What do you like to carry in your short barrel K frames since it is not recommended that you use 125gr.JHP's. in .357's in them? I would guess that the 135gr. Gold Dots would be a popular choice.

T

What do you like to carry in your short barrel K frames since it is not recommended that you use 125gr.JHP's. in .357's in them? I would guess that the 135gr. Gold Dots would be a popular choice.

T

Remington 125gr SJHP's in .357 Magnum. An excellent, proven round.

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Centennial Every Day

Hi, This is just me..The K frames are rated for 158gr. bullets not anything less...I would stick with the 158gr. anything less could crack the forcing cone due to the higher pressures.....I personally use Speer Gold dot, 158 gr. JHP

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M.J.Hanna

....again, it's just my opinion, but carry it with one of the 125 gr JHP's, I prefer Federal. THis is what I carry in my 3 inch 65. Everyone agrees a steady diet of these may be hard on the gun, but for defense-- 125s--definately.

+1,000,000

A a few dozens a year for familiarization are not going to destroy your pistol.

Very, very few handgun loads have the proven fight ending track record of Remington's 125 grain SJHP .357 Magnum.

My 66 defense gun is loaded with .38 130 grain +p WIN SXT hollowpoints. I would not use .357 because of the danger of over penetration. The guy only has to die once, and the SXT's will do that.

The good thing about Remington 125s is that they are mostly lead. They expand and fragment like crazy which increases their cavity formation potential and limit their overpenetration.

Truly an effective design that has not been bested by modern developments.

Thanks much. I am well aware of the legendary stopping power of the Rem. 125gr. JHP. and have carried it for meany years in various .357's. I just wondered if some of you have switched because of the flame cutting issues.

T

Flame cutting is not an issue unless you plan on shooting hundreds of them in a year. A few boxes of them a year for familiarization plus lots of stout 38 Specials for practice will make your gun last a lifetime.

For actual "business" carry, I use Remington .357 125 grain, hollow points.
I figure that if I actually have to use it, flame cutting or cracks in the forcing cone are going to be the least of my worries.

For practice I use the old +P .38 Special 158 grain, lead, semi-wad cutter hollow point.
It's also a great defense load on it's own.

A big +1.

I'm partial to .38 +P Remington 158gr. LSWCHP. But a good 125gr. .357 would be my second choice for self defense.
-R

A 3" Model 66 is too nice of a gun to shoot someone with! Please get a Model 10.

I like the Federal 125 gr sjhp. If not that the Winchester 145 grain silver tip is a good load too.

Winchester 145 gr. Silvertip is my preferred defense load in .357 magnum. I like heavy(er)-for-caliber bullet weights in all calibers (230 gr in .45 acp, 180 gr. in .40, 124 and 147 gr. in 9, 158 and 145 gr. in .357). The 145 gr. Silvertip is a very effective load and comfortable to shoot... even in a 640! I avoid the 110 gr and the 125 gr. loads due to their greater likelihood of forcing cone wear. The 125 gr. has a good record of performance as does the 158 gr. Gold Dot. I choose the 158 gr. Gold Dot when I might expect a greater need for penetration, such as carry in very cold winter climates or when thick-skinned adversaries might be encountered. I totally pass on the 110's for sure. For an effective yet milder loading, Speer's new-ish 135 gr. Gold Dot is a very good choice, especially in the little J-frame .357's.

This question has come up quite a bit lately , and
I just gotta ask.

HOW MUCH DEFENSIVE AMMO are you people shooting???


I use mainly .38 special for plinking and practice with my Magnum Smiths , and only run
a couple cylinders of the FULL BORE stuff per
session.

I figure my K frames are gonna last a Looong time.

another vote for the Win. 145gr. STHP

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I'm only allowed 30 characters

T[/QUOTE]

My 66 defense gun is loaded with .38 130 grain +p WIN SXT hollowpoints. I would not use .357 because of the danger of over penetration. The guy only has to die once, and the SXT's will do that.[/QUOTE]

Nothing against your ammo choice, but the 125 JHP magnum loads actually might penetrate a little LESS than those SXTs

As morbid as that is, I have to admit, it is funny.

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Centennial Every Day

Don't have a 3", however,in my 2-1/3" 66 I carry handloads made up of Speer 158gr.LSWCHPs and 9 grains of AA-5 in Winchester cases. Gives me an honest 1000fps and doesn't beat the gun. Ain't worried about leading as I don't shoot these in practice sessions. Not very Scientific but, I shot one into a 55 gallon drum full of water. Mushroomed to .720, darned near flat!