Whats a good 2" .357 load ?

sean2001

New member
I have a S&W 60 .357 with a 2 1/8 barrel and was wondering what the best load would be. This is the gun I carry everyday so I want the best load possible, .38 or .357mag. Recoil is not a real big concern as long as it is managable. Recoil does not bother me much. Thanks in advance for you help.

Sean.

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[This message has been edited by sean2001 (edited September 01, 2000).]
 
Hello, sir. If recoil's not a problem, I'd just go with the full-house Remington or Federal 125 gr JHPs. If that turns out to be a bit much, I'd try the Remington 125 gr Golden Saber. Best.
 
Federal 125 gr Nyclad .38 specials worked very well in my Smith&* model 66 snubbie. In .357, the Remington 125 gr Golden Saber's mentioned above, also worked very well. I preferred the .38's for use as HD since there was less muzzle flash and noise. I got rid of the 66, but still use the Nyclads in my Model 19's when they pull HD use.
 
There are no good 2" .357 loads. I believe that all the good .357 loads are between an inch and an inch and a half!

Sorry, I couldn't resist.
 
As one who carries a 649 bodyguard 357mag as a backup, I like the 125gr Winchesters. Recoil is managable and accuracy is good.

6mm
 
I sometimes carry my Ruger SP101 (2 1/4") and it is always loaded with Rederal 125gr JHP. Recoil is a little stiff but not enough to bother me too much.
 
I have seen a test done a while back in a magazine in selecting a good s/d load for 2" .357 revolvers.. The Remington 125 grain semi jacketed hollowpoint was shown to be the best even better than corbon or triton ammo..It was the only load that showed textbook expansion and adequate penetration in all shots fired whereas the corbon, despite the +P rating was inconsistant and still often would "plug up" and fail to expand as was the triton load.

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"what gives a government that arms the whole world the right to disarm it's own citizens?"
 
Remington 158 gr. JHP. Bullet weight is bullet weight. Muzzle energy is muzzle energy. Plenty of velocity for expansion. The heavier bullet is -- well, it's heavier.

In the bullet business, bigger is better. That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it.
 
I suspect that if you timed yourself getting 5 hits on the chest at say, 10 or 15 ft with the mag snubbie, and then did the same with a 357 Sig (in say, the P239) you would no longer consider the snubbie to be controlable enough. I would go with the 115 gr jhp in the Sig. Even with the 3 1/2" barrel of the 6 1/2" long Sig, you will get an honest 1300+ fps. I very much doubt that you will get a 110 fr to 1300 fps in the 6 1/2" long 357 snubbie, and the 1250 fps, 125 gr jhp will be doing well to get .40 second splits (in between the hits) while the auto will get .20 second or less. Why be twice as slow as you need be? Also, the Sig lacks the cylinder bulge, holds 7 rds, reloads 2/3 times as fast, and the spare mag isn't a concealment problem (as the revolver's speedloader is) Without the speedloader, the auto reloads 4 times as fast as the revolver,and 5 rds isn't all that much, when you have no round up the spout while you reload! Given the severe tendency to screw up a revolver reload under stress, 3-4 rds had better resolve your problem. Normally it will, of course, if you can shoot and if you keep your head.

]
 
I prefer, and use, the USA brand by Winchester.

It is a 110 grain JHP whose recoil is manageable, terminal ballistics are capable, and the price is quite affordable.

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Make mine lean, mean, and 9x19!
 
You might want to check out Pro Load's 125 grain load. It's rated a tad bit faster than the others mentioned. I've shot it in a prted 3 inch barrel and had no problems, either with recoil or flash.

Mark

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We are the people our parents warned us about.
 
9X19 is correct.

The Winchester white box 110 grain SJHP is a good snubbie magnum load at a good price.

Whoever recommended the 158 grain JHP should do a little homework. The 158 grain .357 JHP is just about the WORST load (this side of NON HPs) for the .357 Magnum (for defense anyway).

A good place to begin this homework is here:
http://www.evanmarshall.com/

[This message has been edited by WebHobbit (edited September 02, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by WebHobbit (edited September 02, 2000).]
 
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