1300fps with a 110 hp out of a 6" Model 14 Smith! The point is if you work up your load carefully you will know what works in your gun.
 
I carry a 640 Jframe. I shoot the softer loaded Remington 110 grain 357 magnums. They are better than 38+p and the recoil is not bad in the 640.
 
I have some 357 mag snubbies that I consider 38 +P revolvers...

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Rossi 357 Mag ..Six shot 3 inch barrel

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Charter 5 shot 2.2 inch barrel

And i have some others that I carry 357 mag in...
 
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