Best .357 carry ammo? (Snubbie)
- Thread starter EvilE
- Start date
Kreyzhorse
New member
Bingo.
Recoil can be harsh in a snub firing .357 rounds. .38 are a much better option in my opinion.
The .38 Special +P ammo advice is the way I'd go.
I USED to own a 2.5" Model 66. Shooting .357 Mag ammo out of it was unwieldy. Recoil made sight picture retention difficult at best. Shooting it at night, muzzle flash could be seen by space shuttle astronauts. Again, sight picture retention was difficult due to muzzle flash that screwed with night vision. And I'd of hated to shoot in in a confined space because the muzzle blast was disorienting. Finally, there ain't a whole lot of gain of a .357 Mag round over a .38 Special +P out of a 2.5" barrel.
I'd go with 158 grain LSWCHP .38 Special +P rounds. But mileage will vary.
I USED to own a 2.5" Model 66. Shooting .357 Mag ammo out of it was unwieldy. Recoil made sight picture retention difficult at best. Shooting it at night, muzzle flash could be seen by space shuttle astronauts. Again, sight picture retention was difficult due to muzzle flash that screwed with night vision. And I'd of hated to shoot in in a confined space because the muzzle blast was disorienting. Finally, there ain't a whole lot of gain of a .357 Mag round over a .38 Special +P out of a 2.5" barrel.
I'd go with 158 grain LSWCHP .38 Special +P rounds. But mileage will vary.
BTW, there ain't no such thing as a man stopper in a tactical firearm.
A friend shot a very bad guy with 6 "man stopper" rounds in his 10 ring with his duty revolver. The bad guy didn't flinch. A single 870 round made the bad guy property of the coroner.
Man stopper is a gun magazine term. Gun magazines are entertainment. They are not professional journals.
A friend shot a very bad guy with 6 "man stopper" rounds in his 10 ring with his duty revolver. The bad guy didn't flinch. A single 870 round made the bad guy property of the coroner.
Man stopper is a gun magazine term. Gun magazines are entertainment. They are not professional journals.
Considering they are all pistol rounds and that is what it is.........that being said isn't the 125 Grain .357 Maggie pretty much the round most other self defense pistol rounds are measured against. Pretty much top of the statistical heap. (Lies, damned lies and statistics notwithstanding) 
Deaf Smith
New member
Yes it is but.... when you try to use it out of a small lighter weight snub .357 it borders on uncontrollability and that makes it very hard to make effective hits on the target.
See you can make a 20mm handgun to that is 99.999 percent effective but the blast, recoil, size, etc... would make it useless.
The 125gr .357 magnum load is near the top of the whole heap but only in such guns one can control. Best used in such guns as the S&W N and L frames and Colt Python size guns with at least 3 1/2 barrel.
K and J frame subs or even the Ruger SP101 make it hard to use.
Deaf
Honestly, there are really very few bad choices in a .357 Magnum hollowpoint. I personally prefer loadings with heavier bullets like Remington 158gr "High Terminal Performance" SJHP, Winchester 145gr Silvertip, or Cor-Bon 140gr JHP because their flash and blast seems noticeably less, they shoot closer to POA in most fixed-sight revolvers, and they're easier on the forcing cones of my S&W K-Frames. That being said, a good 125gr JHP is certainly nothing to sneeze at and I would feel very well armed with one if my preferred heavy-bullet loadings were not available.
I personally use the Hornaday .357mag 125gr FTX Critical Duty, its the only 357 round I can manage well from my snubbie. I have tried several of the full power 150+gr loads and personally cannot comfortably shoot them. I really like the 125gr, the recoil is light and they shoot straight, but really your just getting the same ballistic performance as a 9mm if your using a snubbie.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/24...magnum-125-grain-flex-tip-expanding-box-of-25
if you can handle the heavyweight 357s, then by all means, they would be a better choice
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/24...magnum-125-grain-flex-tip-expanding-box-of-25
if you can handle the heavyweight 357s, then by all means, they would be a better choice
Thank you Waterman, for clarifying my post earlier to Old Bear. As you point out, I didn't say a heavy 357 would not stop a man.
I said it would not stop IN a man most of the time
Also I should make a point To Old Bear for edification.
Dillinger was not killed with a 357 mag.
He was killed in 1934 and the 357 didn't come out until 1935.
Dillinger was shot with several guns, but the killing shot was a hit in the back of the neck that exited under his right eye. It was fired from a Colt 38 Special which sold for a LOT of money years later at auction.
I said it would not stop IN a man most of the time
Also I should make a point To Old Bear for edification.
Dillinger was not killed with a 357 mag.
He was killed in 1934 and the 357 didn't come out until 1935.
Dillinger was shot with several guns, but the killing shot was a hit in the back of the neck that exited under his right eye. It was fired from a Colt 38 Special which sold for a LOT of money years later at auction.
Yep and its a pretty save bet that the round was the standard round nose lead that everyone likes to call the "Widowmaker".
I stopped worrying about SD bullet shapes and if they were hollow points or not many years ago. Just a well placed shot with enough energy for sufficient penetration does it for me.
I pretty much use LSWC hollow points loaded to about 1000fps from a 4" barrel. Mainly because I have a bunch of them. I also carry SWC lead because I have a bunch of those.
My uncle was a Ft. Worth cop and killed one man on duty. This was about 1967 and the load was the issued 158gr round nose lead. One shot did the deed. The round nose lead worked pretty well for Jack Ruby too.
I stopped worrying about SD bullet shapes and if they were hollow points or not many years ago. Just a well placed shot with enough energy for sufficient penetration does it for me.
I pretty much use LSWC hollow points loaded to about 1000fps from a 4" barrel. Mainly because I have a bunch of them. I also carry SWC lead because I have a bunch of those.
My uncle was a Ft. Worth cop and killed one man on duty. This was about 1967 and the load was the issued 158gr round nose lead. One shot did the deed. The round nose lead worked pretty well for Jack Ruby too.
Super Sneaky Steve
New member
I carry cast wadcutters. Check your Lee reloading book and they have a magnum full wadcutter load using Bullseye powder.
With a 3" barrel I was able to get 1090fps 400ft/lbs. My cast WC's weigh 152 grain.
Cast them soft and they will expand, but never fragment and will never fail or clog like a HP. Cast them hard can you'll cut and crush flesh creating a full pass through high blood loss wound on both ends.
The only downside is fast reloading. If you carry a speedloader, use a tapered bullet.
With a 3" barrel I was able to get 1090fps 400ft/lbs. My cast WC's weigh 152 grain.
Cast them soft and they will expand, but never fragment and will never fail or clog like a HP. Cast them hard can you'll cut and crush flesh creating a full pass through high blood loss wound on both ends.
The only downside is fast reloading. If you carry a speedloader, use a tapered bullet.
I've read articles (including ones on this forum) about hornaday critical defense .357 "bad lots". I sure hope this was in the past and not a recent thing considering I just bought these!
http://thefiringline.com/forums/archive/index.php?t-460366.html
http://thefiringline.com/forums/archive/index.php?t-460366.html
well no offense at all but wonder bullets arent always the best choice, by cost and availability.
Ive seen one 357 magnum 125 grain jhp wonder load touted alot, but when i went to the makers website, it was doing about 325 fpe in a 2 inch barrel. and the standard remington 125 grain sjhp in 38 +p does 200+fpe in the same barrel. so cost and recoil kick things in question for me.
Ive seen one 357 magnum 125 grain jhp wonder load touted alot, but when i went to the makers website, it was doing about 325 fpe in a 2 inch barrel. and the standard remington 125 grain sjhp in 38 +p does 200+fpe in the same barrel. so cost and recoil kick things in question for me.
Congratulations on the SP101.
Outstanding gun!
I like to load with the 125 grn full power hollow points. I use Speer, Federal, Remington and the Hornady.
Here is a youtube video of the Hornady. And, he has tested the Speer GDHP in 125 grn too. Good stuff Manor!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTWFbuzX-l8
Golden Sabers are not full power loads. They are like a mid power load.
Hard to beat any 357 in 125 grn or any weight really.
Outstanding gun!
I like to load with the 125 grn full power hollow points. I use Speer, Federal, Remington and the Hornady.
Here is a youtube video of the Hornady. And, he has tested the Speer GDHP in 125 grn too. Good stuff Manor!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTWFbuzX-l8
Golden Sabers are not full power loads. They are like a mid power load.
Hard to beat any 357 in 125 grn or any weight really.
Last edited:
Doc Holliday 1950
New member
best ammo for me
I carry 2 revolvers. The one for this article is for my Rossi 2" 357 mag. I use both Remington 357 mg 125 grain HP( 357m1). and Hornady critical defense 357 mag 125 gr. HP( the Pink Stuff). They don't kill my hands and they are definitely "lights out" ammo. Maybe all those years taking Piano lessons and playing have toughen up my hands. Hope this helps. The other thing is my revolvers all are steel not poly frames. This makes a very big difference at least for me.
I carry 2 revolvers. The one for this article is for my Rossi 2" 357 mag. I use both Remington 357 mg 125 grain HP( 357m1). and Hornady critical defense 357 mag 125 gr. HP( the Pink Stuff). They don't kill my hands and they are definitely "lights out" ammo. Maybe all those years taking Piano lessons and playing have toughen up my hands. Hope this helps. The other thing is my revolvers all are steel not poly frames. This makes a very big difference at least for me.