The verdict is in! And the winner is.... ?
The verdict is in! And the winner is.... ?
First the contenders in order of obstreperousness:
-Magtech 38 125gr (938fps/245ft-lbs)
-Speer 38+P 135gr Short Barrell JHP (1200fps/335ft-lbs)
-Remington GS 357 125gr JHP (1220fps/413ft-lbs)
-Remington HTP 357 110gr SJHP (1295fps/410ft-lbs)
-Fiocchi 357 158gr JHP (1220fps/522ft-lbs)
-Geco 357 158gr FMJ (1295fps/593ft-lbs)
And the test mule: GP100 #1708 with new Williams FireSights and large Lett-style grips and Chigg's Grips inserts:
I used the Magtech 38 125gr (my current favorite range load for the GP100-1722) as a "control". I loaded two of those and two each of the contenders. In terms of relative recoil, the specs above seemed accurate. The only one starting to approach obnoxious was the Geco. Not terrible, but less fun than the Fiocchi.
Side note: I shot a couple of the GDHPs through the LCR357 which I have tried before and didn't like. This time with the Pachmayr Diamond Pro grips, they weren't that bad. I would be comfortable carrying this load now. I also shot a couple of the Golden Sabers - first two .357 ever in that gun
- and ya know what? I survived. 
It wasn't awful. I might would even carry them even though they are "old tech" now. Either way, my current HCD 110+P carry load has some competition now.
Back to the 3-5-7. Like I said, the Fiocchi wasn't bad, but my favorite was (drumroll).... The Remington HTP 110gr. And why not? It has the highest velocity but lowest muzzle energy of the bunch, making for an accurate round with lower recoil.
The results:
-chest - Magtech 125gr .38 - DA@7yds
-center - Rem 110gr .357 - DA@7yds
-head - same - SA@7yds
-small dude - same - DA@10yds
Pretty happy with that 10yd grouping. Very happy with 5 out of 6 rounds to center mass at 7yds. As long as the bad guy stands still for 45s while I aim and get my shots off, I should do fine.
The verdict is in! And the winner is.... ?
First the contenders in order of obstreperousness:
-Magtech 38 125gr (938fps/245ft-lbs)
-Speer 38+P 135gr Short Barrell JHP (1200fps/335ft-lbs)
-Remington GS 357 125gr JHP (1220fps/413ft-lbs)
-Remington HTP 357 110gr SJHP (1295fps/410ft-lbs)
-Fiocchi 357 158gr JHP (1220fps/522ft-lbs)
-Geco 357 158gr FMJ (1295fps/593ft-lbs)
And the test mule: GP100 #1708 with new Williams FireSights and large Lett-style grips and Chigg's Grips inserts:
I used the Magtech 38 125gr (my current favorite range load for the GP100-1722) as a "control". I loaded two of those and two each of the contenders. In terms of relative recoil, the specs above seemed accurate. The only one starting to approach obnoxious was the Geco. Not terrible, but less fun than the Fiocchi.
Side note: I shot a couple of the GDHPs through the LCR357 which I have tried before and didn't like. This time with the Pachmayr Diamond Pro grips, they weren't that bad. I would be comfortable carrying this load now. I also shot a couple of the Golden Sabers - first two .357 ever in that gun
- and ya know what? I survived. It wasn't awful. I might would even carry them even though they are "old tech" now. Either way, my current HCD 110+P carry load has some competition now.Back to the 3-5-7. Like I said, the Fiocchi wasn't bad, but my favorite was (drumroll).... The Remington HTP 110gr. And why not? It has the highest velocity but lowest muzzle energy of the bunch, making for an accurate round with lower recoil.
The results:
-chest - Magtech 125gr .38 - DA@7yds
-center - Rem 110gr .357 - DA@7yds
-head - same - SA@7yds
-small dude - same - DA@10yds
Pretty happy with that 10yd grouping. Very happy with 5 out of 6 rounds to center mass at 7yds. As long as the bad guy stands still for 45s while I aim and get my shots off, I should do fine.