D.B. Cooper
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That's good ammo. And the HST, which is similar.
Favorite 357 Mag Factory Load?
- Thread starter Corpral_Agarn
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D.B. Cooper
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I'm not sure about that. 12 ga slugs are often considered the gold standard for bear defense. I think it depends on your needs. I would prefer a "stout, true magnum load of .357 over a shotgun" if I didn't want the bulk, weight, and inconvenience of a shotgun. (But I agree with your having referenced 44 loads-I'd prefer a 44 for a "woods gun" over a 357.)
entropy
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Factory .357's? The only .357's I ever bought were Remington 125 JHP's for carry. I replicated the round in reloads for range use.
The Evangelist Cowboy
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I didn't say it couldn't be done. But I want a hardcast or full copper bullet with a wide meplat over a standard 12ga slug.
any load in that 586 will be "sweet". I prefer anything weighing 180 grains in that L-frame. my lead bullet load is a 180 grain truncated cone @ 1200 fps (no leading at that velocity). buffalo bore should have something like this in their lineup, and/or a jacketed hollow point to take care of whatever comes along.
I believe smith and Wesson made the L-frame specifically for the 357 magnum cartridge. and they hit a home run!
luck,
murf
I believe smith and Wesson made the L-frame specifically for the 357 magnum cartridge. and they hit a home run!
luck,
murf
For me, the Remington-UMC 125 gr JSP is the liveliest .357 round I've shot out of my Ruger GP-100s. In my GP-100 with a 6" barrel, I chronoed it at an average of 1,625 fps. I shot it at a Birchwood Casey metal spinning target at 15 yards and got a visible crater on the front side of the plate and a noticeable bump on the back side. The damn thing spun six or seven times. I suspect that if you shot this through a 16" to 18" barrel carbine, you would get over 2,000 fps which is into 7.62 x 39 territory.
I've shot this round indoors at a practice session through my 4.2" barrel GP-100 Match Champion and the bystanders were impressed by the muzzle flash, the B/C gap flash, and the concussion of the round. For me, 24 to 30 rounds of this load is enough for one practice session.
I've shot this round indoors at a practice session through my 4.2" barrel GP-100 Match Champion and the bystanders were impressed by the muzzle flash, the B/C gap flash, and the concussion of the round. For me, 24 to 30 rounds of this load is enough for one practice session.
The Evangelist Cowboy
Member
I wasn't aware they made the 125 gr in a JSP. 158 sure, but not the 125 I do know the 125 gr sjhp trucks along pretty well. A couple of years ago, I was shooting at an indoor range, I had a mossberg 500 with 00 buck and a Smith and Wesson model 27-2 with a 5 inch barrel. Two elderly ladies got there with what I assume were some sort of .22 Browning Buckmark or Ruger Mark (whatever number they're onto by now) don't know couldn't tell. I was shooting those 125 gr loads and causing a ruckus. They were in the stall next to me and lasted maybe 7 min before they just packed up and left. I wasn't onto why until I stepped out. They were sitting outside at a table in the lobby when one of them said "the a**h*** is done we can shoot now" whether I was being the word they accused me of I don't know. To me the range should be expected to be loud, oh well.
MidRoad
Member
Sounds to me like they need to double up, muffs and plugs if they are noise sensitive. You must be a real jerk for shooting your new gun.....in a caliber that's allowed at the range...where you paid your own hard earned money....
Ohen Cepel
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125 SJHP for defense use, 158gr in the woods for me.
The Evangelist Cowboy
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Imagine their faces if I went back in with a short barreled .44 or .454 that would definitely make em leave.
Cowboy,
I figured that. When I lived up in Canada, the farmers had a very real possibility of running into a brown bear, their weapon of choice a NON HUNTING ENCOUNTER was a cruiser style pump shotgun with slugs.
A 1 ounce or heavier slug compared to a half ounce revolver round or even a 2/3 ounce revolver round does not sound like a good choice to me when dealing with a grizzly, but to each his own.
Jim
I figured that. When I lived up in Canada, the farmers had a very real possibility of running into a brown bear, their weapon of choice a NON HUNTING ENCOUNTER was a cruiser style pump shotgun with slugs.
A 1 ounce or heavier slug compared to a half ounce revolver round or even a 2/3 ounce revolver round does not sound like a good choice to me when dealing with a grizzly, but to each his own.
Jim
IWAC
Member
My absolute favorite 357 Magnum ammo is the Speer 135 gr. Short Barrel load. If you reload, a good 158-160 gr. hard cast SWC or RNFP loaded to ~ 1,000 fps will will be comfortable to shoot, and handle almost any situation you may meet...except for a grizzly bear. Do they still have those in Northern California?
As far as non-lead ammo is concerned...this taken from questions about the California regulations:
What about target shooting or firearms for personal protection?
The regulations do not require use of nonlead ammunition when target shooting. Use of lead projectiles for target shooting is legal unless CDFW or another government entity has determined otherwise for lands they administer. The regulations do not prohibit the possession of concealable firearms containing lead ammunition, provided the firearm is possessed for personal protection and is not used to take or assist in the take of wildlife. With the exception of ammunition for concealable firearms possessed for personal protection, hunters may not possess lead ammunition along with a firearm capable of firing that ammunition.
As far as non-lead ammo is concerned...this taken from questions about the California regulations:
What about target shooting or firearms for personal protection?
The regulations do not require use of nonlead ammunition when target shooting. Use of lead projectiles for target shooting is legal unless CDFW or another government entity has determined otherwise for lands they administer. The regulations do not prohibit the possession of concealable firearms containing lead ammunition, provided the firearm is possessed for personal protection and is not used to take or assist in the take of wildlife. With the exception of ammunition for concealable firearms possessed for personal protection, hunters may not possess lead ammunition along with a firearm capable of firing that ammunition.
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Offhand McFlan
Member
I usually opt for Hornady 158gr XTP, or another manufacturer that loads XTP projectiles(like Fiocchi).Since I generally consider my 357's to be woods guns, I like extra penetration with the controlled expansion that XTP's provide. I figure 158gr is heavy enough although not ideal for black bear, and is fast enough though not ideal for SD. A well-rounded trade-off.
I actually keep most of my guns and/or mags loaded with XTP rounds. 45ACP out of a short barrel was where I drew the line though, and started using Double Tap JHP instead. Short barreled 45 really do gave expansion issues sometimes because of low velocity. 357 usually has plenty juice to get adequate expansion from an XTP.
I actually keep most of my guns and/or mags loaded with XTP rounds. 45ACP out of a short barrel was where I drew the line though, and started using Double Tap JHP instead. Short barreled 45 really do gave expansion issues sometimes because of low velocity. 357 usually has plenty juice to get adequate expansion from an XTP.
The Evangelist Cowboy
Member
Sorry, didnt see this. I absolutely think the 12 ga with appropriate slugs can work. I should've worded this better. How many appropriate slugs are in use? Not talking about off the shelf Winchester and remington there have been reports (Know Jim Cirillo filed a few) where shotgun slugs would glance off a human skull at the right angle. If your talking brenneke' or a modern maker that makes some hardcore slugs than go for it but with typical slugs I stand by the "I'll take the sixgun anyday"
Charlie Martinez
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Winchester 125 grain JHP is my favorite for lower recoil & accuracy but muzzle blast is definitely big time.
TK6411
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Exactly
jeff-10
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For personal defense it is hard to go wrong with almost any factory JHP in 357. I keep 158gr Black Hills JHP's in my nightstand gun. It is really accurate in my 2.5" 686+.
icanthitabarn
Member
No idea of a favorite because all my factory ammo gets saved but I have a few rounds of Rem. 125 sp and that box was some serious boomers
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