Just curious, for those of you who carry revolvers loaded with .357 magnum rounds and carry additional ammo, do you also carry .357 magnum rounds or .38 special +p for your reloads?

I usually carry a .38 M649 but when I carry a .357 snub, my carry ammo and spare ammo is Remington 125 grain Golden Saber.

My .357 speedloader reloads match my .357 carry ammo.

I carry several revolvers at different times, if I carry .357 it's only in the cylinder...all reloads are .38's.

I just don't ever want to make a mistake and grab .357 ammo when things get crazy and all I have is a .38 revolver.

I'm kinda simple minded....less decisions I need to make the better!

When I carried my 3" 65 with .357 Magnum ammo (Speer 135gr SB-GDHP), which was rare, I carried the same ammo as reloads in speed strips. The only time I differed was when I carried a 642 BUG, in which case I carried .38 Special in speed strips so I could reload either gun if necessary.

Strongside pocket I carry a 340pd and a speedstrip in the offside pocket, 135gr Gold Dot 357 rounds in both.

Because I carry both 38 Special and 357 Magnum, the reloads are 38 Special +p.

__________________
On the Oak Savannah

I occasionally carry a 60-15 concealed IWB. 5 145-gr Silvertips in the gun, 5 more on a speedstrip.

If I'm in the woods it's the same revolver OWB, with 1 or 2 shotshells, then the rest are 158-gr JSPs. Backing that up is usually 2 speedstrips of the Silvertips.

__________________
Because of the metric system?

I have a 60-10 , and 3 inch 65 and 66 that get carried........

In the "burbs of the Burgh" it's +P.38s.... in the gun and 1 or 2 reloads (speedloaders)

Out in "Penn's Woods" at the Cabin ....... .357s in the gun..... reloads whatever is handy..... if I ever face the need for more than 5 or 6 .357s.... I'm already a chew toy for some bear!!!!! .38s are good enough for whatever other 'varmints" I might run into......................

My daily carry is a 640-1 Pro with 3 HKS speedloader in my back pocket so I have 20 rounds on me and another 6 speedloaders (30 rounds) in a pouch in the car. Some people would think excessive but you never know who or what you will run in to.

All of my rounds are Hormany Critical Defence 125 gr. .357 mag.

On duty, I carry .357 Magnums in my duty gun and 4 speed loaders. My BUG is loaded with .38 +P. Off duty lately, I’ve been carrying .38 Spl standard pressure Winchester “Defend” 130 grain BHPs as my reloads with Speer .357 Mag “Short Barrel” 135 grain GDHPs in my 3” Model 13-3. The Winchester ammo is what I carry in my 2” Model 12-2 Airweight which I actually carry more.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

__________________
CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

When carrying the 340PD my reloads are carried in a speed strip, and are 357 Magnums. The gun is loaded with Federal Nyclad 38+p. I figure if things are so bad I have to reload, it may as well be with something a little more powerful.

__________________
Tom
"Panem et Circenses"

For some of the reasons listed above by others, I carry .38 SPL +P reloads.

I am a believer in KISS (keep it super simple) and firming good habits (SOP, muscle memory). To my mind using a revolver, of same type (steel J frame) of the same load, same reload just seems like common sense.

I don't think which type is nearly as important as keeping it the same. (I am a .38 standard pressure LWC/LSWC guy myself.)

__________________
Certified Curmudgeon

Carry a Kimber K6 with 357 mag. Two speed strips also with 357 mag.

__________________
Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

Same ammo.

__________________
K & N S&W revolvers

I typically carry .38 +P in my small and medium size .357. ON the rare occasion I carry a large frame .357, usually while walking in the boonies where large nasty critter encounters are a distinct possibility, I carry some pretty nasty .357 heavy solids.

All my extra ammo is .38 special. My main carry gun is a 640 which is, as y'all know a .357 magnum revolver. But my BUG is a 637. So I carry the .38's.

i carry both 357 and 38 revolvers depending on my days plans. all spare ammo is standard pressure
Hornady Custom Ammunition 38 Special 158 Grain XTP Jacketed Hollow Point

When I carry my .357 magnum 686P 2.5 inch, I have 158 gr. 357 magnum SJHP in the gun. My reloads are 158 gr. 357 magnum JSP.

The same applies with my model 57 .41 magnum. 240 gr. Platinum Tips in the gun, 210 grain JSP (very loud and fast).

My thinking is: If I just fired 6 or 7 357 magnums or 41 magnums, and I need to reload and keep shooting, whatever I'm shooting at is either HUGE and now angry, or is hiding behind hard cover. This is why my reloads are not hollow points, but JSP.

FWIW not all 640s are .357, some are .38 special.(Same everything but cylinder not bored for magnum brass, made for PDs who did not want their people carrying those 'overpowered magnums'.)

__________________
Certified Curmudgeon

The ONLY time I carry .357's in a Revolver is when I am in the Woods. My EDC load in my M60-7 is Buffalo Bore #20A .38 Spl. 158 gr. LSWCHP-GC +P and I do carry a spare re-load. I also sometimes use Speer Gold Dot 135 grain GDHP Short Barrel +P's but usually in the Summer months when less clothing is worn.

When in the Woods I carry a M65 (3" bbl) with Buffalo Bore 180 grain hard cast LSWC .357 Magnums. Mostly for Black Bear protection that I hope I never have to use.

I'm another one: the refills I carry also depend on where I'll be going. When I'm hiking with the SP-101 up the canyon, that'll be .357 Magnum loads. Down in "civilized parts," more likely the .38 +Ps.

__________________
Now go make God proud...

I live in the woods. 640 Pro and M&P 340 both have Barnes 140gr lead-free hp magnums, and there's a moon clip with the same in my vest pocket. No difference when I go to town.

__________________
Wrangler of stray Chiefs
Bob

Speer 135 Gold Dot hollow point .38 Special +P in 3" Model 13; Safariland Comp II Speedloader carried in Safariland Speedloader holder.

This works for me. YMMV.

JPJ.

Buffalo Bore 38 spl +p 158 lead swchp out performs all .357 magnum ammo in short barreled guns. I know it's hard to swallow, but according to published data it's true.

I believe the loaded gun and the speed loader or speed strip should all be
the same ammo. Less expensive reloads are ok for practice, but carry
the good stuff for bidness. What is the good stuff? I think it's a good
idea to find out what local police and/or sheriff officers use and then use
the same brand and type cartridge they use. When, and if, asked by a
prosecutor why I used a +++triple whammy hollow point, I can say
if it's good enough for the local PD I figured it is good enough for me.

__________________
In Omnia Paratus

I carry homebrews in my snub Python.

140gr XTP bullet over 15gr of 2400 powder. My speedloader matches. They average 1100fps out of the snub barrel, but superbly accurate and easy to shoot.

If you are capable shooting magnums, I just don't personally see the point of carrying a gun chambered as such but loaded with 38spl. Just my opinion.

oh how i envy you. in 20 years we have gone from 357 to 40s&w now 9mm. if i stick around long enough we will be using stern look and a harsh word.

I stand corrected. I was just trying not to be patronizing by over explaining. Guess I caught myself anyway.

Our local PD and Sheriff's Office don't carry revolvers anymore. I'm the last revolver toter left in my agency. Once I retire next year, that's it.

Sent from my XT1565 using Tapatalk

__________________
CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

I'd carry an M1911A1 in .45 if they'd let me, but something about cocked and locked scares the higher ups. All the other guys in my office carry Glock 22s. A very few guys in other offices still carry S&W 3rd gen .40s.

The kids with their combat Tupperware have yet to outshoot me during qualification.

Sent from my XT1565 using Tapatalk

__________________
CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

My first 640 was a .38 Special. It wasn't until recently, from my perspective anyway, that 640s became magnums.

__________________
CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

I never load my EDC revolvers with anything beyond high quality .38 Special ammunition, not even +P, and my home defense .357s get the same treatment. I only load .357 Magnum loads if I go afield, especially if I'm chasing feral hogs. It's always YMMV but all I see with .357 Magnum rounds is the potential for over penetration, indoors or outside and, if you carry an Airweight type weapon, your quality second shot capability is essentially non-existent. I don't believe I will lose a self defense situation because I carried .38 Special rounds if I do my job with bullet placement.

I feel the same way about my 9mm rounds when I carry that type of handgun. Basic, high quality ammunition, nothing too hot, etc.

I know you addressed this to LEOs but it works the same for the rest of us. Except, MAYBE, the Highway Patrol.


YMMV.

Yeah same here whenever I carry my 4" 686 when I'm out in the field,camping/hiking. On the days where I would carry it, it's loaded up with 38spl+P's.

When I do carry, it's mainly my 4" model 10 or 642, it'll be loaded up with Remington golden saber +P's and I'll have a Bianchi speed strip loaded up with 6 of the same in my front pocket. I feel well armed with either one of these.

I carry a S&W 2 1/2" RB 686-6 with 2 speed loaders with Federal 158gr. Hydro Shock's. I was carrying my reloads but upon advice of my attorney I was told to only use factory loaded ammo when carrying concealed. He also said in our rural area & most other rural areas in VA, the Commonwealths Attorney's wouldn't try to hang a person for using their own reloaded ammo, but why take a chance. But go to the Anti-gun, anti-CHP northern like cities in VA that have commie Commonwealth Attorney's & they will try to and most likely will use that against you to nail you to the wall! And they will win! His words, not mine. Sadly to say he's seen it happen in the People's Republic of Northern Virginia. Your state may be different. VA is the new MD.

__________________
I'm 67. I don't do timeouts.

My S&W Model 49's loaded with either standard pressure Ruger ARX or Remington Golden Saber +P. Same stuff is in my two speed strips.

When I carry 357 Magnum in my LCR, my speedstrip(s) are loaded with 38 Special +P.

I sometimes carry a model 49 in 38 special and I don't want to risk getting mixed up and have a 357 Magnum reload and a 38 revolver.

I have, in the past, carried the wrong reload for my carry piece and don't want that to happen again in case I ever need a reload.

If I never carried a 38 special gun, I'd go with 357 Mag reloads.

Nice being the last holdout. I was the last or one of the last revolver carriers in my former agency. Had to tolerate the youngsters with their comments about, " what was that old thing ", and " did it actually fire real cartridges ",. etc. etc. Better yet was out shooting and reloading them on the combat courses. Not always but enough to be noticeable. .357's for me.

For me, .357 Magnum in a snubby constitutes masochism and overkill--my opinion only. Mine is loaded with either the older, undiluted Remington FBI load--158 gr. .38 Special +P LSWCHP--or lately the standard-pressure Buffalo Bore equivalent (ballistically identical) of that fine old loading.

__________________
Oh well, what the hell.

during winter months my 19-4 snub is loaded with 158 gr 357 and all my speed strips and speed loaders are stoked with 135+p sb rounds because I will on occasion run with my 640 nd .38 and it makes it simple to pick up a speed strip and not have to think what load is in it.

I carry a SP-101 loaded with .357 Golden Saber, and all the spare ammo is also .357 Golden Saber. My back up is a 340M&P loaded with .38 135 Gold Dot. I selected the 340 as a back up because if I have to reload it I can use the same .357 ammo and speedloaders as the SP-101.

__________________
Wheel guns are real guns.

I get the quote from Lethal Weapon thrown at me: "A lot of you old timers like those six-shooters." The Glocksketeers that work for me haven't outshoot me at qualification yet, and I'm retiring in August. Upset them the last time by out-qualifying them with my 1963-vintage S&W Model 12-2 Airweight 2" snub after I'd fired 2 perfect scores with my Model 686-6.

Sent from my XT1565 using Tapatalk

__________________
CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

Whether I am carrying a revolver or semi-auto, I want my reloads to be the same ammo as my primary rounds. Since I "own" every round that leaves the barrel, I don't want to have to worry about changes in point of impact! If I am ever in the position of using a defensive arm, there is little guarantee that the distance between myself and the aggressors will remain constant. I want one load for the respective handgun, and stick with it.

__________________
Judge control not gun control!

When I carry a reload, I load the speed strip to match the rounds in the revolver . . .

__________________
Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Practice, carry, reloads, all the same for me.

Good luck to you and enjoy your retirement, I also retired 10 years ago from a S.O. in South Fla. carrying a 686, never failed me and drove the plastic tactical kids nuts especially at qual. time. Stay safe, my friend.

My most often off duty carry is a 2 1/2" model 66-5. It's loaded with .357 Mag 135 gr. Gold Dots, as it serves as a house gun as well (not so loud). Reloads are .357 Win 145 gr. Silvertips in a speed loader and a couple of speed strips.

Once while in a hurry I grabbed a Colt Police Positive out of the safe to take on a camping trip. When I got out in the woods, I discovered I'd grabbed the 38 S&W gun (instead of 38 special one) and only had 38 special ammo with it. So I had a nice metal club to carry around for the weekend.