I want to use the same ammo for defence and practice at the range . Because using 357 mag and 38spl. 125 gr. +P jhp is so unpleasant for me to shoot with my 2.25" SP101 , I use 158gr. 38spl. flat nose jsp for practice and carry . I know it's probably not the best defence load but I think its good enough . I've heard that you can get 110gr 357. jhp . Would this be a better option.
whats your SP101 defence ammo
- Thread starter Handyman
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MCgunner
Member
140 grain Speer JHP in front of 17.0 grains of 2400, 1330fps/551 ft lbs. 2.5" accurate at 25 yards and almost pleasant to shoot compared to 158 and 180 grain stuff. Light bullets don't do well out of short barrels in .357 in my experience.
Big Boomer
Member
125 gr corbon DPX but that's just because I love the Barnes performance. If they offered a heavier grain bullet I would choose that. These are "medium" loads.
I have ran some buffalo bores through it but the barrel being so short 3" that most of the powder blows out then end of the barrel as these were designed for the 6" hunting barrels. I actually get worse performance in those than lower powered rounds offered.
I do follow the philosophy that heavier bullets perform better in shorter barrel guns. The you can actually get very close velocities as the lower grain weights by jumping up a level or 2 out of a snub. It's even more important if you are using a 2". If you go up to 158 grain you might lose 30fps but are adding a lot of mass to it actually getting better performance. It is a toss up if you go from the 158 to 170 or 180 grains. You really need a longer barrel to get those heavy bullets moving with slower powder without overpressure issues.
I think the most optimal grain weight for a 3" snub is most likely the 158 grain.
I have ran some buffalo bores through it but the barrel being so short 3" that most of the powder blows out then end of the barrel as these were designed for the 6" hunting barrels. I actually get worse performance in those than lower powered rounds offered.
I do follow the philosophy that heavier bullets perform better in shorter barrel guns. The you can actually get very close velocities as the lower grain weights by jumping up a level or 2 out of a snub. It's even more important if you are using a 2". If you go up to 158 grain you might lose 30fps but are adding a lot of mass to it actually getting better performance. It is a toss up if you go from the 158 to 170 or 180 grains. You really need a longer barrel to get those heavy bullets moving with slower powder without overpressure issues.
I think the most optimal grain weight for a 3" snub is most likely the 158 grain.
P. Plainsman
Member
158 grain Buff Bore "spicy" LSWCHP .38+P Gas Check @ 1000 fps or so
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Good old Remington FBI Load: 158 gr LSWCHP .38+P (Item # R38S12)
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Good old Remington FBI Load: 158 gr LSWCHP .38+P (Item # R38S12)
The_Shootist
Member
Nod
+ 1 to the FBI Load. Real easy out of a SP 101. I find it more controllable than either a full house head banging .357 rd - like the Silvertip, or Buffalo Bores's beefier FBI load.
+ 1 to the FBI Load. Real easy out of a SP 101. I find it more controllable than either a full house head banging .357 rd - like the Silvertip, or Buffalo Bores's beefier FBI load.
P. Plainsman
Member
Yes. I should clarify that I use those two .38+P lead hollowpoint loads for urban/suburban carry.
If I were toting the SP101 as hiking insurance, I'd pick the Winchester 145 gr Silvertip in .357 Magnum - great all around magnum load with genuine power on tap.
And, just maybe, if I was carrying the SP101 somewhere I might run into a big mean hog, the Buffalo Bore 180 gr LFN hardcast "bar the door" .357 Magnum slammers. They recoil right good in an SP, but can be controlled with the Hogue monogrip. Should give 600 ft/lbs of power at the muzzle - from a 2.25" snubby!
ronto
Member
I use Speer 357 135gr GDHP "short barrel" for carry AND practice in the DAO model...Not a good idea to carry one type of ammo and practice with another...Don't need any surprises when it will really count.
nitesite
Member
That's a really difficult situation to be in from a financial point of view.
Lot's of good suggestions have been offered, and almost every one of them presents a viable defense load. The stumbling block here, I would think, is cost with regards to getting in enough practice.
Perhaps one of the better inexpensive factory .357 Magnum loads made for practice is Remington's UMC 125-gr JSP. You can purchase it for as little as $17.19 per box of 50 from sources such as http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=25&products_id=74667
However, many shooters might say that a JSP is not the overall best choice when selecting a defensive round against human threats. There are 125-gr JHP loads that closely mimic the UMC load I mentioned, such as the superb Remington R357M1 125-gr SJHP load. In its day it was one of the finest performers in making effective stops. You could buy one box of it for about double the price of the UMC brand but both have identical ballistics so they should feel virtually identical as far as recoil.
http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=74659
A bit of a warning: This stuff is not for the faint of heart. The 1450-fps 125-gr .357 was called the "Lightning Bolt" and although its recoil from a 4" or longer revolver isn't brutal, the blast and noise might be considered such.
nitesite
Member
Deleted... double tap
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DawgFvr
Member
nitesite
Member
Handyman~
Sorry, I just re-read your topic starter and didn't catch the part of not wanting to shoot .357-mag (or even hot +Ps) thru your SP-101.
In your situation I will offer what I think is the absolute best non-+P .38 Special load for your 2½" SP that is still somewhat affordable.
Remington R38S6 158-gr LSWC $25.00 per 50
http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=74793
Buffalo Bore makes a nice standard pressure .38 Special heavy bullet load for short barrelled revolvers but at over $1 per round it doesn't fit your needs.
Heavy bullets perform better than light bullets from short barrels. They keep more of their intended velocity. They penetrate to the vitals with much greater regularity. They do not decellerate as quickly as light (110-gr) bullets.
LSWC standard pressure .38 Special is a great load with a good bit of thump.
Lot's of great suggestions have been made but just about every one (including my first one) has been off the mark by a mile!
Sorry, I just re-read your topic starter and didn't catch the part of not wanting to shoot .357-mag (or even hot +Ps) thru your SP-101.
In your situation I will offer what I think is the absolute best non-+P .38 Special load for your 2½" SP that is still somewhat affordable.
Remington R38S6 158-gr LSWC $25.00 per 50
http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=74793
Buffalo Bore makes a nice standard pressure .38 Special heavy bullet load for short barrelled revolvers but at over $1 per round it doesn't fit your needs.
Heavy bullets perform better than light bullets from short barrels. They keep more of their intended velocity. They penetrate to the vitals with much greater regularity. They do not decellerate as quickly as light (110-gr) bullets.
LSWC standard pressure .38 Special is a great load with a good bit of thump.
Lot's of great suggestions have been made but just about every one (including my first one) has been off the mark by a mile!
Not being a wiseguy but, have you tried practicing with hotter loads to become accustomed to the recoil?
Edit to add:
And since you asked what is MY SP101 defence ammo, I use Speer Gold Dot .357 magnum short barrel hollow points. And that is what I carry every day.
Edit to add:
And since you asked what is MY SP101 defence ammo, I use Speer Gold Dot .357 magnum short barrel hollow points. And that is what I carry every day.
Ghost Walker
Member
My wife's SP-101 has a 3" barrel. I have her using Speer 125 grain GDHP's.
She practices with Blazers; but, every now and then, I'll load her up with Gold Dots to keep her sharp. It really hasn't been difficult for her to transition to the hotter round. She hits well with either; but, Blazer ammo sure is cheaper to use!
She practices with Blazers; but, every now and then, I'll load her up with Gold Dots to keep her sharp. It really hasn't been difficult for her to transition to the hotter round. She hits well with either; but, Blazer ammo sure is cheaper to use!
Stainz
Member
My wife's car/bedside gun, a 2" 10, and my CCW 642 also carry the excellent stopper, the Remington R38S12 158gr +P LSWCHP. We shoot the same basic ammo, recoil/muzzle velocity-wise, from Georgia Arms - their G38E. The Remingtons run ~$30/50 - and are well tabulated for stopping power. The GA Arms loads are really equivalent, recoil-wise - just a bit harder lead. At $17.50/100, we practice with them.
Stainz
Stainz
nitesite
Member
I hesitated mentioning it, because some people are bothered that it's "remanufactured" ammunition. But I'd stake my life on Georgia Arms ammo, even reman.
I have a bunch of that Georgia Arms 158-gr LSWC-HP +P. It's good ammo for the price, especially for what I paid. I chrono'd some of it and it had the almost unbelieveable Standard Deviation of under 6-FPS!!!!
I believe they have a 158-gr LSWC standard (non +P) LSWC for under ten bucks a box.
You can see what their LSWC-HP looks like in this photo. It's third from the right.
I have a bunch of that Georgia Arms 158-gr LSWC-HP +P. It's good ammo for the price, especially for what I paid. I chrono'd some of it and it had the almost unbelieveable Standard Deviation of under 6-FPS!!!!
I believe they have a 158-gr LSWC standard (non +P) LSWC for under ten bucks a box.
You can see what their LSWC-HP looks like in this photo. It's third from the right.
Howdy Handyman,
I read through all this, so first I don't know if 110 gr. .357 would be any better for you. You should try it out and see how it feels (obviously). Nitesite posted some good stuff for you to try out and the price is right too!
However I think you are right in using a soft point in the .38 NON +P load so you get penetration, that’s most important. Plenty of BGs over the years have been stopped with out HP ammo.
ANOTHER THOUGHT. Maybe its NOT just about ammo……
Have you tried different grips on your SP?? There are a lot of grips out there that might make the recoil MUCH more manageable for you. There is a pic posted with the Houge grip an SP, that’s a real nice one.
Look into that too, with the right grip maybe you will feel fine shooting short barrel .357’s.
I read through all this, so first I don't know if 110 gr. .357 would be any better for you. You should try it out and see how it feels (obviously). Nitesite posted some good stuff for you to try out and the price is right too!
However I think you are right in using a soft point in the .38 NON +P load so you get penetration, that’s most important. Plenty of BGs over the years have been stopped with out HP ammo.
ANOTHER THOUGHT. Maybe its NOT just about ammo……
Have you tried different grips on your SP?? There are a lot of grips out there that might make the recoil MUCH more manageable for you. There is a pic posted with the Houge grip an SP, that’s a real nice one.
Look into that too, with the right grip maybe you will feel fine shooting short barrel .357’s.
BullSkater
Member
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2007
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When I was a police officer I shot my 357 at day and at night trying as many kinds of ammo on many different kinds of targets. I like the Winchester 140 grain silver tips for carry and hard cast or full metal jacket ammo in case there was a need for extra penatration. These rounds don't have the recoil and flash like the 125 grain stuf does but they work very good. 
Stainz
Member
My 4" .32 H&RM SP101 has a pair of HKS #32-J speedloaders with Georgia Arms 100gr Hornady XTP JHP .32 H&RM loaded - chrono-ed at 1,186 fps for 311 ft-lb. Every revolver I own has a speedloader with defensive ammo loaded. That GA Arms ammo is hot - and pretty nasty. Still, it's reasonably priced - recoil energy is low - but the ME is greater than +P .38 Specials!
My usual Ruger SSM & SP101 .32 H&RM load is a 115gr LRNFP at 800-840 fps. Fun++!
Stainz
My usual Ruger SSM & SP101 .32 H&RM load is a 115gr LRNFP at 800-840 fps. Fun++!
Stainz
Make sure you are holding high on the grip; the web of the hand should be even with the top of the rubber part of the grip. Just about everyone who handles or fires my SP101s holds them too low, which of course greatly increases muzzle flip. I hold high, and 180-grain hunting loads do not hurt; I am not one of those guys who loves recoil.
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