Tell me about this Buffalo Bore load

T

TruthTellers

New member
I'm not a huge .357 Magnum fan, I find the .327 to be more versatile, but I do like revolvers and rifles chambered for .357 because they can also shoot .38 Special and can be pretty effective out to 150 yards in a rifle and take bigger game than the .327 can.

If I had to conceal carry a revolver, I'd still take a .327 though.

BUT, Buffalo Bore makes a .357 load that on paper looks so powerful that I can't help but ask about it. It's the "Heavy 357 Magnum Ammo 125 gr. J.H.C." load that BB is saying can hit 1700 fps from a 6 inch revolver. Here's a link:

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=103

Has anyone ever shot this ammo? How was recoil, blast, and flash? Was the accuracy of it any good? Gimme all the juicy details!
 
Buffalo Bore makes gooooood stuff. Even their 'standard' loads are quite stout. I carry Buffalo Bore ammo in my carry snubby exclusively.
 
When we trail ride in both black bear country and big cat country, I carry BB solids in both .357 or .45 Colt, depending which revolver I'm carrying. Both are very accurate and both are stout in the recoil department.
 
Hunting loads vastly differ from SD loads. BB makes both and depending on the intended usage you can't go wrong with their ammo. Black Hills ammo is another company that offers high quality specialty ammo.

As for your .327, Henry now makes a carbine chambered in that caliber. Fun stuff.
 
I know Buffalo Bore makes good ammo that costs money, but my question is about the specific load I put a link in the OP. I'd like to hear about that load, which is mind blowing considering it can hit 1700 fps from a 6 inch revolver.
 
Underwood also has a 125gr coming out at 1700fps and 802me. I have a couple hundred of them. They shoot well, and while you definitely know you're shooting hot ammo it's quite fun. I would think anything Buffalo bore loads that hot will be the same.
 
Considering the original 357 mag load was a 158 gr bullet at 1500 fps getting 1700 with a 125 gr bullet doesn't seem all that difficult. In fact some of my loading manuals show near 2000 fps possible from a 10" barrel.

I have 2 concerns. Most 125 gr bullets are designed to impact at "normal" speeds when fired from typical 3-4" barreled revolvers. That means around 1300 fps. I'd think that most 125 gr bullets impacting at 1700 fps or faster would likely blow up on the surface and get very little penetration. If that bullet is designed to impact at that speed then fine. If not then it would be a better option for longer distance shots where the speed has slowed down.

The 2nd concern is that the negatives out weigh the positives. Most 125 gr loads are advertised at 1500 fps from long barrels, but actually get closer to 1300 fps from real world guns. That load has proven to work about as well as anything. There is going to be a lot of recoil and blast for very little (if any) real world gain. Plus you'd have to lug around a 6" or longer barreled gun.

I can see a place for these hotter loads when coupled with heavier bullets and long barrels designed for hunters to shoot big game at relatively longer ranges than encountered in most SD situations.
 
Well the BB 125 gr looks like this:

3 inch S&W J frame

d. Item 19D/20-125gr. Jacketed Hollow Point = 1476 fps

➤ 4 inch S&W L frame Mt. Gun

d. Item 19D/20-125gr. Jacketed Hollow Point = 1603 fps

➤ 5 inch S&W model 27

d. Item 19D/20-125gr. Jacketed Hollow Point = 1543 fps

➤ 18.5 inch Marlin 1894

d. Item 19D/20-125gr. Jacketed Hollow Point = 2298 fps---- Or this?!!!

I just wonder if at 1600 fps or more IMPACT velocity if the bullet will hold together.

Deaf
 
Really isn't anything one cannot load himself using H110, 296 or H4227. Those are mid range jacketed bullet hand gun loads according to Hodgdon. Not really convinced those 2100 plus Marlin loads are safe. Mind you, nobody would sell ammo that is not safe.
 
TruthTellers said:
I'm not a huge .357 Magnum fan, I find the .327 to be more versatile, but I do like revolvers and rifles chambered for .357 because they can also shoot .38 Special and can be pretty effective out to 150 yards in a rifle and take bigger game than the .327 can.

If I had to conceal carry a revolver, I'd still take a .327 though.

BUT, Buffalo Bore makes a .357 load that on paper looks so powerful that I can't help but ask about it. It's the "Heavy 357 Magnum Ammo 125 gr. J.H.C." load that BB is saying can hit 1700 fps from a 6-inch revolver. Here's a link:

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.ph...t_detail&p=103

Has anyone ever shot this ammo? How was recoil, blast, and flash? Was the accuracy of it any good? Gimme all the juicy details!
Click to expand...
Here is the same loading from another manufacturer with the exact same ballistics that is 43.6% cheaper...

https://underwoodammo.com/shop/357-magnum-125-grain-bonded-jacketed-hollow-point/
 
The same bullet weight and speed may NOT be the same loading.

The pressure might be different.

You would think that X amount of pressure = x amount of velocity. It sounds reasonable, right? well, while its often the case, its not always the case.

Sometimes the pressure needed to reach a certain speed will be higher, or lower, it depends on a lot of variables.
 
If Underwood says it's safe to shoot in any steel frame revolver, than that's good enough for me, especially in a Ruger GP100.

Buffalo Bore specifically states that they recommend that their 1700fps 125 grain load be shot only in a steel frame revolver, not because it's unsafe to shoot in an alloy revolver, but because those revolvers are so light that the bullets may jump crimp.
 
I've shot that load out of my 6" 608. Gotta keep in mind that this is one heavy gun at over 3 lbs. Perceived recoil was nil. Out of a 6" barrel, flash was minimal, even at an indoor range. The load is quite loud indoors, however.

Now...out of a 2" 617 . . . recoil still not bad at all. Flash and bang, however, rivals a 6" S&W 500.

Of course, none of that proves squat because I didn't chrono'd it.
 
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