what is your carry load for home defense or self defense

3

357 mag

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I carry a taurus 605 (357) my carry load is the Buffalo Barnes 125 grain hollow points very amazing bullet expansion is perct from personal ballistics testing I manage to get 1505 fps 630 lbs out the muzzle from a 3inch barrel not bad if I say so myself has a kick to itvbut I'm already use to it..
 
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Ruger LCR .357 magnum. 158 Grain Gold Dot Personal Protecion. It's a real thumper in that little revolver but...I use a lesser load when I practice at the range, then put 5 thumpers through it at the end. Too many rounds of the SD ammo makes my hand hurt for a couple days.
 
Nothing special here I suppose. I welcome suggestions. My daily carry is .45 Federal 230 gr. Hydra-Shok JHP (Wilson Combat Ultra Light Carry).

I don't pay much attention to the performance details of ammunition. I buy what's available at a small LGS and our nearby Gander Mountain or sometimes from Lucky Gunner in large quantities (usually a purchase of 1,000 or more each shipment) of various practice and practice SD ammunition.

I do practice with some of the SD ammunition and especially with the semi-automatics to be sure they are always ready to go without an issue. Each semi gets its rounds run through, cleaned and loaded about once a month.

I practice with the Python using mostly the cheap aluminum Blazer .38 Special 158 gr lead and American Eagle 158 gr .357 Magnum JSP. I try to practice with the Python several evenings a week on a home range usually running 100 rounds of the cheap Blazer .38 then 50-100 of American Eagle 158 gr .357 Magnum JSP - then after cleaning loading with 357 Magnum 158 gr. Hydra-Shok JHP.

Loaded and Ready Right Now:

Back Door: 9mm Hornady 124 gr. XTP (Sig Sauer X-Five)

Bedside [1]: 9mm Hornady 124 gr. XTP (DW Guardian with those glow sights for the dark).
Bedside [Back-Up 1]: .45 Remington Golden Saber 230 gr JHP (Sig Sauer C3).
Bedside [Back-Up 2]: 357 Magnum 158 gr. Hydra-Shok JHP (Colt Python 6 in.).

Home Office Desk: .380 Federal 90 gr. Hydra-Shok JHP (S&W Bodyguard 380).

Other Back Door & Every Day Carry on Way Out: .45 Federal 230 gr. Hydra-Shok JHP (Wilson Combat Ultra Light Carry).
 
I have to really wonder if you're getting 1,500 fps out of a 3" tube, too.

Those speeds normally come from 6 to 8" barrels, or from pressure test rigs.

If you really are getting speeds like that out of a 3", I'd love to know what Buffalo Bore is loading...


Whoa...

Son of a gun...

Buffalo shows the test velocities and the guns and barrel lengths used to achieve them...

BUFFALO-BARNES LEAD-FREE HEAVY 357 Mag - 125 gr. Barnes XPB, fired from a 3" Smith Model 66, 1507 fps! :eek:

I definitely want to know what powders they are using!
 
Yes I was pretty impressed too of course I had to test it myself just in case they weren't false advertising sure enough it stands true
 
The muzzle flash to me is normal just like any other 357 load. You would actually think the flash would be more blinding for such a hot load but surprisingly not
 
Depends on which gun I'm using.

.22 Long Rifle- CCI 40gr Velocitor
.32 Auto- Fiocchi 73gr FMJ
7.62x25 Tokarev- Winchester 85gr FMJ
.38 S&W- Handloaded 200gr LRN
.38 Special- Remington 158gr +P LSWCHP
9mm Parabellum- Winchester 127gr +P+ Ranger T-Series
.357 Magnum- Remington 158gr SJHP
10mm Auto- Winchester 175gr Silvertip
.44 Magnum- Remington 240gr SJHP
.45 ACP- Federal 230gr +P HST
 
For CC and home defense, standard .44Spec loads (hand loads of course) in CA Bulldog. In the woods we move up to the .45 Colt.
 
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I used to use Federal Hi-Shok 125gr JHPs in my 4" GP100 and 2.25" SP101. When I went to replace them I couldn't find them anymore. I switched to Hornady Critical Defense 125gr JHPs. They have a red polymer insert in the hollowpoint to keep clothing from clogging them and turning the hollowpoint into a solid. The insert also aids in expansion. The red tips showing out of the cylinders is a bit intimidating too.
 
My .380 gets 102-grain Remington Golden Saber.

My .40 gets 180-grain Speer Gold Dot

My 12-gauge gets Hornady TAP 00 Buck

My AR-15 holds whatever I have handy. Zero concerns about lethality of that platform. When available my ideal is 65-grain Winchester PDX1 or 77-grain Hornady TAP.

My 9mm (next anticipated purchase) will get 147-grain Federal HST.

Even my .22 holds CCI Stingers when stored.

I prefer avoiding +p loadings.
 
In my .38 spl snubbies I carry, I like the Speer 135 gr. +P for short barrels. For my Model 65 at home, I use the FBI load -- Remington 158 gr. LSWCHP +P.
 
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