Bullet expansion from a snub 357 mag

[tblt]

Will I get good bullet expansion from a Snub nose 357 w/ 2 1/4 barrel?
I here my 38 won't expand good out of my 1 7/8 barrel

 

[Diggers]

I'm no expert...but I have read a lot of threads on this topic. (Others will give you better info.)

The short story is, its all about the bullet. All bullets are not equal, some are better than others depending on what you want them to do.

There are .38s that will expand out of your 1 7/8 inch barrel also just have to find the right combo of bullet to charge. (I will find a link for you be right back. )

Im back here go. This link is to .38s but you can check out the .357 also. Check out the Buffalo Bore ammo in the .38s seems like real good stuff.

http://www.brassfetcher.com/38special2inchbarrel.html

 

[Jim March]

There are some good mild 357 expanding loads for snub 357s. Cor-Bon's 125gr DPX is a good one, as is Speer's 135gr 357 "short barrel special special".

In 38+P there's also good choices. Definitely check out brassfetcher's data. The best 158gr lead hollowpoints work - Remington and Buffalo Bore in particular. Speer's 135gr 38+P works, and all the Buffalo Bore 38s and 38+Ps.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Originally Posted By tblt:
Will I get good bullet expansion from a Snub nose 357 w/ 2 1/4 barrel?
I here my 38 won't expand good out of my 1 7/8 barrel

It all depends upon which bullet is in the .357 Magnum round and at what speed the bullet is going.

Also, don't be so fast to condemn all .38 Special rounds' expansion ability when shot from a short barrel. Speer has developed a 135gr GDHP bullet specifically designed to expand at the lower velocities generated in a short barrel .38 Special revolver. That bullet will expand at 800 fps and their .38 Special +P Short Barrel SD round will propel it ~860 fps from a snub nose revolver. That same bullet when shot from their Short Barrel .357 Magnum SD round will travel at ~990 fps. When I tested them in my M638 and M640 the velocities for each exceeded the posted velocities.

 

[X_m1tanker]

A snub nosed anything is meant to do one thing.... puke a slug out. If you dont like the balistics or stopping power of a snub nose then step up to a gun that has the barrel length and caliber to utilize velocity and muzzle energy....noob

 

[ArchAngelCD]

A snub nosed anything is meant to do one thing.... puke a slug out. If you dont like the balistics or stopping power of a snub nose then step up to a gun that has the barrel length and caliber to utilize velocity and muzzle energy....noob

Now that sounds a little nasty.
And I don't agree a snub nose is meant to "puke out a slug." I'm surprised you left out the words "belly gun."

 

[X_m1tanker]

Ummm, ok, well thats a great reply, I must say, lol.... but a 1" 45 +p+ just aint gunna have the same "pukability" as a nice 5" Kimber now, is it? Staying strict to the subject a snub nosed pistol is a 13 foot gun if that, and if your lucky, you might get 3 off before the purp stabs ya...

 

[ArchAngelCD]

You just joined this forum and already you are insulting people. I guess you didn't realize this forum is named "The High Road."

I won't argue with you about snub nose revolvers because from the way you are talking it seems like you haven't put in the practice time required to shoot a short barrel revolver well. Any J frame revolver will do it's job and do it well if the shooter does their job. There is nothing inherently inaccurate about a snub nose revolver, they are just more difficult to shoot well.

a snub nosed pistol is a 13 foot gun if that, and if your lucky, you might get 3 off before the purp stabs ya...

Why would you need more than 3 shots?
If 3 can't get it done you need more practice, not more rounds in your gun.
And, if you can't hit what you are aiming at from under 5 yards sell off your gun and hire a bodyguard.

 

[X_m1tanker]

I just joined and already you are insulting me, lol, the jokes on you foo. Ive put a few SABOTS and HEAT downrange too. But getting beyond your silly bantering.... a snubnose is a backup weapon best suited for last resort, as any LE would tell ya. Thats why its a back up.... balistics show that a snub nose round doesn't get the velocity to provide reliable expansion regardless of what round is used, including HP. So I dunno what yer trying to prove, by trying to make me look like a foo, foo...

 

[Jim March]

There are rounds designed to work from 38snubs. In some cases the designs actually work.

When people dismiss snubs "generally", they haven't taken the time to research those few loads that do work.

The absolute king of the hill is the Buffalo Bore 38+P 158gr all-lead hollowpoint. It does 1,000fps from a snub, putting it on par with most 9mm slugs and a few 9+Ps from duty-size guns.

If you average out ALL 38Spl ammo from snubs, yes, you end up with a lot of stuff that works and might make a good case for condemning the combination...but you'd be wrong in specific cases.

 

[X_m1tanker]

I think snubs fill a specific roll, I used to carry a S&W titanium hammerless 1-7/8"... it fitmy hand good and also a pocket or a pancake. But it was specifically last resort. Talon, Glasser, Silverpoint, it all gets nominal performance out of a sub 2" barrel... no matter how much one wants to glamourize a short barrel. Yea the thing goes bang and pokes some lead out there, but its a last resort weapon....

 

[Moonclip]

Some surprisingly good shooting can be done with a 2" barrel .38spl or .357mag but it does take some practice most people won't put in.

Especially with larger or steel framed guns, longer range hits aren't too hard. I use lighter
bullet .357mag in snubs like 110gr and feel I'm probably still getting decent power and some expansion most likely.

After all a 4" .38spl in most all loadings is going to "puke" out a less powerful or effective round than .357mag out of a snub.

 

[Jim March]

Talon, Glasser, Silverpoint

You've named two garbage loads (Glaser and Winchester Silvertip), neither of them spelled right. Both fail regularly from snubs. I don't believe the Black Talon was ever offered in 38Spl or 38+P.

 

[pinkymingeo]

To me, using a firearm in self-defense is most certainly "last resort". If an assailant is out of comfortable snubbie range, I'm gonna be running away, not shooting. I have no faith in bullet expansion in handguns, period. Maybe they will, maybe they won't. If they do, maybe your round has enough energy to provide adequate penetration by the expanded bullet, and maybe it doesn't. My personal defense rounds are loaded with lead semi-wadcutters, except one which uses a jsp. I could care less about expansion, just want to make (ideally) two holes in what I'm shooting at.

 

[Dismantler]

Geez...I can hit pretty well out to 25 yards with a snubby shooting SA, and I do not really consider myself a great shot. By pretty well I mean a 14" X 20" target, which is the size of my upper torso.

Anywhere out to 35 you would not want me shooting at you. It would definitely be too close for comfort.

I don't think that a snubby with standard .38's is a bad SD choice.

 

[hoptob]

X_m1tanker,

You called respected member of this forum, ArchAngelCD, foo. Do you actually know what foo stands for? If you do, you are one and should be banned from this forum as this is the first time I've seen obscenities used here. If you don't, I suggest you find out.

Mike

 

[ldp4570]

M1 Tanker= C.D.A.T. ( Computerized Dumb-Assed Tanker)

For being new you've got alot of nerve calling people on here fool's.

You don't know as much as you think, and you haven't been everywhere.

 

[jfh]

x m1tanker: either take a deep breath and forgo calling people's names, or don't bother to post.

Jim H.

 

[XavierBreath]

What was that that went over my bow?

This thread has merit.

I do not want to close it because it got derailed in childish arguments.

Let's drop the personal attacks and namecalling, and get back to the original poster's question.

 

[ldp4570]

Not real fond of .357mag out of a snub. Just to much flash recoil, plus I don't want to beat up my 66, so its loaded with .38+P SWCHP. Out of it's 2.5" barrel they will get the job done. During my time as an LEO it was on my vest during duty, and was my off duty CCW gun. I have never felt out-gunned or under-gunned. Now days its usually my 640 no dash with the same loads riding in my front pocket, as my always gun. If I feel the need to carry more its either my 3913 or 4516-2, but still with my 640 along for the ride.

As long as you not put to many of the 125gr loads thorugh your K or J frame guns they will last to be past down to your grandkids. If you can find them, get yourself a couple of boxes of Winchester 145gr Silvertips. They have a proven track record.