Author Topic: .357 Magnums from a short tube? (Read 6661 times)

GeorgeHill · « **on:** November 16, 2016, 07:32:18 pm »

Generally speaking, I prefer Heavy For Caliber loads in ALL my guns. I went through a Light Weight, High Velocity phase... but came back around to All Heavy, All the Time.
Now, my favorite Carry Gun has become the 3" Ruger SP101, in .357 Magnum. My load of choice has been the 158 grain SJHP .357 Magnum. And I've pretty much loaded and carried nothing but this load. It shoots very well, while being rather stout, but not too much for me... I like it.
But I'm getting ready to fire up all this ammo as it's time to freshen the stash with some new ammo.
So...
Sell me on a different load. Make your suggestions and give your opinions... But back it up with rational reason.

WeTheArmed.com

MTK20 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 16, 2016, 08:03:41 pm »

It's really up to you. From what I've researched, the 125 grain .357 magnums do well, even out of a short barrel.

My sig line kind of says it all.

And while I know you're not asking about them, certain .38 special loads have done very well as well

.

GaBoy45 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 16, 2016, 09:15:40 pm »

I like the Buffalo Bore Short Barrel loads utilizing the Barnes 140 grain bullet. The Barnes bullets construction means that they often expand at slower velocities than a traditional JHP or even some of the bonded stuff. I've shot it through everything from a scandium J-Frame to my 627 8 shot with plenty of K Frames in between. It doesn't produce a huge fireball and is very controllable even from the J-Frames. It's not something I like to should very much of through the 340 but it's no where near as bad as the old 125 grain Federal or Winchester loads.

The only other two loads I use in .357 are the Speer Short Barrel load and the old 125 grain Golden Saber. The Golden Saber is pretty easy to come by and the ballistics are pretty good. I'd call it a .357 Medium but still effective.

Now the Speer load is a Magnum in name only. It's ballistics are the same as the +P 38 load. I actually spoke to someone at Speer who explained that the bullet they developed did best at around 1000fps. Any more and it over expanded and penetrated too much. They said anything with a barrel over 4" creates too much velocity. It is basically for those who want the magnum name or don't like dealing with the build up in the cylinder from shooting .38s.

But long story short, you'll like the Buffalo Bore Barnes load in 140 grain.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Desert Rat · « **Reply #3 on:** November 16, 2016, 10:06:52 pm »

When I had my Sp-101 (2 1/4" bbl) I loaded it with Federal 125 grain JHP's, mostly because they were hot, very controllable, and faster to shoot than the heavier loads, especially when shooting one-handed. That has always been an important issue to me. I would still go with those loads if I had a .357 snubby, although those Buffalo Bore shorty rounds are tempting.

GeorgeHill · « **Reply #4 on:** November 16, 2016, 10:31:40 pm »

Quote from: MTK20 on November 16, 2016, 08:03:41 pm

It's really up to you.

Cop Out Response is Cop Out.

MTK20 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 16, 2016, 10:33:22 pm »

Quote from: GeorgeHill on November 16, 2016, 10:31:40 pm

Cop Out Response is Cop Out.

Hey now! I wrote some other stuff beneath that!

Thernlund · « **Reply #6 on:** November 16, 2016, 10:36:31 pm »

Quote from: GeorgeHill on November 16, 2016, 10:31:40 pm

Cop Out Response is Cop Out.

In his defense, it sounds like you have a freezer full of steak and are asking us to sell you on the merits of replacing it with hot dogs.

-T.

MTK20 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 16, 2016, 10:45:10 pm »

Quote from: Thernlund on November 16, 2016, 10:36:31 pm

In his defense, it sounds like you have a freezer full of steak and are asking us to sell you on the merits of replacing it with hot dogs.

-T.

coelacanth · « **Reply #8 on:** November 16, 2016, 11:57:18 pm »

Yup. You've found that you like the bread and butter load for the .357 mag. Pretty much the prototype load for everything the .357 is good at and now you want us to talk you out of it?

For factory ammo I've had good luck with Winchester's 140 grain Silvertip hollowpoints out of a three inch model 13 but the muzzle flash is significant. If you're rolling your own I think the best advice is "If it ain't broke - don't fix it.".

Grant · « **Reply #9 on:** November 17, 2016, 07:35:51 am »

I use PPU 158 SJHP for my snubnose, still chronographs 1160-1180FPS out of my 2.75" barrel....I think that's pretty snotty. Cheap and expands really well, without the crack of the 125's I used to carry.

Robinson · « **Reply #10 on:** November 17, 2016, 04:01:31 pm »

George- I confess I'm a bit surprised at your choice considering your hearing condition. I transitioned away from revolvers and .45ACP 1911s because I have tinnitus and they were unpleasant to practice with. Now I shoot and carry 9mm 1911s with 147gr subsonic ammunition. Much easier on the ears at the range.

Note: I'm not trying to tell you what to do or not do -- just wondering about your choice is all.

GeorgeHill · « **Reply #11 on:** November 17, 2016, 09:14:09 pm »

All guns used in self defense will cause harm/damage/ruin hearing regardless. I'd rather come out the other side of a bad encounter still living. I can buy hearing aides... I can't buy another life.

MTK20 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 17, 2016, 09:19:49 pm »

Quote from: GeorgeHill on November 17, 2016, 09:14:09 pm

All guns used in self defense will cause harm/damage/ruin hearing regardless. I'd rather come out the other side of a bad encounter still living. I can buy hearing aides... I can't buy another life.

In other words, when it comes to the anaemic handgun cartridge, the Ogre trusts his life to .357 magnum

.

THE NORSEMAN · « **Reply #13 on:** November 17, 2016, 10:24:25 pm »

SP101, 357 mag., 3 inch barrel.....

Stay full snort 158 grain loads. POA/POI are the same.

As for exact slug, and in commercial loads? Most all will work, but in playing around( A LOT) with this particular weight/caliber combo- They need to be "original hot" 357 loads that clock AT LEAST 1250 out of your barrel( think cor-bon/buffalo bore/grizzly cartridge) for dead nuts reliable expansion. The only premium HP slug that is forgiving and will reliably open at lower velocities is the speer gold dot.

Robinson · « **Reply #14 on:** November 17, 2016, 11:51:26 pm »

Quote from: GeorgeHill on November 17, 2016, 09:14:09 pm

All guns used in self defense will cause harm/damage/ruin hearing regardless. I'd rather come out the other side of a bad encounter still living. I can buy hearing aides... I can't buy another life.

I understand and respect that. I had to switch to my current setup, which is IMO very suitable for defensive use, so I can continue to practice with my carry gun without causing further damage to my hearing.

Thanks for the discussion.

First Shirt · « **Reply #15 on:** November 18, 2016, 12:23:37 am »

The Boss is fond of the 160 gr. lead SWC from the Lee mold. She uses them in her Ruger revolvers as well as her Rossi M-92 clone. I don't know, since every time I bring a .357 firearm home, she claims them. I just reload for the silly things. But over a suitable amount of 2400, they seem to work really well.

MTK20 · « **Reply #16 on:** November 18, 2016, 01:07:54 am »

Quote from: First Shirt on November 18, 2016, 12:23:37 am

The Boss is fond of the 160 gr. lead SWC from the Lee mold. She uses them in her Ruger revolvers as well as her Rossi M-92 clone. I don't know, since every time I bring a .357 firearm home, she claims them. I just reload for the silly things. But over a suitable amount of 2400, they seem to work really well.

Consider yourself lucky. I wish I had a gal at home who would "borrow" my .357's for herself. Sounds like a keeper

.

How heavy can .357 magnum get? I know that 158 gr is the standard. I was playing with one of Dad's reloading manuals and I saw a recipe for a very light .357 bullet that pushed at 1900 fps, I believe. I find that to be a very bizarre speed for .357, but when I asked him he said that was the correct recipe for it. Positively screaming.

coelacanth · « **Reply #17 on:** November 19, 2016, 12:19:19 am »

I think 180 to 200 grains is pretty much the effective upper limit on .357 magnum loads. You can get heavier bullets in that diameter - I've actually seen them up to 210 grains but in order to chamber them they have to be set so deeply into the case that you lose some powder capacity. A fast burning powder can mitigate that to some degree but a lot of those loads can get finicky in terms of accuracy and the pressures can be erratic.

Winchester used to load a 200 grain lead round nose bullet in a .38 special case which basically duplicated the .357 magnum load for that bullet because the shorter case allowed the overall length to work while seating the bullet slightly farther out.

I think just about everybody that produces ammo has at least one 180 grain .357 magnum load and some have 200 grainers listed as well but they are not as numerous as the 180's.

GeorgeHill · « **Reply #18 on:** November 20, 2016, 08:39:14 pm »

Quote from: MTK20 on November 17, 2016, 09:19:49 pm

In other words, when it comes to the anaemic handgun cartridge, the Ogre trusts his life to .357 magnum .

Precisely.

GeorgeHill · « **Reply #19 on:** November 20, 2016, 08:41:20 pm »

Quote from: THE NORSEMAN on November 17, 2016, 10:24:25 pm

SP101, 357 mag., 3 inch barrel.....

Stay full snort 158 grain loads. POA/POI are the same.

As for exact slug, and in commercial loads? Most all will work, but in playing around( A LOT) with this particular weight/caliber combo- They need to be "original hot" 357 loads that clock AT LEAST 1250 out of your barrel( think cor-bon/buffalo bore/grizzly cartridge) for dead nuts reliable expansion. The only premium HP slug that is forgiving and will reliably open at lower velocities is the speer gold dot.

Norse, I was hoping you would chime in on this one. I value your sagely opinion... and blame you specifically for my SP101. I had never forgotten yours that I reviewed for Concealed Carry Magazine.
Thank you.