So I just bought my first older .357. It's a 28-2 from 1966. What would you all recommend I shoot out of it for range ammo? Anything I should avoid for an older gun? Any brands you all like best?
Thanks for the help. Mike

Congrats on a great gun! You can shoot everything from .38 wadcutters to Magnum barn-burners from that big N frame.

I like to shoot magnums out of mine. If you don’t reload, Armscor has been marketing .357 ammo at a pretty decent price (under $20 a box).

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

I have shot thousands of rounds through Model 28-2 revolvers (4" and 6") over the years. The vast majority of those were handloads, using 3.5 grains of Red Dot behind a 158 grain cast bullet and a standard CCI Small Pistol primer. That load is very comfortable and accurate in a Highway Patrolman. It makes my 2" J frames jump a little bit, though.

As sigp220.45 stated, your HP will handle anything you can throw at it, as far as commercial ammo is concerned.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Any commercial loading and any SANE reload. I do avoid reloads bought at gun shows.

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You're shy a few manners.

Yes! My long time policy on this, which I urge others to consider strongly, is to NEVER shoot someone else's hand loads in any of my guns. Once in a while I'll buy handloads from someone if the price is cheap. But then I take them to my shop, pull the bullets and save the components, minus the powder and primers.

This is the only sure way to avoid catastrophe with unknown hand loads.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

I have to agree with the two above posts, that gun show stuff can be explosive, especially in the magnum loads. I bought a box of 200 .44mag remanufactured, the first round went puff the second went big boom, I couldn't get any satisfaction from the company. I tore down the bullets, reused the components and at least I didn't get burnt too bad.

Any factory load in 38 spcl or 357 Magnum will work in that gun.

Mine(4" & 6" 28-2's) have lived for years on my cast 168 gr SWC pushed by 13.5 grs of #2400. The 27's & 28's are some of the strongest .357's ever made. This load crono's out of my 6" 27 at 1256 FPS average.

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S&W Accumulator

Your M28 will handle anything you can stuff on to the Chambers.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

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Support your Police, & NRA

I've shot full power W296/H110/2400 loads out of my 70's
M28-2 without a bit of problem or signs of overpressure!

it'll eat any thing with a headstamp marked .38 spec or 357. A Model 28 go probably go thermonuclear if need be.

Your hand and forearm will give up before your model 28 does.
If you want to test yourself, pick up a box of Underwood brand 158Gr JHP's rated at 1,475 F.P.S

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Always Stay Strong!

I've gone from mild to beyond ridiculous in my 28-2's. Haven't blown one up or suffered any ill effects. I haven't put together any hot ammo for several years as there is no need for it other than bragging rights at best.

Today all I shoot now are mild handloaded or bargain 38's. That could change if a paper target returns fire and I need more knock down power!!! My best shot to shot accuracy in my 28's and Rugers are with 158 gr slugs.

I suggest you shop for bargains on ammo. I do avoid cheapie ammo if my magnet is attracted to the soft steel bullet cores. If you shoot for pleasure save your bucks and be a cheapskate like me. 38's will kill a paper target or tin cans as well as the wrist crunching 357 ammo. If the need should ever arise, be confident your 28 can handle Buffalo Bore hot 357's.

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Dave

With a HP there are effectively no ammo limitations IMO.
Thick cylinder walls. Beefy forcing cone. Heavy-duty N-frame.
No ammo that is even close to being within SAAMI spec will hurt one of these beasts.
I wouldn't try it just for fun, but I'd about bet it would survive even a double-charge - though I don't recommend testing that.
Mine is my go-to for developing hot handloaded ammo.
I have no fear of damaging it.

That said, for range fodder get the least expensive stuff you can find. Better yet, reload your own for 1/3 the price of the cheapest stuff you can find.

I have a no dash 28 that's been through some stout ammo through the years. Still very tight and true.

Love those grips.