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Posted: 1/30/2010 4:08:41 PM EDT
[#1]
Have you checked the Ammo Faq at the top of the page?
The 125 gr. Semi-jacketed hollow point loads from Remington and Federal have an excellent reputation. You might want to take a look at Gold dot's and Corbon DPX as well. I don't have a .357 so that's about all the help I can give you. |
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Posted: 1/30/2010 4:08:57 PM EDT
[#2]
Speer Gold Dot 38spl +P 135gr or the 110gr Corbon DPX, also in 38spl.
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Posted: 1/30/2010 6:48:23 PM EDT
[#3]
Quoted:
Have you checked the Ammo Faq at the top of the page? The 125 gr. Semi-jacketed hollow point loads from Remington and Federal have an excellent reputation. You might want to take a look at Gold dot's and Corbon DPX as well. I don't have a .357 so that's about all the help I can give you. I don't see any .357 info- only 38 spec. |
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Posted: 1/30/2010 7:01:37 PM EDT
[#4]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Have you checked the Ammo Faq at the top of the page? The 125 gr. Semi-jacketed hollow point loads from Remington and Federal have an excellent reputation. You might want to take a look at Gold dot's and Corbon DPX as well. I don't have a .357 so that's about all the help I can give you. I don't see any .357 info- only 38 spec. If it is a 3 inch or shorter weapon, the .38+P loads in the ammo FAQ are your best bet. If it is a 4 inch weapon, I would suggest the Gold Dot 158 grain loadings for all .357 weapons. I realize that some folks like the lighter and faster 125 grain loadings, and they may be fine in some revolvers, but bear in mind that regular use of the 125 grain loads *will* damage your K frame revolvers. L and N frames, shoot what you want (though I still suggest the 158s,) but in the K frames, keep it to 158 in magnum loads, or stick to the .38+p rounds. |
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Posted: 1/30/2010 7:10:25 PM EDT
[#5]
Quoted: Quoted: Have you checked the Ammo Faq at the top of the page? The 125 gr. Semi-jacketed hollow point loads from Remington and Federal have an excellent reputation. You might want to take a look at Gold dot's and Corbon DPX as well. I don't have a .357 so that's about all the help I can give you. I don't see any .357 info- only 38 spec. That's because there are no officially "approved" .357 loads. Why do you need super-hot .357 loads for self defense? |
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Posted: 1/31/2010 4:27:30 AM EDT
[#6]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Have you checked the Ammo Faq at the top of the page? The 125 gr. Semi-jacketed hollow point loads from Remington and Federal have an excellent reputation. You might want to take a look at Gold dot's and Corbon DPX as well. I don't have a .357 so that's about all the help I can give you. I don't see any .357 info- only 38 spec. That's because there are no officially "approved" .357 loads. Why do you need super-hot .357 loads for self defense? Thanks for the responses. I don't want super-hot .357 loads. From my uneducated point of view, since I have a L frame .357, I figured a .357 round would be more suitable for SD than a .38 spec. I guess a better question would've been 125 gr v. 158 gr. |
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Posted: 1/31/2010 5:26:30 AM EDT
[#7]
Quoted: Thanks for the responses. I don't want super-hot .357 loads. From my uneducated point of view, since I have a L frame .357, I figured a .357 round would be more suitable for SD than a .38 spec. I guess a better question would've been 125 gr v. 158 gr. Neither. All you're concerned about is penetrating 12-18", and have the bullet open up reliably. The .38spl loads listed in the FAQ provide all that without having excessive the blast/recoil of full-power .357 loads. |
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Posted: 1/31/2010 5:57:23 AM EDT
[#8]
Also, do a google search on Super Vel Police and you'll get some interesting reading on tis subject.
In informal testing I have found that Speer Gold Dots are accurate, the jacket or plating never separates and expand reliably under most circustances. |
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Posted: 1/31/2010 8:31:48 AM EDT
[#9]
I use the gold dots toooo.
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Posted: 1/31/2010 8:46:30 AM EDT
[#10]
Quoted: Also, do a google search on Super Vel Police and you'll get some interesting reading on tis subject. In informal testing I have found that Speer Gold Dots are accurate, the jacket or plating never separates and expand reliably under most circustances. Did you use .357 GDHPs? The .44mag version did not do so well according to DocGKR's testing:  |
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Posted: 1/31/2010 10:05:17 AM EDT
[#11]
Quoted:
Also, do a google search on Super Vel Police and you'll get some interesting reading on tis subject. In informal testing I have found that Speer Gold Dots are accurate, the jacket or plating never separates and expand reliably under most circustances. Just out of curosity, why don't you want jacket separation? I would think that jacket separation would be welcome in a wound channel. Nothing like a nice sharp bullet jacket cuting it's way though muscle and flesh. Hell, that's what the DPX ammo is mostly. |
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Posted: 1/31/2010 12:06:56 PM EDT
[#12]
Quoted: Quoted: Also, do a google search on Super Vel Police and you'll get some interesting reading on tis subject. In informal testing I have found that Speer Gold Dots are accurate, the jacket or plating never separates and expand reliably under most circustances. Just out of curosity, why don't you want jacket separation? I would think that jacket separation would be welcome in a wound channel. Nothing like a nice sharp bullet jacket cuting it's way though muscle and flesh. Hell, that's what the DPX ammo is mostly. Because it won't have enough momentum on its own to penetrate very far. [ETA] That's exactly why you want the core to stay with the jacket: So the heavy core can move the expanded jacket along. |
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Posted: 1/31/2010 1:49:17 PM EDT
[#13]
Let me try this again...
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Posted: 1/31/2010 1:50:54 PM EDT
[#14]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Also, do a google search on Super Vel Police and you'll get some interesting reading on tis subject. In informal testing I have found that Speer Gold Dots are accurate, the jacket or plating never separates and expand reliably under most circustances. Did you use .357 GDHPs? The .44mag version did not do so well according to DocGKR's testing: http://ammo.ar15.com/project/Misc_Images/DocGKR/44mag.jpg Why are you comparing a heavy .44 Mag soft point to a light .357 Mag hollow point? Not only that, wanting a soft point to expand out of a handgun with a 6" barrel or less is generally not going to happen. |
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Posted: 2/1/2010 7:17:11 AM EDT
[#15]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Also, do a google search on Super Vel Police and you'll get some interesting reading on tis subject. In informal testing I have found that Speer Gold Dots are accurate, the jacket or plating never separates and expand reliably under most circustances. Did you use .357 GDHPs? The .44mag version did not do so well according to DocGKR's testing: http://ammo.ar15.com/project/Misc_Images/DocGKR/44mag.jpg Why are you comparing a heavy .44 Mag soft point to a light .357 Mag hollow point? Not only that, wanting a soft point to expand out of a handgun with a 6" barrel or less is generally not going to happen. The .44 Gold Dot is not a soft point. |
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Posted: 2/1/2010 7:31:02 AM EDT
[#16]
Quoted: Quoted: Did you use .357 GDHPs? The .44mag version did not do so well according to DocGKR's testing: http://ammo.ar15.com/project/Misc_Images/DocGKR/44mag.jpg Why are you comparing a heavy .44 Mag soft point to a light .357 Mag hollow point? Not only that, wanting a soft point to expand out of a handgun with a 6" barrel or less is generally not going to happen. I was merely pointing out that just because the GDHP works great in MANY calibers doesn't mean it works great in ALL calibers. Like scotchymcdrinkerbean has already pointed out, the .44 GDHP is not a soft point. |
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Posted: 2/1/2010 11:13:11 AM EDT
[#17]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Did you use .357 GDHPs? The .44mag version did not do so well according to DocGKR's testing: http://ammo.ar15.com/project/Misc_Images/DocGKR/44mag.jpg Why are you comparing a heavy .44 Mag soft point to a light .357 Mag hollow point? Not only that, wanting a soft point to expand out of a handgun with a 6" barrel or less is generally not going to happen. I was merely pointing out that just because the GDHP works great in MANY calibers doesn't mean it works great in ALL calibers. Like scotchymcdrinkerbean has already pointed out, the .44 GDHP is not a soft point. I agree. The picture states the Gold Dot bullet is 270 grains. The only 270 gr. Gold Dot Speer makes is a GDSP (soft point). Speer does make .429-.430 diameter hollow point bullets/loads, but they are in 200, 210, and 240 gr. weights. |
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Posted: 2/1/2010 11:25:14 AM EDT
[#18]
Quoted: The picture states the Gold Dot bullet is 270 grains. The only 270 gr. Gold Dot Speer makes is a GDSP (soft point). Speer does make .429-.430 diameter hollow point bullets/loads, but they are in 200, 210, and 240 gr. weights. You're right! He specifically lists it as the 270gr JSP version. The picture, however, clearly looks like a JHP. I'll have to ask him... |
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Posted: 2/1/2010 11:32:12 AM EDT
[#19]
It does look like a hollow point. Hard to tell
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Posted: 2/1/2010 12:56:46 PM EDT
[#20]
Quoted: It does look like a hollow point. Hard to tell He said it's definitely a JSP - my bad... |
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Posted: 2/1/2010 9:34:27 PM EDT
[#21]
My old dealer is a retired Richmond, CA cop and he said they swore by their .357 mags. They used 4" S&Ws (maybe 686, but could be older) loaded with 125gr. JHPs or SJHPs.
He said they were very accurate and very effective. |
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Posted: 2/1/2010 9:42:56 PM EDT
[#22]
BTW, those heavy Gold Dots are part of their hunting line, not the self defense line. The hunting line has heavier jackets and are designed for penetration and expansion.
http://www.speer-ammo.com/products/gold_dot_hunt.aspx The self defense line is a different animal. I would not expect the hunting bullets to expand very well in ballistic gelatin. They are made to puncture thick skin/hide and penetrate. |
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Posted: 2/1/2010 10:10:17 PM EDT
[#23]
I have long wondered why the 270 grain GDSP was chosen instead of the 210 or 240 JHPs (I don't the the 200 grain SB GDHP was available at the time).
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Posted: 2/2/2010 1:30:31 AM EDT
[#24]
Any info on the 140gr Barnes Expander?
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Posted: 2/3/2010 11:07:10 AM EDT
[#25]
Quoted:
The .44mag version did not do so well according to DocGKR's testing: In fairness, the 270 Grain .44 mag Gold Dot is actually a Hunting bullet designed to be fired from an 8" or longer barrel. It's also designed a lot like an XTP (marginal expansion and deep penetration) |
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Posted: 2/3/2010 12:41:29 PM EDT
[#26]
Quoted:
My old dealer is a retired Richmond, CA cop and he said they swore by their .357 mags. They used 4" S&Ws (maybe 686, but could be older) loaded with 125gr. JHPs or SJHPs. He said they were very accurate and very effective. The 125 grain SJHP load is pretty nasty. It's sort of similar in performance to M193, without the bullet breaking in half. I shot some Remington 125 grain SJHP mags over a chrono about 30 minutes ago. Temperature right now is around 40. Velocity from a 4" Model 28 was(average of 5 rounds) 1358 fps. Velocity from a 2.25" Sp101 was(average of five shots) 1298 fps. Depending on the time period of him being a cop, he may have carried a M19 or M66(or the fixed sight versions). Also possible is the M27 or M28, but those two are pretty unlikely unless he was a cop in the 50's or something. |
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Posted: 2/3/2010 2:39:18 PM EDT
[#27]
125gr DPX 357 Magnum
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Posted: 2/3/2010 5:13:34 PM EDT
[#28]
On the rare occasion my .357 revolver is used, i keep the cylinders stoked with W-W 145gr Silvertips or R-P 125gr SJHP, and Federal 140gr Vital-Shok loaded in speed-loaders. Federal's Vital-Shok loading uses the most excellent Barnes' XPB bullet with a sealed primer. I do not know why Federal chose to market this cartridge as a hunting round and not for self-defense along side with their questionable Hydra-Shok line-up.
Runners-up include: R-P 165gr Core-Lokt [Golden Saber bullet engineering] R-P 158gr SJHP W-W 180gr Partition Supreme [is also on the 'recommended list'] W-W 158gr SJHP Speer 125 & 158gr Gold Dot Hornady 125 & 140gr XTP Federal 130gr Hydra-Shok "personal defense" Corbon 125gr DPX |
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Posted: 2/9/2010 7:34:04 PM EDT
[#29]
You should use an ice pick. Everyone knows that a .357 mag is similar to a .357 sig which is really like a 9mm +p+ which is hard on your guns so you shoud go with a 9mm 147 grain. But you want a revolver, so you should use a .38 spl. A .38 special ain't that much better than a .380 acp, so you should just use that. A .380 acp is about the same as a good .32 silvertip. On the otherhand, a .32 is only a little better than a .25, but everyone knows that a .25 won't penetrate bone like a .22 lr. Then, though, you'll be carrying a .22, which just leaves a narrow wound channel like an ice pick. So, you might as well just carry an ice pick.
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Posted: 2/10/2010 5:20:22 AM EDT
[#30]
Quoted:
You should use an ice pick. Everyone knows that a .357 mag is similar to a .357 sig which is really like a 9mm +p+ which is hard on your guns so you shoud go with a 9mm 147 grain. But you want a revolver, so you should use a .38 spl. A .38 special ain't that much better than a .380 acp, so you should just use that. A .380 acp is about the same as a good .32 silvertip. On the otherhand, a .32 is only a little better than a .25, but everyone knows that a .25 won't penetrate bone like a .22 lr. Then, though, you'll be carrying a .22, which just leaves a narrow wound channel like an ice pick. So, you might as well just carry an ice pick. 
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Posted: 2/10/2010 5:32:53 AM EDT
[#31]
Quoted:
Quoted:
You should use an ice pick. Everyone knows that a .357 mag is similar to a .357 sig which is really like a 9mm +p+ which is hard on your guns so you shoud go with a 9mm 147 grain. But you want a revolver, so you should use a .38 spl. A .38 special ain't that much better than a .380 acp, so you should just use that. A .380 acp is about the same as a good .32 silvertip. On the otherhand, a .32 is only a little better than a .25, but everyone knows that a .25 won't penetrate bone like a .22 lr. Then, though, you'll be carrying a .22, which just leaves a narrow wound channel like an ice pick. So, you might as well just carry an ice pick. 
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Posted: 2/10/2010 9:33:36 AM EDT
[#32]
Got a box of 125gr gold dot hp... thanks for the inputs.
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Posted: 2/11/2010 4:08:08 PM EDT
[#33]
Anybody have any info about the old .357 Black Talons?
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Posted: 2/12/2010 10:37:37 AM EDT
[#34]
Quoted:
You should use an ice pick. Everyone knows that a .357 mag is similar to a .357 sig which is really like a 9mm +p+ which is hard on your guns so you shoud go with a 9mm 147 grain. But you want a revolver, so you should use a .38 spl. A .38 special ain't that much better than a .380 acp, so you should just use that. A .380 acp is about the same as a good .32 silvertip. On the otherhand, a .32 is only a little better than a .25, but everyone knows that a .25 won't penetrate bone like a .22 lr. Then, though, you'll be carrying a .22, which just leaves a narrow wound channel like an ice pick. So, you might as well just carry an ice pick. Thats about where this thread went from the start no doubt. The op asks about .357 magnum specifically and by the 3rd damn post were on the subject of a .38 special and how its supeior to 357 mag. 
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Posted: 2/12/2010 11:14:11 AM EDT
[#35]
158 gr Speer Gold Dots in .357 Magnum.
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Posted: 2/13/2010 6:25:05 AM EDT
[#36]
Quoted:
Quoted:
You should use an ice pick. Everyone knows that a .357 mag is similar to a .357 sig which is really like a 9mm +p+ which is hard on your guns so you shoud go with a 9mm 147 grain. But you want a revolver, so you should use a .38 spl. A .38 special ain't that much better than a .380 acp, so you should just use that. A .380 acp is about the same as a good .32 silvertip. On the otherhand, a .32 is only a little better than a .25, but everyone knows that a .25 won't penetrate bone like a .22 lr. Then, though, you'll be carrying a .22, which just leaves a narrow wound channel like an ice pick. So, you might as well just carry an ice pick. Thats about where this thread went from the start no doubt. The op asks about .357 magnum specifically and by the 3rd damn post were on the subject of a .38 special and how its supeior to 357 mag. I was about to get angry about the same thing but didnt want to have a pissing contest with the ammo moderator. If someone asks what load is best in 357 someone always tells them to load 38 it their gun.. While I like 135 gold dot +p in my J frames. If I have a full size 357 it will be loaded with 357 period! most likely 125/158 gold dot, or the new Vital Shok barnes bullet. |
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Posted: 2/20/2010 11:16:50 PM EDT
[#37]
Quoted:
You should use an ice pick. Everyone knows that a .357 mag is similar to a .357 sig which is really like a 9mm +p+ which is hard on your guns so you shoud go with a 9mm 147 grain. But you want a revolver, so you should use a .38 spl. A .38 special ain't that much better than a .380 acp, so you should just use that. A .380 acp is about the same as a good .32 silvertip. On the otherhand, a .32 is only a little better than a .25, but everyone knows that a .25 won't penetrate bone like a .22 lr. Then, though, you'll be carrying a .22, which just leaves a narrow wound channel like an ice pick. So, you might as well just carry an ice pick.  
That's hilarious! That could easily be said by some members of this site. |
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Posted: 2/21/2010 1:19:31 AM EDT
[#38]
Quoted:
Anybody have any info about the old .357 Black Talons? Nothing specific, but I would definitely consider them more collector-items than anything else. Get a box or two and keep them for posterity. |
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Posted: 2/21/2010 1:32:16 AM EDT
[#39]
Quoted:
Have you checked the Ammo Faq at the top of the page? The 125 gr. Semi-jacketed hollow point loads from Remington and Federal have an excellent reputation. You might want to take a look at Gold dot's and Corbon DPX as well. I don't have a .357 so that's about all the help I can give you. This. FTW. |
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Posted: 2/21/2010 8:51:34 AM EDT
[#40]
Quoted:
Quoted:
My old dealer is a retired Richmond, CA cop and he said they swore by their .357 mags. They used 4" S&Ws (maybe 686, but could be older) loaded with 125gr. JHPs or SJHPs. He said they were very accurate and very effective. The 125 grain SJHP load is pretty nasty. It's sort of similar in performance to M193, without the bullet breaking in half. I shot some Remington 125 grain SJHP mags over a chrono about 30 minutes ago. Temperature right now is around 40. Velocity from a 4" Model 28 was(average of 5 rounds) 1358 fps. Velocity from a 2.25" Sp101 was(average of five shots) 1298 fps. Depending on the time period of him being a cop, he may have carried a M19 or M66(or the fixed sight versions). Also possible is the M27 or M28, but those two are pretty unlikely unless he was a cop in the 50's or something. I think he was a cop in the late 60's or early 70's. I think he said he got shot in the hip and had to retire. I would put his age at probably 70 today. |
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Posted: 2/21/2010 9:04:37 AM EDT
[#41]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Thanks for the responses. I don't want super-hot .357 loads. From my uneducated point of view, since I have a L frame .357, I figured a .357 round would be more suitable for SD than a .38 spec. I guess a better question would've been 125 gr v. 158 gr. Neither. All you're concerned about is penetrating 12-18", and have the bullet open up reliably. The .38spl loads listed in the FAQ provide all that without having excessive the blast/recoil of full-power .357 loads. I don't buy it. If what you are saying is true, the cops back in the 60's would not have sneaked in .38 Special +P loads (which was often not allowable) and would not have pushed for the switch to .357 Mag. But they did because the .38 Special was crappy through heavy layers of clothing and worthless through auto glass. It's true the older designs had expansion issues, but the .38 Special also lacked penetration in real world scenarios. This is all ancient history. I don't think it's wise to promote .38 Special over .357 mag in most circumstances. Maybe the FBI load in a snubbie, but for everything else .357 mag is better. |
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Posted: 2/21/2010 9:38:51 AM EDT
[#42]
Quoted: Quoted: Neither. All you're concerned about is penetrating 12-18", and have the bullet open up reliably. The .38spl loads listed in the FAQ provide all that without having excessive the blast/recoil of full-power .357 loads. I don't buy it. If what you are saying is true, the cops back in the 60's would not have sneaked in .38 Special +P loads (which was often not allowable) and would not have pushed for the switch to .357 Mag. But they did because the .38 Special was crappy through heavy layers of clothing and worthless through auto glass. It's true the older designs had expansion issues, but the .38 Special also lacked penetration in real world scenarios. This is all ancient history. I don't think it's wise to promote .38 Special over .357 mag in most circumstances. Maybe the FBI load in a snubbie, but for everything else .357 mag is better. You have proof of this? And yes - bullets are significantly better today than they were in the 60s. Not just a little - there's simply no comparison. The .38spl loads meet FBI standards, as do a lot of 9mm, .40, and .45 loads. If the .357 is so superior, you'd have to rank it above those loads as well. |
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Posted: 2/21/2010 10:25:00 AM EDT
[#43]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Neither. All you're concerned about is penetrating 12-18", and have the bullet open up reliably. The .38spl loads listed in the FAQ provide all that without having excessive the blast/recoil of full-power .357 loads. I don't buy it. If what you are saying is true, the cops back in the 60's would not have sneaked in .38 Special +P loads (which was often not allowable) and would not have pushed for the switch to .357 Mag. But they did because the .38 Special was crappy through heavy layers of clothing and worthless through auto glass. It's true the older designs had expansion issues, but the .38 Special also lacked penetration in real world scenarios. This is all ancient history. I don't think it's wise to promote .38 Special over .357 mag in most circumstances. Maybe the FBI load in a snubbie, but for everything else .357 mag is better. You have proof of this? And yes - bullets are significantly better today than they were in the 60s. Not just a little - there's simply no comparison. The .38spl loads meet FBI standards, as do a lot of 9mm, .40, and .45 loads. If the .357 is so superior, you'd have to rank it above those loads as well. Ask any cop who was working in the 1960's and 1970's what they think about .38 Special, why some were willing to get into trouble for using +P loads, and finally, why almost everyone switched to .357 Mag. I totally agree with you about the old bullets not having consistent expansion, but penetration was also an issue if any sort of barrier was encountered. All my knowledge from that time period is second hand, but my dad worked with many ex LAPD officers during that time period, and they used to tell us stories when we were kids about this stuff. Plus my FFL is an ex cop from that time period and he basically says the same thing. They loved their .357 Mags but felt undergunned with the .38's. |
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Posted: 2/21/2010 11:25:14 AM EDT
[#44]
Quoted: Ask any cop who was working in the 1960's and 1970's what they think about .38 Special, why some were willing to get into trouble for using +P loads, and finally, why almost everyone switched to .357 Mag. I totally agree with you about the old bullets not having consistent expansion, but penetration was also an issue if any sort of barrier was encountered. All my knowledge from that time period is second hand, but my dad worked with many ex LAPD officers during that time period, and they used to tell us stories when we were kids about this stuff. Plus my FFL is an ex cop from that time period and he basically says the same thing. They loved their .357 Mags but felt undergunned with the .38's. We're not in the 60's and 70's anymore. The .357 used velocity to make up for .38spl shortcomings. With today's loads, that's not necessary. |
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Posted: 2/23/2010 7:46:33 AM EDT
[#45]
Weren't all those police .38s loaded with 158 lead round nose bullets? I'd want something better than that too if that's what I had to carry.
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Posted: 2/23/2010 8:19:06 AM EDT
[#46]
Quoted: Weren't all those police .38s loaded with 158 lead round nose bullets? I'd want something better than that too if that's what I had to carry. I still carry 158gr LSWCHP .38 special +P in my 1962 S&W 36 every day. *shrug* |
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Posted: 2/23/2010 9:48:15 PM EDT
[#47]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Ask any cop who was working in the 1960's and 1970's what they think about .38 Special, why some were willing to get into trouble for using +P loads, and finally, why almost everyone switched to .357 Mag. I totally agree with you about the old bullets not having consistent expansion, but penetration was also an issue if any sort of barrier was encountered. All my knowledge from that time period is second hand, but my dad worked with many ex LAPD officers during that time period, and they used to tell us stories when we were kids about this stuff. Plus my FFL is an ex cop from that time period and he basically says the same thing. They loved their .357 Mags but felt undergunned with the .38's. We're not in the 60's and 70's anymore. The .357 used velocity to make up for .38spl shortcomings. With today's loads, that's not necessary. It's not necessary in gelatin. I would think that extra velocity might be nice when that bullet strikes a bone first. You may have more info on that than I do. Plus as long as the penetration and expansion are satisfactory, wouldn't the extra velocity make it a harder hitting round (ie more energetic). While this would not effect lethality, it would seem to lessen the chances of the classic scenario of the perp not even knowing he was hit? |
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Posted: 2/24/2010 4:35:27 AM EDT
[#48]
If you have a heavy-framed revolver and can handle the recoil, blast and slower shot-to-shot recovery from using .357 Magnums, i say go for it. I keep magnums loaded in my .357s.. My main concern when using .357 Mag loads is damaging my hearing even more than it already is ps - it's a most excellent caliber for reloading |
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Posted: 2/24/2010 7:06:11 AM EDT
[#49]
Quoted: It's not necessary in gelatin. I would think that extra velocity might be nice when that bullet strikes a bone first. You may have more info on that than I do. Plus as long as the penetration and expansion are satisfactory, wouldn't the extra velocity make it a harder hitting round (ie more energetic). While this would not effect lethality, it would seem to lessen the chances of the classic scenario of the perp not even knowing he was hit? People always assume that they can simply jack up the speed of a bullet and the only side effects go in the "plus" column. They never think about the fact that there are things that pop up in the "minus" column, such as increased blast/recoil which leads to slower follow-up shots. If you're one of the rare people that can shoot a full-power .357 as fast and accurately as a well-performing .38spl load, then by all means: Load up the .357. |
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Posted: 2/24/2010 5:47:40 PM EDT
[#50]
Quoted:
Quoted:
It's not necessary in gelatin. I would think that extra velocity might be nice when that bullet strikes a bone first. You may have more info on that than I do. Plus as long as the penetration and expansion are satisfactory, wouldn't the extra velocity make it a harder hitting round (ie more energetic). While this would not effect lethality, it would seem to lessen the chances of the classic scenario of the perp not even knowing he was hit? People always assume that they can simply jack up the speed of a bullet and the only side effects go in the "plus" column. They never think about the fact that there are things that pop up in the "minus" column, such as increased blast/recoil which leads to slower follow-up shots. If you're one of the rare people that can shoot a full-power .357 as fast and accurately as a well-performing .38spl load, then by all means: Load up the .357. I am not one of those people  , that's why I shoot 9mm Glocks for the most part. But you raise a good point. My 1911s are about as much handgun recoil as I would like to use in any defensive scenario. I guess I am just thinking of the hypothetical one shot only, what's gonna be better-scenario.
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