if you use a 357 Mag.

D

Doc Holliday 1950

New member
Okay.Question number 47. Maybe I'm getting Old Timers and i'm sorry if this has been discussed before.

I have a 4 " 357 mag revolver. What is the lightest grain you would recommend
for SD?
110, 125, 140, 158 grain etc??? I like using hollow points. As always, all answers are appreciated . My hands are strong and I have great grips on my mag
 
125's are popular, no doubt about that.

If it is likely that an encountered bad guy may be wearing heavy clothing (i.e. cold climates), then I would lean toward going with a 158. I actually reside in the heavy bullet camp. But 357 Magnum has the "headroom" (power) where one can be more choosy with bullet weights than a lot of other chamberings.

I personally carry Federal 130g HydraShok "Low Recoil" rounds. Which aren't hardly low recoil at all. They have a pretty stout wallop. 1356 fps through my carry 686 3". 1430 fps through a 686 4". Good round.

As for 110's: I would lean against them, unless you live in a very warm climate where the BG's wear Hawaiian shirts n Bermuda shorts. I consider it a varmint bullet.
 
I'd use whatever the gun's sights shoot dead on with.

If you have fixed sights that might mean 158gr loads unless you file the front sight down some.


If adjustable sights normaly I'd say 125gr but Bufffalo Bore makes a 140 gr DPX load.

BUFFALO-BARNES LEAD-FREE HEAVY 357 Mag - 140 gr. Barnes XPB
1385 fps—S&W mod 66, 2.5 inch barrel and that ain't hay!

Bet it kicks a mite but maybe my 3 inch GP100 'Canadian' wheelgun might work IF the load shoots where the sights shoot.

Deaf
 
Doc

Some revolvers shoot very different points of impact with different loads (bullets and powder). Some not so much. You will need to try different rounds to see what yours does.

I am in the heavy bullet camp. I carry a snub with 158 grain bullets.
 
Doc,

Here are some fixed and adjustable sights:
Notice the rear sights on all the revolvers of mine below.

attachment.php


From the top..

Ruger SP101 DAO 2 1/4 inch bbl .357 magnum 5 shot FIXED SIGHTS
S&W M66 2 1/2 combat magnum .357 magnum 6 shot ADJUSTABLE SIGHTS
3 inch Ruger GP100 .357 magnum 6 shot FIXED SIGHTS
S&W M60 2 inch Chiefs .38 Spl. (J frame) 5 shot FIXED SIGHTS
S&W 686 2 1/2 'Distinguished Combat Magnum' .357 magnum 6 shot ADJUSTABLE
2 inch S&W 64 .38 Spl. 6 shot FIXED SIGHTS
2 3/4 inch Ruger Speed Six. .357 magnum 6 shot FIXED SIGHTS
2 inch S&W 640 .38 Spl. (J Frame) 5 shot FIXED SIGHTS
Ruger Security Six 2 3/4 inch bbl. .357 magnum 6 shot ADJUSTABLE SIGHTS
and S&W 65 'Lady Smith' 3 inch .357 magnum 6 shot FIXED SIGHTS

Any and all will do to ride the river with.

My Dan Wesson Cbob with semi-fixed sights.

attachment.php


Deaf
 
The lightest I would go with is 125 gr bullets but I prefer 158 gr bullets in .357. Fixed sight .38 specials and .357s tend to be sighted for bullets weighing 158 grains. Heavier bullets usually are slower than lighter bullets and therefore take longer to exit the barrel. Since the gun is in recoil and the muzzle is rising, the slower bullet will generally have a higher point of impact because it exits as the muzzle is at a steeper angle.
 
I also would not go lighter than 125. I generally carry 125 grainers in warmer weather, and 158 grainers when folks are bundling up with heavier clothing.
 
I see no reason to go lighter or heavier than 125 grain loads for the purposes of the defending of the self, based on that rounds legacy of great effectiveness.

I carry Federal "357B", 125 grain SJHP .357 magnums in my Ruger GP100 w/ 4" half lug barrel and fixed sights:

gp4_3.jpg
 
125 grain is a good self defense round, though I use the 140 grain Barnes (buffalo bore @ 1550 ft/sec from my 5" barrel). Here is the result of the underwood ammo XTP 125 grain into rubber mulch, after 16" of penetration.

IMG_4701_zps630e4866.jpg


The same round through a rifle REALLY pops, though expansion is closer to 12"...but expansion is dynamic, to say the least.
IMG_4700_zps2fd7b726.jpg
 
As my screen name implies I've been around a few + years, so I prefer the tried and true 158Gr LSWC over a BIG load of slow burning powder, such as Herco 2400. Don't feel the need to mess with those new fangled hollow point bullets;)
 
357 ammo

who makes 158Gr LSWC ammo? also, is Hornady 357 158 grain HP XTP okay?
All my 357's really like this brand. I use Speer and Remington also and also like them. Never used Buffalo bore. What's the story on this ammo?
 
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Any .357 magnum will kill a bad guy. What you should look for is something you shoot well.

A good tactical load is usually loaded lighter, has less recoil, less flash.

Buffalo Bore makes the best ammo, but it's not cheap. Any of their "heavy" loads are made for maximum performance. They also make tactical loads like I described above. Those are what I'd use if I didn't handload.
 
I'm a heavy for caliber guy. So I like the Gold DOT 158 gr HP.

I think what is more important is that you choose a load that you can hit stuff with. If you can shoot the 125 grains well, 'good on ya mate!

P.S.

I've got a friend that uses hand loads for the 110gr at barn burner velocities... His revolvers show signs of top strap cutting - but it doesn't phase him a bit.
 
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