For Home Defense

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

Mark G.

Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2002
Messages
74
Location
Cincinnati, OH
I have a Ruger Speed Six 2 3/4 inch barrel .357 mag for home defense. I have read that the .38 does not have the stopping power and the .357 is too loud in HD situation and maybe too powerful. What is everyone using if they have a revolver for HD? Thanks for the responses.
 
Taurus Model 82 (or 83)...it's the .38, 4 in barrel, adjustable sites.

Loaded with Hydrashoks......I feel perfectly comfortable with that.

Beyond that is the USP9, mags out of gun but loaded with Speer Gold Dots.....not close to the bed.
 
My home defence gun is a .45 Colt revolver. I load it with Win Silvertips.

I agree that the .357 may be loud, but for home defence, I wouldn't wory about it. There are very good loads that do not excessivly penetrate, and if that is what you have, use it.
The 38spcl 158gr SWC HP +P is a very good defence round in either a 38 or a .357. I have carried it, and that is what we keep in the "other" house gun.

Oh, if you want to see just how loud a 357 from a 3" is, go to an indoor range and set up on the end. Have a friend shoot it and walk down to the far end and take off your ear muffs. You'll only do it once.
The .357 is a sharp crack that will cause hearing damage.
 
Colt Magnum Carry 2 inch 357. I load it with 158 gr. Hydrashocks. My little Magnum doesn't shoot 38's with as much accuracy, and seems to like the heavier bullets.

The 158gr swchp driven to magnum velocity is thumper too.
 
Our house gun is same as yours and it is loaded with .38 special+P Federal Hi-Shok 125 gr. JHP. I chose this because it is a decent load and my S.O. can handle the fairly mild recoil. (I feel the best .38 special+P load is the 158 gr. lead hollowpoint, but it recoils a little more.)

If I was the only operator of this revolver then it would be loaded with .357 magnum Winchester Silvertip 145 gr. JHP. I like the Silvertip because it gives plenty of penetration and expansion.

I once rapid fired 6 rounds of .357 magnum Winchester 110 gr. JHP, outdoors, without ear protection, and it did hurt my ears. Nonetheless, I won't worry about noise in a self defense situation. I feel .357 magnum ammo is more potent than .38 special ammo, even out of a snubby.
 
Loud in the house not of importance.
.22 Long Rifle will damage unprotected ears.

A situation wherein the use of lethal force is justified is not one where losing hearing in some frequencies would have high priority.

Depending where I am in the house when the need arises, I might use .357Mag, .44Mag, .44Specia, .308, 12GA etc etc.

Sam
 
In my opinion, there are three 38+P loads that are reliable performers in 2" barrels, and an extra 3/4" can only help.

1) 158+P lead hollowpoints, also known as the LSWC-HP+P. These are commonly available from Winchester, out of production from Federal (which loaded 'em wimpy anyways, so no loss) and can sometimes be found in Remington boxes (these latter are reputedly a hair hotter than the Winnies, but not by all that much). Cor-Bon used to make 'em too - if you can ever find 'em at a gun show or whatever, snap 'em up!

These are an "old school" load used as far back as the 1930's, and are sometimes referred to by the name of agencies that used to use them: "Treasury Police load", "Chicago Load" and "Metro load" are three I've heard of. Not high tech, but they punch deep and generally expand.

2) Gold Dot 125grainers in 38+P flavor: a number of companies load this in addition to Speer/CCI: Proload, Georgia Arms and Black Hills. Probably more. All three of the latter have excellent reputations.

3) Winchester 130grain +P Supreme: has a real monster of a hollowpoint cavity, great example of a "tuned for the purpose" projectile.

In your gun, recoil and noise will be controllable, but effectiveness will be all you need if you plant 'em right :D.

In my opinion, too many other 38+P loads fail in 2" barrels. Granted, yours is a hair longer but...why risk it?
 
Greeting's All-

I have a 6" Smith & Wesson 686-5 .357 magnum
for my son in-laws* use; cuz he is very unfamiliar
with firearms in general. It's stoked with 6 rounds of
Federal 110 grain .38 Special self-defense loads.

*FootNote- MY home defense gun is a .45 caliber SIG-
Sauer P220A; loaded with Remington's standard pressure
185 grain JHP's.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
Jim March is essentially correct, but that lead HP load originated in the US in 1971, not the 1930's. It was introduced by Winchester, and boxes were marked "MS".

I asked the Winchester rep in Dallas what that stood for, and he had to call the factory in East Alton to inquire. Turned out to mean, "Maximum Service", and that's what it delivers in a .38 Special. It's what I usually carry in .38's for field or defense use.

But I agree that the Speer Gold Dot is probably a winner, too, and I want to try that Winchester 130 grain SXT, about which I've read very favorable things.

I don't favor light bullets in .38 or .357. They don't shoot to the sights, and may prove too frangible for deep penetration.

Jim March may have had in mind that Elmer Keith and others made up lead HP handloads as far back as the 1930's, but factory production didn't commence here then. I don't know when CIL/Dominion began loading them in Canada for the RCMP, but believe that it probably preceeded introduction in the US.

It is a great pity that this load is so hard to find in most stores, and that Federal dropped the 38G, which I did NOT feel was loaded any lighter than either Remington or Winchester versions. The 38G round is also quite accurate in my guns. In published chronograph tests, the Remington usually shows the lowest velocity, but used a softer lead, so it will still expand okay.

The only rub is that firing many of these soft lead loads does make the gun's bore hard to clean. That is seldom a factor in defense shootings.

Lone Star
 
We keep Winchester 158 gr LSWCHP +P's in our old, perfectly good, 2 3/4" Speed Six, mainly because my wife does much better with this than with the .357 loads we have at home.

Our kids are grown and out on their own now, and my first preference for HD are our yappy lovable dogs and a short .223 carbine (less recoil, less overpenetration, and better stopping results) and a MKIII Hi Power with Gold Dot 124gr +P's. Well, I also feel comfortable with a short .44 Special and LSWCHP's... ;)

12 Ga. buckshot kicks, but works pretty well out to 18 yards or so. Much past that and you have to worry about the buckshot missing and where it goes. Too bad the thugs aren't as considerate about us.

Good, reliable, accurate, used .38's are often relatively inexpensive, which can be a great thing for many people. I don't worry too much about using one.
 
Last edited:
I keep the Bersa .380 ready with Hydrashoks......

If I get too nervous about being outgunned, there's always the P95 with one in the chamber and a mag full.
 
The details discussed here are fine, but really not hugely important.

The difference in the various loads mentioned here may or may not wind up making any practical difference. The various nuances of different loads is discussed to death here, but the cartridge you put in your gun is a very secondary consideration, and is less important than shot placement, caliber, training, etc.

If I had spent all the time practicing that I have spent reading about which 38 special load is best, I have no doubt I would be better off.

That said, you first need to decide whether you want to use 38 or 357. I agree the noise level is not something to worry about. Some people are sensitive to 357s recoil and blast, especially in short barrelled guns. If that doesn't affect you, I would go 357. If it does bother you, I would go with 38.

Give me a 125 grain JHP in either caliber, and I will be happy.
 
Originally posterd by Lone_Gunman:
That said, you first need to decide whether you want to use 38 or 357. I agree the noise level is not something to worry about. Some people are sensitive to 357s recoil and blast, especially in short barrelled guns. If that doesn't affect you, I would go 357. If it does bother you, I would go with 38.
Click to expand...
One thing that hasn't been mentioned, is the potential for over-penetration with the .357 Magnum round.

If you live on a ranch, with no family and no close neighbors, this over-penetration issue may not effect you.

For those of us who have family and neighbors, the over-penetration issue must be considered.

I read about some guy "dry-firing" his .357 Magnum in an apartment.

His gun fired, and the .357 bullet went thru the wall and thru two other apartments before it ran out of energy.

Just something to think about before you select your home-defense ammo.....
 
SAME AS MY CARRY LOAD...

38+p+ JHP...in my SP101........also 2 back ups....G17 w/ corbon+p's,and PT99 w/ Hydro-shoks......
If you do your job and shoot well, a 38 will kill him dead......
 
I've been keeping 38 +p SXT's (130 gr , I think) in my 4" 686 (Gunvault on nightstand) but I'm thinking of switching to 357 Mag 158 gr Silvertips. I originally thought the +p would be a good blend of control and power. Now I'm thinking more about power and maybe not needing a quick follow-up shot.

All I can say for sure is self-defense ammo is hellaciously expensive. Silvertips may come in a box o' 50 but you still pay for 'em.
 
30 yo S&W 10-5 w/4" skinny barrel loaded with Federal 125gr Nyclad HP's. I live in a townhouse and don't want to takeout the neighbors if I have to use it in the middle of the night. For all other needs, a S&W M28 4" loaded w/Rem 125gr SJHP 357mags.

SgtMaj13
Semper Fi
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

P
  • Locked
Is .357 Magnum Good for Home Defense? CCW?
2 3 4
Replies
88
Views
26K
Prosser
P
S
  • Locked
Who Would Choose .357 Mag Over .45 ACP For Home Defense?
2 3 4 5
Replies
103
Views
16K
tasco 74
T
U
  • Locked
.357 home defense ammo
Replies
12
Views
941
S&W620
S&W620
P
  • Locked
Ruger Speed Six
Replies
3
Views
897
earthworm
E
C
  • Locked
Time for a debate or "Can of Worms" 38's in a 357
2 3 4 5
Replies
101
Views
5K
WalkAbout
W
Back
Top