Which 357 gold dot - 158 or 125?

[Cal44]

Which 357 Speer gold dot would you suggest out of a 3" m60?

The 125 grain or the 158 grain?

Applications SD/HD.

[David R]

Try both and see which one hits better with YOUR gun.

David

[poppoprr]

I use the Gold Dot 125 Gr short barl in my 642 38 Spl.

[SuperMan]

I have a 60-10 3" as well as a 66 and 65 3" and they are all fed 125s...

Bob

[CoMF]

In a 3" barrel? I'd actually go with the Magnum 135 gr. GDSB load, if it were available.

I can also tell you the 158 gr. load is amazingly accurate out of a 4" barrel, but I think it'd experience expansion issues out of shorter barrels.

[Hapworth]

Those are both serious boomers, especially out of a J-frame. Frankly, I'd say neither and strongly suggest Speer's Short Barrel version in .38+P, or .357 if you insisted on Magnum.

But to answer the question as framed, I'd go for 125 grain for slightly less recoil and a little more speed to increase likelihood of expansion.

[ArchAngelCD]

Like said above, try both and see which is more accurate in your gun.

I'm a big fan of the short barrel Speer .38 Special+P ammo but not the short barrel Speer .357 Mag ammo. That mag ammo is hardly a magnum at all. The advertized velocity is only 990 fps, why bother when the .38 Special does 860 fps and with a lot less noise...

I like 158gr bullets in the .357 but in a J frame the 125gr bullets might be less offensive to you. I don't recommend shooting magnums in a small dark room anyway so you might want to shoot .38 Special +P ammo instead.

[Biggfoot44]

Since Gold Dots are specifed, the 135gr.

[one eye joe]

Originally Posted by ArchAngelCD

Like said above, try both and see which is more accurate in your gun.

I'm a big fan of the short barrel Speer .38 Special+P ammo but not the short barrel Speer .357 Mag ammo. That mag ammo is hardly a magnum at all. The advertized velocity is only 990 fps, why bother when the .38 Special does 860 fps and with a lot less noise...

I like 158gr bullets in the .357 but in a J frame the 125gr bullets might be less offensive to you. I don't recommend shooting magnums in a small dark room anyway so you might want to shoot .38 Special +P ammo instead.

I SEE NO NEED TO SHOOT ANY ROUND OTHER THAN THE GOLD DOT , 135 GR .38 SPL+P OUT OF A J FRAME, BE IT A MAGNUM OR NOT. OUT OF A SHORT BARREL GUN @ SD DISTANCE, THERE WILL BE LITTLE DIFFERENCE IN TERMINAL EFFECT. THE +P WILL GET THE JOB DONE. DEAD IS DEAD…….

[gwpercle]

The round that I could should best. Accurate and multiple hits are desired.
My airweight J-frame has 38 special target wadcutters in it because of the above reasons. I can shoot these accurately and fast.
In a gunfight only hits count.
Gary

[ArchAngelCD]

Originally Posted by one eye joe

I SEE NO NEED TO SHOOT ANY ROUND OTHER THAN THE GOLD DOT , 135 GR .38 SPL+P OUT OF A J FRAME, BE IT A MAGNUM OR NOT. OUT OF A SHORT BARREL GUN @ SD DISTANCE, THERE WILL BE LITTLE DIFFERENCE IN TERMINAL EFFECT. THE +P WILL GET THE JOB DONE. DEAD IS DEAD…….

Is there a specific reason why you quoted me and then yelled the whole post? Did I do something to offend you or are you merely rude? Next time you feel like yelling at someone leave me out of it!

[Hapworth]

Originally Posted by ArchAngelCD

Is there a specific reason why you quoted me and then yelled the whole post? Did I do something to offend you or are you merely rude? Next time you feel like yelling at someone leave me out of it!

One eye joe is a member in good standing and I'll vouch for him; I don't think he was was jumping on you -- though I can certainly see how it would seem that way, for whatever reason he always posts in capitals. He's good folk, though...

[nawilson]

Originally Posted by Hapworth

One eye joe is a member in good standing and I'll vouch for him; I don't think he was was jumping on you -- though I can certainly see how it would seem that way, for whatever reason he always posts in capitals. He's good folk, though...

I seem to recall that he has problems seeing the screen. I just shrug it off as his idiosyncrasy.

[CoMF]

I'll be honest, the all-caps threw me for a loop too. When I looked past that and actually read the content, Joe's posts seemed perfectly fine to me. JUST IN ALL CAPS.

[JeepinSoldier]

Joe is a Vietnam Vet that actually only has one eye.

And that one eye he has left is not holding up so well.

All understand that all caps is shouting or exclamation, but unfortunately - this is the only way he can participate and contribute.

[JeepinSoldier]

OP, as posted several times above, I recommend either the Speer 135 grain .38 +P or .357 Short barrel loads.

These loads are specially designed to expand AND penetrate at the velocities produced from short barrel guns. The lead core and bonded jackets are different from other Speer loads just for this purpose. In fact, if these bullets are driven to over about 1,000 FPS they over expand and their performance starts to drop off.

Next I would suggest the 125 grain Speer .38 +P Short barrel load (As has already been posted)

Of the two you posted, I would select the 125 grain load. The 158 grain Speer GD .357 is OK from a four inch barrel but is really in its designed area from 6 inch plus guns.

I keep the Speer 135 .38+P Short Barrels in my 2 and 3" Model 60's and use both the Short barrel .38's and .357's in my 3" Model 13 and 65's for defense loads.

The Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel loads can be hard to find, but regular checks on the usual Internet ammo sites can turn them up relatively frequently. Good luck!

[ArchAngelCD]

Originally Posted by Hapworth

One eye joe is a member in good standing and I'll vouch for him; I don't think he was was jumping on you -- though I can certainly see how it would seem that way, for whatever reason he always posts in capitals. He's good folk, though...

Originally Posted by JeepinSoldier

Joe is a Vietnam Vet that actually only has one eye.

And that one eye he has left is not holding up so well.

All understand that all caps is shouting or exclamation, but unfortunately - this is the only way he can participate and contribute.

No offense taken then! Carry on...

[Cal44]

Originally Posted by JeepinSoldier

OP, as posted several times above, I recommend either the Speer 135 grain .38 +P or .357 Short barrel loads.

These loads are specially designed to expand AND penetrate at the velocities produced from short barrel guns. The lead core and bonded jackets are different from other Speer loads just for this purpose. In fact, if these bullets are driven to over about 1,000 FPS they over expand and their performance starts to drop off.

Next I would suggest the 125 grain Speer .38 +P Short barrel load (As has already been posted)

Of the two you posted, I would select the 125 grain load. The 158 grain Speer GD .357 is OK from a four inch barrel but is really in its designed area from 6 inch plus guns.

I keep the Speer 135 .38+P Short Barrels in my 2 and 3" Model 60's and use both the Short barrel .38's and .357's in my 3" Model 13 and 65's for defense loads.

The Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel loads can be hard to find, but regular checks on the usual Internet ammo sites can turn them up relatively frequently. Good luck!

I know all the arguments for using 38+P -- and I do use that when I carry this gun.

Just thought I'd give 357 magnums a try at the range and wondered which to try first -- the 125 or the 158.

[ridgewalker]

I'm pretty sure I could probably shoot the 125 gr better out of your 3 inch barrel M 60. I am not sure I would want to shoot more than 1 cylinder at a time though.
You have probably seen this before but here is the ballistic data.
357 Magnum Ballistics Chart | Ballistics 101

My choice would be the 135 gr SB. Or if you felt you had to go a little hotter, I would choose the Remington Golden Sabers.

[ArchAngelCD]

Originally Posted by ridgewalker

I'm pretty sure I could probably shoot the 125 gr better out of your 3 inch barrel M 60. I am not sure I would want to shoot more than 1 cylinder at a time though.
You have probably seen this before but here is the ballistic data.
357 Magnum Ballistics Chart | Ballistics 101

My choice would be the 135 gr SB. Or if you felt you had to go a little hotter, I would choose the Remington Golden Sabers.

IMO the short barrel 135gr Speer ammo is hardly a magnum at all. The SB .38 Special +P is rated @860 fps and the SB .357 Magnum ammo is rated @990 fps. Like I said, hardly a magnum at all.

The M60 is an all steel revolver that weighs 23oz, a lot heavier than the 12oz Airlite J frames S&W is selling. I have a M640 which is the same gun only with a shrouded hammer and I usually shoot full power 145gr Winchester Silvertip .357 Magnum ammo (rated @1290 fps) in it when I do shoot a magnum load. The additional weight of the all steel frame soaks up the recoil well.

[ridgewalker]

Originally Posted by Cal44

Which 357 Speer gold dot would you suggest out of a 3" m60?

The 125 grain or the 158 grain?

Applications SD/HD.

Let's look at the link to 357 Magnum ballistic data I supplied in my answer above. Let's just look at Muzzle Energy to simplify things. I think we will find that we can classify the ammo the original poster asked about as full power 357 mag ammo with ME 584 and 534 ft lbs respectively. I think the point many of the people who answered his question were trying to make is that full power 357 mag ammo is unpleasant to shoot from a J frame for a lot of people and that there are alternatives which are more pleasant to shoot and more controllable, with less flash and noise and overpenetration and faster follow-up shots. Several people recommended (myself included) the Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel 135 gr ammo which has a ME of 294 ft lbs which I call low power 357 mag ammo. But the bullets are designed to fully expand at this power and from short barrels. For what it is worth I have watched U-tube video tests into ballistic gel that confirm this.
Since not everybody is comfortable with the idea of what I term low power 357 ammo, I suggested in my answer above as an alternative the Remington Golden Saber 125 gr ammo which is listed at 413 ft lbs. In my mind, I classify this as a mid power 357 ammo.
You, Mr.ArchAngel, seem to like Winchester Silver Tip 145 gr which has a ME of 535. I would describe that as full power. I think each individual must determine what type of ammo they wish to use.

[Fastbolt]

Obvious answer? Try both in your 3" M60, in your hands.

You might notice that the heavier 158gr load has more felt recoil delivered against the palm of your hand, while the 125gr load has more muzzle blast and whip (torque effect).

FWIW, I tend to prefer to use either 125gr SJHP Magnum or 145gr STHP Magnum in my 2 1/4" SP101. I like both rounds and how they've been observed to perform.

I tend to stay away from the 158gr JHP's for their potential reduced expansion in shorter barrels (with traditional old-style jacket designs), and the potential for target perforation (over-penetration) against human attackers. I'd not mind carrying them as a backwoods load against feral animals, though.

In my pair of M&P 340's, weighing 13.3 & 14.3 oz (different grips), I tend to stay with the typical 125gr, 130gr & 135gr +P loads I have on hand.

You're the guy who has to use whatever you decide upon, in the circumstances and locations where you anticipate it may be used, so you get to decide.