Mastrogiacomo
New member
My DAO can take either the .38 or the magnum. Which is the better caliber and grain to use in my little tank?
Best defense load for the SP?
- Thread starter Mastrogiacomo
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CarbineCaleb
New member
Well, some of this depends on the shooter of course... in the .38, I think the 135 gr Speer Gold Dot +P Short Barrel.
In the .357 Mag, I think the Winchester 145gr Silvertip, or the new 135 gr Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel (not yet available yet for the .357). That comes in just about equivalent to a 9mm round in terms of bullet diameter, weight, velocity.
In the .357 Mag, I think the Winchester 145gr Silvertip, or the new 135 gr Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel (not yet available yet for the .357). That comes in just about equivalent to a 9mm round in terms of bullet diameter, weight, velocity.
Jim Watson
New member
Try a variety.
The biggest load you can fire it empty without having to shift your grip back in place.
The biggest load you can fire it empty without having to shift your grip back in place.
CarbineCaleb
New member
I haven't heard any reports on how this Corbon bullet performs when setup this way. From the numbers at least, it sounds pretty mainstream (good).
Sorry to hijack this thread, but it may be of interest to all involved....
What about the Federal 129-grain 38+p hydrashock? It seems like a pretty enthusiastic round coming out of the SP, and is easy to shoot as well.
I'm looking forward to trying the short-barrel ammo, both the .38 and the .357.
~Ichiro
What about the Federal 129-grain 38+p hydrashock? It seems like a pretty enthusiastic round coming out of the SP, and is easy to shoot as well.
I'm looking forward to trying the short-barrel ammo, both the .38 and the .357.
~Ichiro
Mastrogiacomo
New member
I'd be willing to entertain any good load that's effective and allows me to shoot accurately without too much recoil or muzzle blast to blind me. I know the SP could handle anything really but I'd like the load that's most controlable.
WillBrayjr
Moderator
Try Hornady's 38spl 158gr XTP load. While not +P load the XTP does penetrate deep while expanding.
S&W 640 2-Inch
Buff Bore 158 +P LHP 1042 FPS 380 ft/lbs Energy
Buff Bore 125 +P JHP 1085 FPS 326 ft/lbs Energy
Speer SB 135 +P Dot JHP 895 FPS 240 ft/lbs Energy
Horn 158 XTP JHP 716 FPS 179 ft/lbs Energy
Horn 125 XTP JHP 782 FPS 169 ft/lbs Energy
Ruger GP100 3-Inch
Buff Bore 158 +P LHP 1129 FPS 447 ft/lbs Energy
Buff Bore 125 +P JHP 1180 FPS 386 ft/lbs Energy
Speer SB 135 +P Dot JHP 982 FPS 289 ft/lbs Energy
Horn 158 XTP JHP 766 FPS 205 ft/lbs Energy
Horn 125 XTP JHP 855 FPS 202 ft/lbs Energy
Average of five shots, Oehler Model 35 Chrono, readings taken 10 feet from muzzle.
The Buffalo Bore lead 158 HP uses a gas check, the 125 JHP is a Speer Gold Dot. The Speer SB 135 Dot is designed specifically for that load, deeper & wider cavity.
Recoil in the +Ps is marked, but bearable even in the little 640. Differences in energy are interesting.
Denis
Buff Bore 158 +P LHP 1042 FPS 380 ft/lbs Energy
Buff Bore 125 +P JHP 1085 FPS 326 ft/lbs Energy
Speer SB 135 +P Dot JHP 895 FPS 240 ft/lbs Energy
Horn 158 XTP JHP 716 FPS 179 ft/lbs Energy
Horn 125 XTP JHP 782 FPS 169 ft/lbs Energy
Ruger GP100 3-Inch
Buff Bore 158 +P LHP 1129 FPS 447 ft/lbs Energy
Buff Bore 125 +P JHP 1180 FPS 386 ft/lbs Energy
Speer SB 135 +P Dot JHP 982 FPS 289 ft/lbs Energy
Horn 158 XTP JHP 766 FPS 205 ft/lbs Energy
Horn 125 XTP JHP 855 FPS 202 ft/lbs Energy
Average of five shots, Oehler Model 35 Chrono, readings taken 10 feet from muzzle.
The Buffalo Bore lead 158 HP uses a gas check, the 125 JHP is a Speer Gold Dot. The Speer SB 135 Dot is designed specifically for that load, deeper & wider cavity.
Recoil in the +Ps is marked, but bearable even in the little 640. Differences in energy are interesting.
Denis
CarbineCaleb
New member
I think you want the Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel - .38 Special +P right now, and .357 Magnum when that comes out later this year (it's a reduced power .357 load, similar to 9mm). Speer has excellent bullet performance, accuracy, reliability, and they tune each bullet to the exact load they use. They use low flash powders. Based on gelatin testing, I don't think there are better defense loads out there than the Speer Gold Dot. While not cheap, they are not any more expensive than any other premium loads are, and cheaper than the boutique houses, like Buffalo Bore.
If you practice with less expensive ammo, and just keep a speedloader or two of this stuff for nightstand/carry, won't be too tough on wallet. You can even use speedloader in reverse to put them back in if you go to the range and want to practice with the range ammo.
In a .38 load, the FBI load (158 SWCHP +P) has been my choice for years. Judging from what I know of Tim Sundles and his ammuniton, the Buffalo Bore version would be a top choice. Denis did a good deed by posting the actual ballistics of the BB load from short barrels, and they are impressive. Expect it to kick a little.
I still carry the Federal 125 grain magnum hollow-point in my .357's Mags.
Both loads are well-established and combat proven. I have, and would still, bet my life on either of them.
I still carry the Federal 125 grain magnum hollow-point in my .357's Mags.
Both loads are well-established and combat proven. I have, and would still, bet my life on either of them.
Mastrogiacomo
New member
Appreciate the advice, so I'll have to swing by the gunshop soon and check it out. I have been practicing with .38s a lot but that's largely for my father's hands, which are sometimes puffy with pain - although the recent gas hike doesn't help so yes, its for money too. Looking foward to trying magnums through this gun soon though...thanks again. 
I've been practicing exclusively with 38s in my two Magnum revolvers: SP-101 and GP-100, but my only excuse is that I am new to shooting, and I am intimidated by 357 Magnum rounds. I don't want to have a bad experience that causes me to question my selection of caliber.
I expected the Cor-bon 38+p to be a bit difficult out of the SP, but shooting it was actually quite easy and fun, at least as easy to handle as 158-grain 38 special practice ammo. If they weren't so expensive, I'd buy a whole bunch of them. I hope to graduate to magnums sometime soon, but I am intimidated by the whole blast/noise/recoil business.
Can anyone recommend light 357s that would be a manageable step up from 38 +Ps? I like shooting 38s, but I feel I must shoot at least SOME magnums out of these guns, since that's what they are chambered for.
Again, sorry for the thread-hijacking, but the request seems at least in the vein of the original post.
~Ichiro
I expected the Cor-bon 38+p to be a bit difficult out of the SP, but shooting it was actually quite easy and fun, at least as easy to handle as 158-grain 38 special practice ammo. If they weren't so expensive, I'd buy a whole bunch of them. I hope to graduate to magnums sometime soon, but I am intimidated by the whole blast/noise/recoil business.
Can anyone recommend light 357s that would be a manageable step up from 38 +Ps? I like shooting 38s, but I feel I must shoot at least SOME magnums out of these guns, since that's what they are chambered for.
Again, sorry for the thread-hijacking, but the request seems at least in the vein of the original post.
~Ichiro
CarbineCaleb
New member
A commonly available defense round for the .357 that is fairly mild is the Remington Golden Saber. It's 125gr @ 1220fps, 413 ft-lb.
CarbineCaleb
New member
What a difference a few extra mms of case makes ;-)
Love the 686 - functional beauty... it's about the same size as your GP100 - I recently tried the 125gr Winchester .357s @521ft-lb. It is kind of dramatic, so be ready for that, but just keep your wrists pretty rigid, elbows bent a little bit and use elbows as the hinge and try to just let the gun rise and fall back on target with recoil - should be fine. It definitely slows down the shot to shot cycle alright, but isn't going to do you any harm. Hope you like it.
Love the 686 - functional beauty... it's about the same size as your GP100 - I recently tried the 125gr Winchester .357s @521ft-lb. It is kind of dramatic, so be ready for that, but just keep your wrists pretty rigid, elbows bent a little bit and use elbows as the hinge and try to just let the gun rise and fall back on target with recoil - should be fine. It definitely slows down the shot to shot cycle alright, but isn't going to do you any harm. Hope you like it.
Thanks for the report, CC...
... I looked at the 686 and agree that it's a very nice gun. However, by the time I was able to purchase ANY gun, I already had my sights set on THREE. And because I knew jack-squat about guns, I was pretty much limited to buying new, so the cash outlay was going to be significant no matter which road I traveled. With 3 new guns on my mind, I had to take price into consideration, and I decided Rugers were the only way to go, so I bought three Rugers.
I've got the GP (big handgun), an SP (carry handgun), and a 22/45 (cheap practice handgun). For my purposes, a semiauto doesn't really fit into the picture, except for the cheap practice of a 22 and the $179 price tag. I had to buy a rubber mallet to disassemble the 22/45 to clean it. It's a little weird to pound on a gun with a hammer, don't you think??! But I did manage to disassemble it, clean it, and put it back together with strict adherence to the owner's manual. And the hammer is required for re-assembly as well. The jamming at the range didn't really fire me up either. For a self-defense weapon, which is the angle I'm coming from, jamming is unacceptable. However, the 10-round magazine equates to two full cylinders of the SP-101, so there should be some practice value with this gun.
I'm intrigued about firing .357s, but scared as well. I know I won't feel right until I go through with it, so it's going to happen, and soon. I'll take your advice about the wrists/elbows, and be posting about my experience soon afterward.
~Ichiro
... I looked at the 686 and agree that it's a very nice gun. However, by the time I was able to purchase ANY gun, I already had my sights set on THREE. And because I knew jack-squat about guns, I was pretty much limited to buying new, so the cash outlay was going to be significant no matter which road I traveled. With 3 new guns on my mind, I had to take price into consideration, and I decided Rugers were the only way to go, so I bought three Rugers.
I've got the GP (big handgun), an SP (carry handgun), and a 22/45 (cheap practice handgun). For my purposes, a semiauto doesn't really fit into the picture, except for the cheap practice of a 22 and the $179 price tag. I had to buy a rubber mallet to disassemble the 22/45 to clean it. It's a little weird to pound on a gun with a hammer, don't you think??! But I did manage to disassemble it, clean it, and put it back together with strict adherence to the owner's manual. And the hammer is required for re-assembly as well. The jamming at the range didn't really fire me up either. For a self-defense weapon, which is the angle I'm coming from, jamming is unacceptable. However, the 10-round magazine equates to two full cylinders of the SP-101, so there should be some practice value with this gun.
I'm intrigued about firing .357s, but scared as well. I know I won't feel right until I go through with it, so it's going to happen, and soon. I'll take your advice about the wrists/elbows, and be posting about my experience soon afterward.
~Ichiro
Mastrogiacomo
New member
Jeez... 
I WAS planning on getting a 22/45 but I was worried about putting it back together and honestly - I thought the hammer part was made up. Now...maybe I should just stick with the Single Six and get another revolver? 
I WAS planning on getting a 22/45 but I was worried about putting it back together and honestly - I thought the hammer part was made up. Now...maybe I should just stick with the Single Six and get another revolver? Mastro....
...I swear, I sincerely tried to get this thing apart without the hammer, but if I had continued with my palm-striking on the back end of the receiver, I would probably have stitches in my hand by now and still not have the gun apart! It's TIGHT!
If I was in the market for a single-action 22, I would definitely have purchased a single six instead. Revolvers are my style, no question. What I reallly wanted was a Smith 22 SA/DA revolver, but that would have cost me $500. For that price, I certainly would have bought a few cases of 38 special ammo instead.
The 22/45 is decent, and I'm sure in time it will grow on me. Acquiring 2000 rounds of ammo for $40 goes a long way toward that. I really don't like it though, to be honest. I'll make a sincere effort to make it work for me, since I own it, but it's just not my style. My wife really likes it, though, so I guess that makes it her gun from now on.
~Ichiro
...I swear, I sincerely tried to get this thing apart without the hammer, but if I had continued with my palm-striking on the back end of the receiver, I would probably have stitches in my hand by now and still not have the gun apart! It's TIGHT!
If I was in the market for a single-action 22, I would definitely have purchased a single six instead. Revolvers are my style, no question. What I reallly wanted was a Smith 22 SA/DA revolver, but that would have cost me $500. For that price, I certainly would have bought a few cases of 38 special ammo instead.
The 22/45 is decent, and I'm sure in time it will grow on me. Acquiring 2000 rounds of ammo for $40 goes a long way toward that. I really don't like it though, to be honest. I'll make a sincere effort to make it work for me, since I own it, but it's just not my style. My wife really likes it, though, so I guess that makes it her gun from now on.
~Ichiro
CarbineCaleb
New member
Ichiro: Manual actually *specifies* rubber mallet persuasion? If so, I agree that does sound pretty odd... hopefully cleaning that guy will get easier with practice.