Winchester 110g SJHP .357 magnum penetration?

S

SkunkApe

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I'm considering loading Winchester's 110-grain semi-jacketed hollow-point .357 magnum ammunition in my 3" Ruger SP101 for self-defense. Winchester shows 1295 fps and 410 fpe. I find this lower power load to be much more controllable than the hotter loads. I am somewhat concerned about penetration, however. Does anyone have information on how this load performs in gelatin tests?

Thanks.
 
No but I carry it in a Model 60 2.5" Smith and Wesson. If you shoot the bad guy five times with it in a vital area and he keeps coming, consider using the Chester Karass negotiation techniques. :D
 
As penetration goes, I don't know there would be a whole lot of practical differance among full power commercial loaded .357's of similar SJHP bullet design. I would think the mass vs. velosity variables would tend to balance out somewhat. But that's just my guess. The SJHP is suppose to open up and "dump" energy when it hits something solid. So if penetration is a concern, then a SJHP should be less penatrative than a hard solid type bullet of similar weight and velosity.

As an aside, I shot some Win 110gr SJHP .357's in a 2.25" SP101 this weekend - and I wasn't impressed. This light and fast round tends to shoot low from point of aim (at about 15 yards). Light recoil, but a good bit of flash and blast - and it shot low. I've always been a 125gr fan, but it's got about as much flash and blast - and a bit more recoil. The 158gr .357's seems to be the most accurate, but seems to recoil more than the rest.

I'm pretty much at the point where I think the Rem Golden Saber .357 is just about the right balance for accuracy, reduced flash, blast & recoil - and of course effectivness - in a small frame / short barrel gun. The Golden Saber is considered a mid range .357. Velosity is around 1,220 (less than the 110 or 125 - but about par with the 158). Energy however is around 413 fpe (about the same as the 110). In other words, you get the effectivness and controlability of the 110 without as much flash and blast.

Actually the cheapest - least recoil, flash & blast - best accuracy & fastest follow up shot - and all around most enjoyable round is the plain old 158gr .38. That's the nice thing about .357 revolvers - lots of variety to suit your mood.
 
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The 110 grain JHP load you speak of is a pretty good one and an excellent selection for your application. I am unable to cite sources, but have read on more than one occassion that it is a good SD performer in 4" bbl's.

My only consideration is with the colder weather upon us, clothing layers might pose a deterrent to the normally sufficient penetration the round offers. I carried 158 grain in the winter and 125 grain in warmer months.

Regards,

Jager1
 
This load seems to shoot pretty well for me in my 2.25" SP-101. I shot this load thru 2 layers of an M-65 G.I. firld jacket into wet newsprint. Expansion was .60 and .66, penetration ran right around 12". This load used to be used by the Secret Service, with great success.
 
I carried this round in a 2 1/2" S & W Model 66. It was very controllable because velocity is lower than same from Federal and Remington. Don't remember the numbers but penetration and expansion is sufficient. It's a toss up between this Winchester load and medium velocity 125 grainers.

If you want more penetration than try the Winchester 145 gr. Silvertip JHP.
 
110 Winchester

The Secret Service did not carry 357 Magnum Winchester, they carried the 38+p+ 110 Winchester. Same bullet but with veloicty about midway between 38+p and 357 magnum. In chron results I've seen the Winchester 110 mag is consistently the lowest in velocity of the big 3. The tests show that this round runs under 1200 fps from 2 and 2 1/2 barrels. I have chrono'd the 38+p+ Winchester at 1122 from a 3 in 36.
 
I just wanted to warn you guys that the +P+ leonly .38 spl. ammo has been KNOWN to blow up aluminun frame old colt revolvers and I suspect it is very hard on all older snubbies. Its THE load for K frames and small .357's IMHO.
 
shooting high / low

Of course the point of impact of a wheelgun depends on bullet weight.
A light bullet will shoot low, a heavy one will shoot high.
Thats simple natural law... or physics...
 
Yep!

Most recently in stainless, 3 inch, fixed sight Ruger GP100s IIRC?

One of my fave 357 loads. From my 3 inch GP100 the Win 110/357 does 1250 fps. Most of them actually pulled from bad guys I know about went deep enough and got big enough (usually over .60, sometimes as deep as 12...).

Same bullet at in .38 at 1089 fps from 4 inch S&W through heavy cloth:

10.55 inches deep/.58 caliber

Some comparisons:

Fed 125/357 at 1265 fps (3 in) 11.75/.51
Win 145/357 at 1166 (3 in) 12.9/.64

Win 115/9 at 1091 fps 11.8/.58
Win 115/9 at 1320 fps 10.15/.65
Fed 147/9 at 950 fps 15/.58
 
The 110 grain load is not considered a penetrator. Weight penetreates. Lil tiny weight bullets blow up very close to the surface.
 
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