What is a good, heavy, fun load for .357 mag?

R

ReefBlueCoupe

New member
I don't reload, so recipies wont work for me at this time. What is a good off the shelf round for shooting .357? This will just be for fun... shooting fruit, jugs/cans full of water, etc.

I want something that booms, kicks, and has big, fun muzzle flash (optional.. i mainly want to feel it) :D I have been shooting Winchester Silvertips and they dont really seem that much more powerful than .38spl. Thanks for any input.
 
For plinking with a .357magnum, I personally opt for Remington UMC 125gr JSPs. It's a good, cheap, high velocity round that makes messes of food items quite readily.

I've also used Federal's American Eagle 158gr JSP (possible the type mentioned in the post above). If you want a heavier slug, they'll do just fine for plinking.
 
I have had MUCHO fun with the 165 gr. Remington Core-Lokt JHP.
Heavy load and is QUITE impressive with water filled milk-jugs.
 
If you want LOUD, try Winchesters white box 110-gr. FJMs. They've got quite the crack to them. Not much recoil, but lots of noise.
 
Try the 'Deer-Stopper' load from Georgia Arms (georgia-arms.com), under their 'Shear Power' loads on the website. 158gr. at 1450 fps. I dare you to find a cantalope that'll stand up to it. :D

cw

ps--& it's pretty cheap for such a quality round, aorund 13.50 for 50, I think.
 
Yep, the Georgia Arms "Deerstopper" is probably the hottest .357 anyone loads commercially. 700+ FPE, yowza...

I have a few bags of that stuff, but I don't use it in my K frames.
 
Yep, the Georgia Arms "Deerstopper" is probably the hottest .357 anyone loads commercially. 700+ FPE, yowza...
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Cor Bon 180 grain hunting load (1285 fps out of 4" barrel) and the Cor Bon 200 grain hunting/black bear defense load (1200 fps out of 4" barrel) are options for very hot HEAVY bullets in .357 magnum.

I also like the Georgia Arms "Deerstopper" load to.

There is actually a nice assortment of hot .357 magnum factory ammo out there, ranging from hot 125 grain self defense loads up to 200 grain black bear loads.
 
For stuff you can buy at the store, I second the UMC 125 flat point. Cheap, accurate, good brass and it kicks like a mule in lighter guns.
If you want muzzle flash, you gotta try reloading for big fun.
 
My favorite is the American Eagle (made by Federal) 158-gr. JSP load. It features lots of blast & flash, but good accuracy from my M686 and SP101...it is also relatively inexpensive 'round here.
 
Factor your frame size into the equation.

Some of the really stout loads should be only fired from Large frame guns.

Have fun but try to be safe at the same time.

Sam
 
Some of the really stout loads should be only fired from Large frame guns.
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Some of the stronger medium framed revolvers should be able to take stout loads with little problem (as long as they are shot in moderation). The Ruger GP 100 series for example is medium frame but built strong enough to take a moderate diet of heavy loads. The main problem I can see is shooter fatigue and recoil. The very hot .357 magnum loads fired from a medium size frame (like a 686 or GP 100) will produce a sharper recoil than a large framed .357 magnum (like a .357 Redhawk).
 
Sometimes the PMC brand 158 Gr JSP is available cheaply near me. Fairly stout load, shoots well in my Sheriff's Model Vaquero.

[Sheriff's Model is one of those limited runs that Ruger does every so often. Very short barrel for a Single-Action... about 3-1/2". Ejector rod housing flush with end of barrel]
 
If you can get a reloader to do some custom rounds, try 9mm bullets and IMR4227 with standard primers.

Of course, this emphasises only the fun factor...:D
 
If you want flash/noise/recoil find some armscor 125gr fmj's.They are listed at 1774fps on armscor website.I find 50 thru my M-28 at a indoor range and the rangemaster thought i eas firing a 454 casull,lots of fun and quite accurate also.
 
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