Best personal defense load for 357?

F

Fudgie Ghost

New member
I tried to do a search for this, but I must not have come up with the right key words, so forgive me if I attempt to assault a non-living equine here.

I see different bullet weights for the 357 Mag. What load(s) are considered, at this time, to be the best for personal defense?

Assume 4" bbl.
 
Federal or Remington "Full-Power" 125-gr. JHP...lotsa' buckin' an' snortin', but the most effective "Manstopper" available in a conventional handgun...BAR NONE....mikey357
 
Everybody seems to have settled on one or another manufacturers 125 grain JHP as those who have published data on street results claim a very high success rate, and less risk of over penetration. Some sources suggest 110 grain loads or reduced 125s for the lighter weight snubs. The 140 grain speer gold dots are very close to the 125 grain loads in expansion and velocity. At one time the 158 grain hollow points didn't expand very well but recent generations of bullet design seems to have changed this.
 
I personally go with the Remington 158gr. SJHP in both my duty and off duty gun. I'm comfortable with this load. A little old fashoned maybe, but I prefer a heavier bullet.
 
Here is one load of RBCD that I do not have, but only because I never carry a .357 in Texas. If I were to start carrying my 3" mod 65, as I would up north, I would chose the RBCD.
357 Mag. 60 gr. TFSP 1975 fps / 520 flbs 11" of penetration
 
357 defense load

Major brand full-blast 125 magnum JHP, with preference for Federal if available. My little wife's 3" SP-101 prints palm-sized groups right on the front sight with these at 25 yards, with a 125 pound redhead at the controls. I have squeezed a couple out closer to 2" from a rest with the same ammo.

Takes a little getting used to, if you don't already have some time on magnum handguns. Big fireball, noticable recoil and lotsa muzzle blast. Ain't those three of the finer things in life anyway?
 
I concur with mikey 357, Federal's Hydra-Shok's or Remington
Golden Saber's in the 125 grain weight.:cool: :D :)

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
I like the Cor-Bon 125gr defensive loads.
Easy on the night vision.
Moderate recoil.
Good performance.

Or my own train stoppers.:D

Sam
 
I agree with all that the 125 gr from any manufacturer have the best chance of stopping someone. If I knew I would be outdoors this is what I'd use out of a medium or large frame revolver.

If I am indoors when I need it I would not want full strength .357 rounds. I know how loud these things are when wearing hearing protection, indoors without any hearing protection and hearing damage is just about a given. I'd use a good 125 or 158gr .38spl or .38+P. Very good stopping power without the flash, recoil (though not that big an issue with a service revolver or bigger), and blast. I used to prefer Fed HydroShok regardless of the gun or caliber but lately I've been partial to Speer Gold Dot (125gr .38+P). If I want to stop the guy and have all (or most) of my hearing left this would be better than the .357 ammo.
 
Always preferred 125 JHP's in magnum strength. Federal & Remington in particular. Winchester is fine too, but the ball powder just gives me too much occasional "sand blasting". Merely annoying on the range, but I seldom wear shooting glasses off duty.

More than 25 years ago my father preferred handloaded 140 JHP's for CCW, and 160 half-jacketed swc's for backwoods use.

I remembered his preference for the 140 JHP while attending a wound ballistics class, when ballistics tests were presented showing some 140 JHP's were everything the popular 125 JHP's were ... and a little bit more. The Remington 140 SJHP results improved upon their 125 JHP load in the respect that it extended the "damage" envelope a bit farther, but without demonstrating "excessive" penetration according to the test criteria.

The 140 SJHP is a difficult load to find, as it's never caught on like the 125 SJHP, but I've picked up any boxes I come across from time to time. I'm content with the 125 JHP's, but I was really intrigued by the 140 SJHP results presented.
 
"All sound and fury....signifying....A LOT"

Georgia Arms 125 gr SJHP, standard pressure. One of the more potent standard pressure rounds I've ever touched off.
 
Just for gee wiz info. Shot some different loads into soaked newsprint that was covered by a M65 field jacket that was folded in half. Test gun was a 2.25" Ruger SP101. These are the expansion results.

Winchester USA 110gr - .60 and .66

Federal 125gr Classic HiShok - .50 and .52

Winchester 145gr STHP - .61 and .55

In 38spcl. :

Win. USA 125gr JHP+p - no expansion

Win SXT 130gr+p - .53 and .54

In my Ruger SP101 I use either the Federal 125gr or the Winchester 110gr loads, in my KGP-141 I use the 145gr STHP loads.
 
Best .357 Loads

For outdoor use, I like the Remington 125gr. JHP Golden Saber... though there are others as good... I just get good prices on the 125 GS, so I use that one. I think the Winchester and Federal are equally good.

Indoors, Skeeter Skelton's old .38 Special load offers good power, lower report (.38 spl case in .357 using a Keith style 158gr. HPLSWC and a generous portion of #2400 powder.) This gives me around 1,100 fps.

FWIW

Chuck
 
Some experts (mostly Masaad Ayoob) caution against hand loads for defense due to liability concerns. I cannot argue with the logic. But having said that, I often carry hand loaded ammo in my .357.

The 125 JHP has the best record in man stopping. I believe this load clocks around 1450 FPS from Winchester, Reminton or Federal. My load pushes the same bullet out of my 5" M27 at 1725 FPS. My K frame guns seem to handle it fine, too. Not bad on recoil, but muzzle flash has to be seen to be believed. Hardly noticeable by the shooter, but from side or front it lights up an indoor range like daylight.
 
Thanks all, for all the input. As usual, I know I can count on this fourm to deliver lots of useful info. Just picked up my Ruger Sec. Six yesterday.
This is not my first 357, as I had a Trooper that I got from a friend who passed away about 15 years ago. But I never shot that gun, --had a 6" barrel that I felt was impractical for me. And I was rather ignorant in general about firearms at that time---sold that Trooper, a satin nickel Combat Commander, and a Belgium Browinng .22 automatic for a new Glock 19 and a used S&W Airweight! What a dope! Oh, the humanity! Hey, has there been a thread here for that? "Stupid gun deals you did. . "

So in some ways this is my first 357, as I actually plan on shooting it. Anyway, now back to the ammo dealers to hunt down some decently priced ammo.
 
Best personal defense load for .357...

You Sir are the lucky one. This is my first post. I agree with Mas Ayoob... the 125 grain federal JHP in my 3" S&W model 13 is a gem. Tight groups and a top rated stopping power:)
 
You can't go wrong with any of the major manufacturers 125 grain JHP full power loads, either Federal or Remington will get the job done.

7th
 
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