hi, I am planning to purchase soon a ruger gp100 for target and fun shooting, but I think in any case of emergency it what also be a good self defence gun but I am from austria in my country hollow point loads are not allowed, and I would be pleased hearing a few ammo tipps.
best non jhp load for self defence in 357 mag
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HighVelocity
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Federal used to make a 158gr jacketed soft point. (JSP). It was marketed under the American Eagle brand and it was extremely accurate in my 4" model 28.
They may still make it I just haven't bought .357 ammo in quite a few years.
They may still make it I just haven't bought .357 ammo in quite a few years.
mtnbkr
Member
No HP? I think at least one of the ammo companies offers a softpoint load. It won't expand as reliably, but it will expand more than FMJ. You might also consider 38special wadcutters. If you reload, you could load them hotter than the target loads currently offered (find a harder bullet though).
Chris
Chris
Ohen Cepel
Member
I forget the correct name of it now. However, one of the big companies was making the fully jacketed "hollow point". Think intent was to ensure reliability in auto's, not sure if they made in in .357 or not though.
I think the 158sp already mentioned could be good. Might pentetrate a bit too much though.
Might want to look for 158gr all lead. Worked well for years and would be much better than FMJ.
I think the 158sp already mentioned could be good. Might pentetrate a bit too much though.
Might want to look for 158gr all lead. Worked well for years and would be much better than FMJ.
HighVelocity
Member
After looking around I find that the 158gr JSP I mentioned before is still available.
BryanP
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It appears that Corbon's Pow-R-Ball is available in .357 magnum. Since Federal doesn't yet sell their EFMJ rounds in .357 I'm going to guess the Pow-R-Ball is the most effective "not a hollowpoint but sort of a hollowpoint" you could get. Other than that, I'd agree with the others and say go with a 158grn JSP round.
sgt127
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Remington still makes a dandy .357 Magnum 158 GR Lead Semi wadcutter. Thats what the .357 originally was loaded as. I like the round alot. As a matter of fact, its loaded in my short barrel SP-101 as we speak. I am beginning to think that penetration trumps expansion alot more often in real shootings. As a friend of mine says...Poke a hole, poke it all the way through, poke the biggest hole you can. Also, I gotta wonder if the all lead bullet beats up the gun alot less than any jacketed stuff.
"Remington still makes a dandy .357 Magnum 158 GR Lead Semi wadcutter."
Correct.
In the attached pix the load on the left is a .357 Remington 158 LSWC. The middle load is a .357 W-W 158 LSWC. The right load is .38 W-W 158 LSWCHP+P.
Those were the FBI issued loads during the 70s. Not included was a .38 Federal 158 LSWCHP+P altho it didn't look all that much different from the W-W load.
The .357 Rem and W-W had good penetration. Expansion would be more accurately described as deforming and not expansion. Personally I liked the W-W load better because of the slightly larger and sharper shoulder and meplat. Don't know if that makes any difference. The W-W worked fine on deer but I never used the Rem on deer so can't really compare.
Correct.
In the attached pix the load on the left is a .357 Remington 158 LSWC. The middle load is a .357 W-W 158 LSWC. The right load is .38 W-W 158 LSWCHP+P.
Those were the FBI issued loads during the 70s. Not included was a .38 Federal 158 LSWCHP+P altho it didn't look all that much different from the W-W load.
The .357 Rem and W-W had good penetration. Expansion would be more accurately described as deforming and not expansion. Personally I liked the W-W load better because of the slightly larger and sharper shoulder and meplat. Don't know if that makes any difference. The W-W worked fine on deer but I never used the Rem on deer so can't really compare.
Kamicosmos
Member
I like using 158 grain JSP or JHPs in my .357s.
S&B makes a good load with 158 JSP. It's a bit smokey, but accurate, and the recoil isn't too bad at all, and it chrono's at 1350, and about 1150 out of my SP101. It's currently my carry ammo in that gun.
S&B makes a good load with 158 JSP. It's a bit smokey, but accurate, and the recoil isn't too bad at all, and it chrono's at 1350, and about 1150 out of my SP101. It's currently my carry ammo in that gun.
PowderBurn
Member
At .357 mag velocities, lead, especially pure lead, is going to require more attention to cleaning.
PMC Ammunition still has a 158-Gr Jacketed Soft Point listed in 357Mag
Federal has a 158-Gr JSP in their American Eagle line
Ditto for Remington & Winchester
While you may not get quite as fast expansion from the JSP vs. Hollow-point, the function should still be quite acceptable for what you want.
Federal has a 158-Gr JSP in their American Eagle line
Ditto for Remington & Winchester
While you may not get quite as fast expansion from the JSP vs. Hollow-point, the function should still be quite acceptable for what you want.
I think you can't go wrong with any fmj or sp .357 ammo. In general, I do favor 158gr soft points for all-purpose use. I carry PMC 158gr sp in my car gun.
Of course, the best rounds are 180gr hard cast bullet ammo, but they cost $1 US per round (or more).
-David
Of course, the best rounds are 180gr hard cast bullet ammo, but they cost $1 US per round (or more).
-David
mtnbkr
Member
That's what got me into reloading. I can load a box of 50 for $15 or so.
Chris
I like as much penetration as possible, and don't really care about expansion since its unreliable at handgun velocities. A 158gr sp may expand, but it will surely shoot through and through and break any bones in its path on a person. A 125gr fmj may do the same thing, although it doesn't quite have the momentum of a 158gr.
If there's a "better" one it would be the 158.
If there's a "better" one it would be the 158.
chaim
Member
Another fan of the 158gr lead SWC (semi-wadcutter) which is still loaded by several companies. Full caliber shoulder, tapered at the end for penatration, all lead so there may well be some expansion. It is a great round.
dasmi
Member
PMC .357 Magnum Jacketed Soft Point. I shoot a lot of it, it's accurate and reliable.
The solution to leading when you re-load is to add a gas check.
But honestly, in a short barreled revolver it doesn't make much difference.
158 gr semi-wadcutter is the bee's knees in my Magnum Carry.
But honestly, in a short barreled revolver it doesn't make much difference.
158 gr semi-wadcutter is the bee's knees in my Magnum Carry.
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