.357 JHP vs. JSP

aterry33 · May 28, 2012

I carry a Glock 20 in the woods with Winchester Silvertip 175GR JHP. I'm pretty comfortable with that load for use against anything that might come up here in the Southeast, i.e. cats, pigs, black bears, and two-legged predators.

My uncle carries a 357 revolver. We were debating the JHP vs. JSP in 158GR 357 loads. He believes that the JHP might not penetrate well enough on a bear or big pig. I don't disagree, but I wondered what folks' concerns are on overpentratioin with *modern* JSP loads. Not a concern in the woods, necessarily, but what about outside the woods?

APS · May 28, 2012

I don't think that you will get much expansion with a JSP fired in a typical carry handgun barrel. And I don't believe the 158gr JHP loads were ever known for too much expansion. If you're going for a single load that performs well on animals that require deep penetration to strike the vitals (do you really need that on NC bears and pigs?) you are going to end up overpenetrating outside of the woods if by that you mean personal defense.

badge · May 28, 2012

The heavier projectile you use in that weapon the more penetration you get. Generally. If your searching for a happy median in the .357 revolver give the 140 grain rounds a shot. I had a personal experience that applies here. My kid brother shot a 150 lb or so hog in Fl with a 158 grain .357 soft point in the head at approximately 15 yards. It did not exit the hogs head.

ogilvyspecial · May 28, 2012

Since my main carry gun is a Model 66-2 (2.5") I have given the JSP
role some thought, maybe coming up with a good answer, maybe not.

I spend some time at a friend's business, which is on the edge of a
very rough area so the possibility something, bad, could happen there
isn't as remote as most other places I frequent.

Due to the potential for friendlies being around if something does go
down I usually run a .38 spl 158 gr. Lead Semi Wadcutter HP (LSWC) load
in my cylinder, sometimes MagSafe for the first 2 rounds in the summer,
with my reload(s) being 158 gr .357 mag Jacketed Soft Point's (JSP's).

The reason I chose JSP rounds for my reloads it that if I get to that point a couple
of things may have happened. One, other customers may have beat feet or hit the
floor and the other is that the fight will probably be from behind cover or concealment.

Maybe, just maybe, the .357 JSP's will give me better results if I have to shoot
through walls, doors, display racks etc. If that presents itself as a viable option.
All of my life I have adhered to the rule of not shooting at something I can't
see, but knowing the lay-out of the shop I don't want to handicap myself in any way.

My thinking may be way off on this but it's what I have come up with, so far.

aterry33 · May 28, 2012

Ogilvy, I tend to agree that for human targets, the 38SP 158GR+P LSWCHP load is sufficient. For me, it is more managable than the 357 loadings and will put the bad guys down. The FBI used it for years and never had any complaints about stopping power. I think 38 Special got a bad rep. from the 158GR LRN loadings which most of us pretty much see as range ammo nowadays and would not think of carrying for defensive purposes. But for years, that was what a lot of cops carried.

CTG_COLLECTOR · May 28, 2012

Any 357Mag JSP will have excessive penetration on human beings. For hunting the Hornady XTP/JHP should be a good load as its a med-late expanding HP. Fed also makes a 180JHP for hunting.

ArchAngelCD · May 30, 2012

If the possibility of needing to protect against an animal attack is present I would choose a 357 Magnum JSP over a JHP. Not only will it penetrate well but it will hold together better if it hits heavy bone.

In the woods my .357 Magnum revolver is loaded with Hard Cast SWC loads but I would be just as comfortable with a JSP ammo.

.357 JHP vs. JSP

aterry33

Member

APS

Member

badge

Member

ogilvyspecial

Member

aterry33

Member

CTG_COLLECTOR

Member

ArchAngelCD

Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade

Similar threads

Latest posts