I have been reading here and on other forums that the full-house 125 gr. .357 loads are hard on guns. Or not. Depending on who's doing the writing. Some guys say that my K-frame (Model 65-2) will fall apart after a short time shooting these loads, somebody else says that he's shot thousands of them through his k-frame with no ill effects. I've yet to shoot any 125's through mine, but I haven't had it long. On the other hand, I've had it long enough to find that it really likes my 158 gr. handloads, using either Missouri Bullet LSWC and WW231, or Speer JHP and Blue Dot...

I've also read that those in the know say to never use handloads as carry loads, only factory ammo. So after all the foregoing blather, here's my question of the day, so to speak: What's your favorite factory 158 gr. defense load? I'd prefer .357, just because I can add the fired brass to my vast collection of .357 brass...

Thanks, y'all...

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Gotta love N-frames...

My favorite for J and K frames is the Buffalo Bore 38LSWCHPGC+P.

Good accuracy, great velocity and a smashing bullet.

Sundles is not lying on his published velocity figures, great load for 38s and K frame 357s.

For uniformed duty carry I transitioned from a S&W 586 to a semi-auto in the late '90's. I still occasionally carry a S&W 3 inch 65 off duty. My duty ammo has been Federal Hydra-Shok 158 grain JHP's, a good round.

Never had to shoot anyone, but I did have to take down an angry bovin once and it dropped with one round. I've also taken several whitetails from the deer stand with this round.

With that said, I've recently changed over to the 140 grain Hornaday LEVERevolution round. I've been impressed with this round from both of my .357 lever guns and my model 65.

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- Change it back -

2 and 3 inch K frame Buffalo Bore 38LSWCHPGC+P.
2 inch air weight Buffalo bore non +P wadcutter

Pete

I use the Federal .38 Special +P "FBI" load in all of my .38s and .357s.

I do use the DoubleTap 125gn BondedCore in my 2.5" Model 19 as a carry load.
But I have the hornady 140gn leverlution in my 4' 686...It shoots really well in that revolver.

Thanks, guys. I'll look into those. Anybody else?

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Gotta love N-frames...

I prefer Winchester .357 145 grain silvertips in my 2.5" M66 if I can find them. In my 2" M60 I usually carry .38 110 grain silvertips.

Put me down as another fan of the Buffalo Bore 158 SWCHP.

for my model 36 cause it's old. I carry Federal Hydra shock 110 grn JHP. In my 357, I carry Hornaday 140 grn FTX. The .357 is a Ruger SP101 and I have a Model 19-3 four inch nickle, but that gun is now 38 years young and I only keep it in the safe. I carried it for over 20 years.

anyone have any thoughts as to the ballistic comparison between the Hornady 140 grn FTX and say Winchester 125 grn JHP or any other 125 JHP...... I also have a bunch of Magatech 158 JSP and Federal 158 JSP, but tend to take then to the range only....any thoughts on those rounds as personal defense?

I went to the range about 2 weeks ago and fired a box of Fiocchi 142 grain FMJ and to me the round did not seem to have the recoil or pop of a plus P....I could not tell the difference between that and the box of PMC 130 grain that I had with me and the PMC was only 38.

When I shoot the Federal 158's my hand hurts after about 15 rounds and I shot 50 of the Fiocchi and did not even wince once.

I have several favorites for the 38 special, the Federal 158Gr. F.B.I. load, the Federal 147Gr. +P+. ,357 Magnum load 158Gr. Speer gold dots.

Now for range shooting, Georgia Arms makes a .357 SWC at 1,200 F.P.S. If I could find this load at 1,400 F.P.S. it would be my carry round of choice.

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Always Stay Strong!

For my aluminum J fame guns I carry Buffalo Bopre® Standard Pressure Short Barrel Low Flash Heavy .38 Special.
In my steel J frame and K frame guns I use Buffalo Bore® Heavy .38 Special +P.

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David
CW3 USA (Ret) 1968-1990

If I want my S&W Model 327 PC Shop eight shot revolver to say nice things about me to the other guns in the safe, I feed it a couple hundred rounds of 158 gr. JHPs sitt'n on top of about 15 grains of H110. My popularity rating shoots right up whenever I do!

For personal defense 158 grain .357 magnum loads I prefer Buffalo Bore:

Heavy 357 Magnum Ammo - 158 gr. J.H.C. (1,475fps/M.E. 763 ft. lbs.)

Heavy .357 Magnum Pistol & Handgun Ammunition

I reload 13.3 grains of Alliant 2400 for practice. I will not use ny reloads for personal defense simply because I have had reloaded rounds 'Crimp jump' more than once. Having ones revolver lockup due to a crimp jump would not be a fun experience under personal defense situations.

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Hook686

Hijacking my own thread here:

Interesting! I've never had that happen with any of my reloads. What kind of crimp are you using? I have a Lee Factory Crimp die in the last station on my Dillon 550. I put on a pretty healthy crimp because I've been loading for .357 lever guns.

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Gotta love N-frames...

Model 49 & 442: BB Std. Pressure 158's.
Model 640 (38):1st 2 BB Std. Pressure 158's
Next 3 BB 158 +P's.
Model 340 PD BB 125 38 +P's.
Ruger SS Speed 6 2 & 3/4" 357: BB 158 38 +P's.

If BB wasn't available, ALL J frames would be loaded with Corbon DPX 38 +P's
and the Ruger with DPX 357's.

Federal or Remington 158gr. SWCHP+P in my J-frames, 65-5, 3-inch and 66-2, 2-1/2-inch; they all like 'em! Sometimes BB 158 standard pressure or "heavy" 158 gr, SWCHP+P. I save the magnums for boonies-carry, or for my 28-2, 4-inch!

In my 38 specials and K frame 357s I carry the classic FBI +P 158gr LHPSWC load either from Federal or Remington. In my L and N frame 357s I carry Remington 125gr Golden Sabre and in my J frame 642, lightweight, I carry Federal 125gr Nyclads. If I could only have one round for all of them it would be the FBI load.

Buffalo Bore +P 158 FBI load in most of my newer Airweight J's. Federal Nyclad 125 standard pressure for my Colt Cobra ('68) and my S&W Model 38 ('63). Hope this helps . . .

It "sounds" to me like I need to be sending some funds toward Buffalo Bore.

On a related note: is there any data anywhere regarding the Buffalo Bore ammo, re. use in defensive fights?

Enquiring minds want to know...

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Gotta love N-frames...

I also use the Lee Factory Crimp Die. I put a tight roll crimp on each cartridge ... any tighter and the case buckles a bit. I must say that I have only experienced this in the 6th shot of my 686, but have experienced it in the 3rd shot in my M&P 340 using 6.8 grains of Unique.

I use MagTech 158 SJSP bullets.

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Hook686

I use Winchester 158 grain JHP's because they are issued and seem to work just fine.

.357: The hottest 125gr. JHP or SJHP I can find, usually Remington or Cor-Bon, in L-frames and bigger guns, and my Ruger SP-101 and old Speed Sixes and Security Six. In Ks and J-snubbies, one of the following: 135gr. Speer Short Barrel, 158gr. Gold Dot, or 125gr. Golden Saber.

.38: In snubbies, 148gr. Safe-Stop, 135gr.+P Speer Short Barrel, 158 gr. LSWCHP ("FBI load") or 147gr. +P+ Hydra-Shok.

Sorry; just noticed that you only asked about 158s:

In .357, about the only 158 I use is the Gold Dot load. In .38s, just the FBI load.

Remington .38 Special #R38S12 158 GR. LSCHP +P
Hornady .357 Magnum 158 GR, JHP

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"Shall not be infringed"

Speer Gold Dots in all my SDweapons. 158 grainers in my .357's.

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V/R
Roger / SG

Buffalo Bore 38 Special Short Barrel Snubnose:
** 158-gr. Standard Pressure Lead Semi-Wadcutter HP (20C) @ 854 fps in 2” barrel. Less recoil & similar velocity as Speer’s 135-gr. Gold Dot @ 860 fps.

Buffalo Bore Short Barrel Low Flash 158-gr. FBI Load

* 150-gr. Standard Pressure Hardcast Wadcutter (20D) @ 868 fps in 2” barrel.

Buffalo Bore Short Barrel 150-gr. Hardcast Wadcutter

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Buffalo Bore 38 Special +P 4" Barrel: Also see other +P loads with 158-gr. LSWCHP (FBI / Chicago Load)
** 158-gr. +P LSWCHP (20A) @ 1,162 fps in 4” barrel.
* 150-gr. Standard Pressure Hardcast Wadcutter (20D) @ 1,005 fps in 4” barrel. For barrier penetration & protection in the mountains.

357 Mag 4" Barrel

Federal - Self Defense:
** 140-gr. Barnes Expander (P357XB1)

Double Tap:
* 125-gr. Bonded Gold Dot HP (If Available)

Speer Gold Dot:
* 125-gr. Bonded Gold Dot HP (23920)

Buffalo Bore:
125-gr. Jacketed Montana Gold HP (19D) Use Gold Dot if it’s available
158-gr. Jacketed Montana Gold HP (19C) Use Gold Dot if it’s available
180-gr. Hardcast Lead Flat Nose (19A) For barrier penetration & protection in the mountains.

Winchester Supreme:
180-gr. Nosler Partition Gold (S357P) @ 1,180 fps For barrier penetration & protection in the mountains.

This is a shocker: I didn't know they still made factory ammo!

Something I want to consider is muzzel blast, flash and recoil.
If you can't see because you've been blinded its a slight problem. If you can't get back on the target for a second (or third/fourth/fifth) it could be a problem. If you can't hear for a couple of weeks, might be a slight problem. Take your chosen round out at night and see how it works for you. Sometimes if your luck you will have auditory shutdown.

Some good suggestions in this thread, good luck which ever way you go.

Rule 303

I'm leaning toward Hornady XTP at the moment, but I need to get some of that, some of the Gold Dot, and some of the Buffalo Bore to see how they group in my gun. Thanks for all the input, folks!

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Gotta love N-frames...

When we transitioned from .38spl 124grn to .357 ammo for the 19 for uniformed carry in the 80s, i went for the silvertips too, on the theory i might have to take a long shot and wanted the mass on target.

still use em on the 686, tho i have went to the 124 gr .357 for short barrel 5 shot guns