Self Defense Ammo for 4" Security Six?

1

147 Grain

New member
Would like to go with the majority's opinion of what is the best self defense (SD) ammo out there for a Ruger Security Six with 4" barrel in 357 Mag? Pistol is used for SD inside the home (mainly by my wife and 18-year old son) and there's also a G-17 9mm in another location and a shotgun.

Wife enjoys shooting 38's at the range and can easily handle 158-gr. +P SWCHP's at 890 fps. Thinking of having her tryout 125-gr. HP's in 357.

Please provide advice on any ammo available, even though we have the following ammo in stock:

* Federal 38 Special 158-gr. +P SWCHP's at 890 fps.
* Winchester 145-gr. Silvertips
* Hornady 357 Mag. 125-gr. XTP's.
* Speer 357 Mag. 125-gr. Gold Dots

Everyone's opinion counts! Thank-you in advance of your replies.
 
147,

You already have four excellent choices on hand, I can't find fault with any of them for HD purposes.

I also keep a loaded 4" Security Six as one of the house guns and it is my wife's favorite for shootability and controllable recoil. Right now mine is stoked with Federal 158 grain LSWHPs in .357 but usually it has the 125 grain .38+Ps with lead HPs or Nyclads in 158 gr.

Can't beat it for a home defense piece, IMO.

Rabbi
 
- For inexpensive use, I'd say the 158gr SWCHP .38 Special +Ps
- Better but pricier - the Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel .357 Magnums (135gr)
 
147Grain,

I can't fault your choices either with the exception that I think .357 Mag ammo may be a bit "hot" for home defense. I'd stick with the 158gr LSWCHP as my first choice. If SHTF you have ample back-up with the G-17 and shotgun.

My J-Frame 649 is loaded with Winchester S38SP - 130 gr. Supreme T-Series JHP ammo ata 925fps / 247 ft-lbs.

Just by way of comparison of .38 special ammo;
Winchester's X38SPD is the equivilant 158gr LSWCHP at 890fps.
Federal's P38HS1 is a 129gr HydraShok JHP at 950fps
 
Your Ruger is an excellent revolver and can certainly handle potent .357 magnum loads. However, I would use .38 Special +Ps, due to recoil/recovery the adverse ramifications of muzzle flash and blast. There are many good +P alternatives, but I would opt for Speer 135 grain Gold Dots, Remington 158 grain LSCWHP (the venerable “FBI Load”), or Federal Nyclads.
 
Not on your list, but try 110grn .357's, they're hotter than 38 +p's but not to the degree of the 125grn's. Everyone in my family can handle a medium or large frame .357 loaded with these. Also they're some of the least expensive .357 ammo you can get and can be found at Wal-Mart.
 
Have never given much thought to light for caliber ammo for SD and suspect that the 357 Mag 110-gr. HP's won't perform as will as 38 Special 158-gr. +P SWCHP's. What do you think?
 
Those 110's are defening outdoors in the desert I cant imagine what their like indoors. Stick with the LSWCHP's slow is good indoors.
 
My concern about the 110gr ammo is that the bullet is too light to penetrate deeply enough to turn out the lights on a BG. Especially if the bullet encounters a bone, even at high speed, a light bullet can be stopped or deflected.

These might be a consideration for people living in "high density housing" (apartments, condos, etc.) where there is concern about penetrating walls. However, even a light bullet can pass through 1" of sheetrock and still cause injury on the other side.
 
In my 4" Security Six, the 110gr .357's have a lighter recoil & faster/easier target reaquisition then 158gr .38's (the slower, heavier .38's flip the muzzle a LOT higher). As for noise, well, we know which is gonna be louder ;) Then there is the difference between muzzle "flash" and muzzle "BLAST", lol.

I keep 125gr Gold Dot .357's in mine, I'd rather deal with ringing ears then not being alive.
 
You can't beat the 145-grain Silvertips. They are probably the best .357 Magnum defence load on the market--very consistent performers and low flash.
 
The 145-grain Silvertip is pretty much right on the money for what you want. Depeding on the bullet, the 125-grain loads can fragment and underpenetrate (bad) or not expand very well and really, really penetrate. I will not carry (or shoot) any 125-grain .357 Magnum ammunition in my weapons.

Here's some clothed gelatin figures (pen/exp) from firearmstactical.com:

145-grain Silvertip - 12.90/.64
125-grain Golden Sabre - 20.55/.48
125-grain Federal SJHG - 11.75/.51

The 145-grain Silvertip is a lot easier shooting (less blast and flash), and in my experience, more accurate than the 125-grain SJHPs.
 
I suggested the 110grn .357's because you said that you would not be the only one using the gun. If it was just you I would advocate 145grn Silvertips, 125grn Cor-Bons, 158grn Remingtons or something of the like. I don't know your wife and son but I do know that women and younger shooters can sometimes be intimidated by heavy recoil. Since you already have your family proficient with .38's, I'd now move up to light .357's and then to the more powerful .357 loads. My mom's first handgun experience was with .357 Winchester Silvertips and she did not touch another gun for ten years afterwards. My father then taught her to use a revolver in the manner I described and she can now handle everything we've ever put in the gun for her to try.
 
I would stick with the 158 gr .38 Special +Ps for use indoors. I'm fussier about flash/blast issues than some.

If you definitely want to use a .357, then the 145 gr Win Silvertip JHP is hard to beat, as was stated. Very low flash and relatively low blast for a magnum. An all-round excellent round ... assuming you're committed to the use of .357 for home D.
 
Thanks Plainsman:

Plan to do just that. When in the house, Federal 158-gr. +P LSWCHP's get the nod and when outdoors is the time to let the 357 do what it was intended to do.
 
Silvertips are my carry ammo in my Security-Six ... very controllable in this gun. Very accurate too.
 
I carry the 147gr. Silver Hp. Of all the factory ammo I fired, The Win. 147 is by far the best. If you are planning for home defense, you want the absolute best.

You might also want to have a couple speedloaders handy.
 
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