357 Mag Revolvers for Self Defense

[RealGun]

Maybe you should start a different thread about this.

Or a semi-auto forum.

 

[bassjam]

For now my only .357 handgun is a S&W 66 4" that stays locked in the living room endtable safe. It's loaded with .38+p just because it's what my wife is comfortable with shooting.

I used to have an SP101 I carried for a year, but I could shoot my S&W 442 better in double action than I could shoot the Ruger in single action with light .38's. I liked the gun, but didn't love it so I traded it away. I've been lusting after a K6s and finally have enough cash saved to buy one so I think that's going to be replacing the MK9 I just sold as my carry gun. I just need to decide on barrel length. Originally I was set on 2", but those 3" Kimbers sure look nice and I wonder if they'd help tame .357's at all. Even when I carried the SP101 I kept it loaded with hot Buffalo Bore .38+p's; I didn't trust my ability to make follow-up shots with .357's.

 

[Tallball]

"I have owned 2 of the 2" K6s and loved both of them."

Y'all are making me jealous with those Kimbers.

If I could afford one right now, I would have it.

 

[mokin]

I got to fondle a Kimber two weeks ago. I told myself I wouldn't buy anymore guns for a while....

 

[Buckeye63]

I got to fondle a Kimber two weeks ago. I told myself I wouldn't buy anymore guns for a while....

Same boat here ... I still need to get a rifle out of layaway....
Then .. when this Virus is over ...
a Charter Professional V in 357 mag is in my future
most likely the last gun I purchase this year
money is just to tight

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

the .357 is a favorite of mine as backup while hog hunting, I use 180 grain hot loads. For self defense my choice is a Ruger SP101 with 4 inch barrel....just right for me...everyone has a preference on length of barrel.

 

[hollywood63]

Do you really think that SA shooting in a self defense incident would be prudent?

Could you reload once or twice with a violent criminal actor running at you from a distance of several feet?

I respectfully recommend that you look into some realistic SD training

Easiest way to answer this is try running at someone tossing 158 grain 357's at you.............let us know how many it takes to stop you

 

[Kleanbore]

Easiest way to answer this is try running at someone tossing 158 grain 357's at you.............let us know how many it takes to stop you

It has been done.

Sometimes, a cylinderfull has not saved the defender.

 

[reverseturn]

My favorite gun at the range for the last 10 months is my gp100 match champion. I shoot it 3 to one over anything else. Even started to get pretty good with it. It is also the only gun my wife cares to use. For that reason it is a house gun loaded with 125 gr Remington Golden Sabers 357 magnums. That s on the light side for a 357 magnum. Velocity is roughly equal to 9mm +p+. GS is not the newest bullet tech but still very good.. Before Ihat I used 158 gr semi wadcutter hollow points 38 special +p. Both are sufficient and quite manageable.due to the guns weight and added rubber grips. Dont lug it around every day but ifound q comfortable in a pancake holster while riding my bike during this shutdown.

 

[357 Terms]

It has been done.

Sometimes, a cylinderfull has not saved the defender.

Fully loaded double stack mag dumps have ended with the same result.

...but thats for another thread

 

[Kleanbore]

Fully loaded double stack mag dumps have ended with the same result.

Yep.

More are more likely to achieve success, other things being equal.

 

[DWFan]

My choice is a Dan Wesson M14-2 (fixed sight) with a 3" EWK EH (extra heavy) shroud & barrel and a factory combat grip. Ammo of choice is Barnes 140gr VOR-TX XPB-HP. The XPB uses smaller powder charges than normal bullets of it's weight because of the seating depth of the all copper bullet. The result is actually a modernized .38-44 HV that has less report and muzzle flash than a full tilt .357 but is still hotter than a .38 Special +P. Penetration between 18" and 22" and consistent expansion well over 1/2" suits my needs just fine. The 1:12 barrel twist is a good match to the long 140gr bullet too.
The only problem is Remington bought Barnes.

 

[boom boom]

Have some .357's and one is on home guard duty. Not sure if they make it anymore, but the most accurate round that I fired out of my GP-100 was the 100 gr. Corbon Powrball. Easy to reload via a speedloader and the penetration was enough but not too much. At about 7-10 yds, tiny groups with diminished, recoil, blast, and flash compared with the 125 gr. SD type rounds.



Here is the 2020 Lucky Gunner test of .357 self defense ammo which compares a lot of rounds both in a 2" and 4" barrel revolver,
https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/revolver-ballistics-test/

The Corbon round I mentioned had .62" expansion, averaged about 1350 fps or so in a 4 inch barrel, and had average penetration of 12.2".

 

[sgt127]

Always good to add a few pictures of the grandfather of all .357’s in a .357 Magnum thread.



I’ve always had a soft spot for the .357 Magnum.

I honestly don’t know how many I own.

For carry, these do nicely along with an SP101.

A dear friend gave me the Speed Six. Haven’t made a holster for it yet but, it shoots very well.

The 3” 65 I have carried a lot. It’s my go to waistband gun with a couple speedloaders. I like it so much there’s a spare in the safe.



(well, we covered 2 3/4”. 3”. 4” and 5” barrels!)

 

[Lizard1911]

aw shucks, thanks

Heck.
I wish I was half as Purdy as that collection.
Lol.

 

[sgt127]

Yep.

More are more likely to achieve success, other things being equal.

From my good friend Ronin:


“Hits vary in inverse proportion to the number of rounds remaining in the magazine.”

1985

 

[Armybrat]

 

[Johnny5shot]

I own 2 357's....a Taurus 605 and a Smith & Wesson 60 Pro Series. The Smith is on me daily and wherever I go. Hunting, hiking, in the yard, and beside my bed at night. My Taurus is kept in a bug out bag with ammo in the event my wife and I need to get out of Dodge. Love my model 60 as it is very versatile for the reloader to load up 38's or 357's for targets or threats.

 

[CajunBass]

It has been done.

Sometimes, a cylinderfull has not saved the defender.

Sometimes, you just have a really bad day.

 

[Bo]

This is the smallest pistol I want to shoot 357 Magnums in.
It's an 586 L-Comp and with "Arthur", it's a handful.

 

[Rexster]

Short version: I love .357 revolvers, and am comfortable carrying them for defensive purposes. I especially favor the GP100, and have several of them.

Longer version; may well cause the reader to fall asleep: I started handgunning with a 1911, in late 1982 or early 1983, but by late late 1983, had to learn DA sixgunning, in a police academy. The S&W L-Frame was the standard revolver, during the academy, with a few exceptions granted to cadets who already owned a different S&W, Ruger, or Colt .357 DA revolver. After graduation, rookies had to use only DA revolvers, for defense of self or others, 24/7/365, during the first year of service. Wanting to survive my rookie year, I made a diligent effort to learn the DA trigger stroke. To this day, I can shoot a long-stroke DA trigger more consistently than any other handgun trigger.

During the above-mentioned academy, I had ordered a Model 686, from a local LE-oriented S&W dealer, who would deliver the revolvers to the academy, right before firearms training began. I also bought a Model 581, from a home-town dealer, but cannot remember whether I did so before starting the academy. So, I am unsure which was my first .357 revolver, but I think I had the 581 before the 686 was delivered.

No handgun fits my hands as well as a GP100, with the original-pattern factory grip. S&W K/L revolvers, and Ruger Speed and Security Sixes, fit me as well, with suitable grips. I bought my first GP100 about 1991.

I went through a big-bore revolver phase, in the Eighties. By 1990, I realized that N-Frames were too big for my hands, and that I was wrecking my right thumb and wrist with the ergonomically-improper “h-grip,” in an effort to get enough finger on the trigger. So, I backed-down to revolvers that fit. I also became comfortable with the concept that one does not need to use big bores to disable a human opponent.

One night in June 1993, I used a GP100, to fire the one 125-grain .357 needed to devastatingly disable a human attacker. Some officers up-gun after a defensive shooting incident. I did not, as my ammunition had performed well. (I did switch to a .45 ACP autoloading duty handgun in 1997, for reasons unrelated to my defensive shooting incident.)

When it suits me, I carry a Glock, loaded with 9mm +P Gold Dots that are not so far different from today’s defensive .357 Magnum ammo. When it suits me, I carry a revolver, often a GP100. I shoot a GP100 more accurately, so, a deciding factor, which one to carry, may depend upon the perceived probability of needing to engage at longer distance.

 

[azrn]

My 2 most used rounds is the 45 acp and the 357 mag. I often carry 125 grain HP 357 in my revolvers as part of my EDC and with my 45 acp EDC I carry 200 grain HP. azrn

 

[Elm Creek Smith]

When healthy, this .357 Magnum S&W Model 65-1 is my EDC, loaded with Speer .357 Magnum 135 grain BHP "Short Barrel" ammunition. Since this picture was taken, I have replaced the Pachmayr Grippers with a set of Magnas and a BK Grip adapter. I also carry it in a Bianchi 7 holster instead of the Bianchi 5BHL pictured.

 

[Robert Highhawk]

I carry a Smith and Wesson model 60, 357 magnum,3 inch barrel. Carry 125 grain SJHP

 

[Buckeye63]

the .357 is a favorite of mine as backup while hog hunting, I use 180 grain hot loads. For self defense my choice is a Ruger SP101 with 4 inch barrel....just right for me...everyone has a preference on length of barrel.

You are proof of the versatility of the 357 mag ...
From 110gr to 180gr .. from 38spl LWC to 180gr hardcast ...