Re: CCI Blazer Ammunition 357 Magnum 158 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point
CCI #: 3542 UPC #: 076683035424
Fired from any 357 magnum revolver having 2-3 inch barrel

While this ammunition is identified as 357 Magnum, its advertised ballistics show it to be between 38 Special +P and bottom end of 357 Magnum - that is, the universe of very expensive specialty snub nose revolver ammunition.

When fired at 7-10 yards into [reasonably] standardized test media - for example, jugs of water fronted by denim - does this 158-grain JHP bullet expand reliably?

I looked into this ammo also, but never tried to shoot it into water jugs or gelatin.

But, there are a few tests on the web where posters trying the Aluminum case version.

My take away from reading these posts was it does NOT expand reliably from a snub.

On the other hand, 158 JHP 357 Blazer Brass probably does expand and is a bit hotter.

Here is a link to a previous thread:

Blazer 158 gr JHP Aluminum case 357 Mag

I don't see how they are expensive snub nose ammo. I treat them as range ammo and the price is about the same as typical fmj. And no they don't perform well

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.357 Magnums fired from 2" Revolvers are NEVER going to perform well, as they were NOT designed to be shot from 2" barrels. From my testing and chronographing you will get better ballistics from the Buffalo Bore 158 grain +P .38 Special LSWCHP-GC than you will out of the major manufacturers 158 grain Magnums from a snubby. Originally designed for 6" barrel guns, the Magnums NEED that length to burn the majority of their powder and propel the projectile at Magnum velocities. When fired from short barrels you get a huge fireball, lots of recoil, a very very loud bang and not much else! Out of a 2" snub gun, the BB .38 Special I named above will do 1025 - 1040 fps which is more than most comparable 158 grain Mag's from Rem, and Win. out of the same 2" gun.

When aluminum case Blazer came out back in the 1970/1980's, it was loaded with 125 and 158 grain JHPs and was as high velocity as W-W, R-P and Federal loaded to then. I still have a few boxes of each. My brother shot up a box of them (the 1980's production) recently through a Model 28-2 and it was filthy, leaving unburned powder all through the barrel and cylinder, including under the ratchet/ejector. I haven't bought any more of it for 30 years.

10 or 15 years ago I bought a new PPK at one of the big box stores.
I also bought a couple boxes of Blazer .32 ammo. They gave me a
free pass to one of the indoor ranges, so I went directly to the range
to give it a try. After 3 or 4 FTFs (Failure To Fire) I went back to the
store and told them my story. They took the PPK and gave me another
one. Back to the range. Same thing again. Back to the store. It
couldn't have been the gun. It must be the ammo. They gave me
a different brand. Back to the range. It worked flawlessly. They said
they were shipping all the Blazers back to CCI. That was my only, and
last experience with Blazer. And that was enough.

__________________
In Omnia Paratus

Myself, I do not try to find bargain basement Personal Defense ammunition.

A couple of boxes each year of Premium Defense ammunition from Winchester, Hornady, Federal, Remington, or CCI/Speer is not going to break me and it might save my life.

To me one of the most important factors of Premium Defense ammunition over white/yellow/green box or aluminium ammunition is that the Premium stuff usually has a flash suppressant added to it. Cheap ammo does not, after all they are not going to spend more money than they have to.

The flash suppressant gets rid of one of the usual whiner comment about using magnum snubbies for defense "If you shoot at night the fireball will blind you"

Most Premium Defense ammunition is crimped better, uses better projectiles, often has sealed primers, etc.

Until the concept of "reduced recoil" magnum ammunition cane on the seen. Magnum Premium Defense ammunition did indeed launch projectiles to velocities fast enough to get reliable expansion.

The Premium Defense 158 Hornadys leave me 3" at 1219 FPS while Premium Defense Winchester's 125s leave the 3" at 1315. A 2" is not that much slower and a 4" is not that much faster.

Many folks hear a decades old story on how a hunting load is so fast from the 6"+ revolver but is like a tortoise from a short barreled carry piece and believe that stands true for all ammunition made. Different ammunition is loaded with different powder for different roles.

Buy some and chronograph it yourself

Ok, what are your parameters here OP ? Decent 158gr on purpose for SD ? Relatively least worst very inexpensive .357 ammo? Or high performance .357 ammo ?

For #1- .38 +P LHP.
For #2- 110gr jhp W-W White Box ( WWWB in internet speak).
For #3- I'll leave for its own debate.

For the price of blazer at your local store you can get quality HPs online. I paid $21.95 per 50 of Federal HST 40SW, $25.95 per 50 of Federal HST 9mm, and $11.95 per 25 of Remhngton Golden Saber 38+P. 357s can be had for not much more

It's great stuff! I can't get enough of it. As someone who can't clean .38 fouling in .357-length chambers (no suggestions please), I'll take all I can get. My LGS is having trouble locating it at the moment. Life is a test, isn't it?

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

I make it a habit not to buy or shoot any ammo that I cannot reload. I just don't like the idea of throwaway cases, since I do reload and only very infrequently buy manufactured ammunition.

Plus, the one time I did buy a box of Blazer in 38 Special, I found it to be the dirtiest, filthiest ammo I have ever shot. By the time I finished off that 50 round box, it had a cheap Rossi revolver I inherited having cylinder binding problems from fouling buildup.

Looks like post #5 answered the question well enough. I think kaaskop49 already knew the answer, though.