I think most police agencies ultimately shifted to the 125 GR SJHP load. Back when they still carried 158GR loads, what was the most common bullet used? Was it pretty much Lead SWC? Does anyone have any examples of loads used?

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Aaron Terry

My dad carried a 4" Python on duty and he has a few boxes of the Hi-Speed Metal Point (Remington) left over from the late 60's early 70's.

not my image:

Many agencies issued Winchester FBI Loads. There's nothing wrong with the Remington and Federal FBI Loads either. All 3 are still available. (Rem R38S12 are the softest lead and better for snub nose revolvers)

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

We were using Silver tips, then went to Gold Dot 158 gr. with the model 66. We transitioned to Glocks in '96.

My department issued Federal 158 grain Hydra-Shok when they issued .357 Magnum ammunition. Before that, we bought our own. I preferred 125 gr. Federal JHP in my Model 66 and whatever else I sometimes carried.

Sort of depends on what you are carrying a .357 for.

When I am in the woods I carry Buffalo Bore 180 grain hard cast .357's

When on the Street - BB 158 grain JHP

Inside my home I use BB 158 grain SWCHP-GC +P 38 Specials.

The 125 grain JHP supposedly has the best "one shot stops" but as many found out that particular grain weight bullet tends to reek havoc on K frame forcing cones/barrels and so I have not been using them in K frame 357's.

Chief38

This is a guess, but I'd bet that the most widely issued .357 load prior to the advent of the lighter hollow points was the 158-grain JSP. Before that, very few departments actually used magnums. In about 1987, my wife told me that her Border Patrol station had the JSPs for those who needed magnums (she brought home a box), although most agents carried .38 +p+ Treasury-type rounds (110-grain JHPs).

Back in the old days, say pre-1970s, the typically-used Police round in .38 Special had a 158 grain round nose lead bullet. Not a great manstopper.

Issue was WW 158gr JHP +P .38. You could carry WW 158gr JHP .357 in your pistol but had to have .38 in the drop pouch (eventually speed loaders) in case you had to share ammo with an officer who carried a .38.

I figured that if he'd shot 18 rounds (pistol and two drop pouches was the standard belt load, no more, no less) and we were still shooting at bad guys that was tough noogies, he wasn't going to get any of mine.

We used Remington 158JSP before our transition to the 9MM

Remington Semi-Jacketed HP's, 158gr or 125gr.

In the begining, 1973, I carried Remington 158 gr jacketed hollow points. Later I switched to the Winchester 145gr Silvertips a much better round in my opinion. I carried these until the department mandated .38 Special +P's. We carried these until transitioning to 9mm in about 1985. Then it was the Federal 147gr Hydrashok. State of the art at the time, and still not a bad defensive round for the 9mm.

OUCH!!!

That's gonna leave a mark...

Great minds think alike as I carry the same loads under the conditions you illustrate. BB ammo is good stuff!

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David
CW3 USA (Ret) 1968-1990

Back in 96 when I first started we were using 125 gr Federal JHP with the exposed lead tips in 357 mag. Remington produced a Medium velocity load for the 357. The SWCHP +p was also authorized.

Different agencies authorized a different variety of ammo. But 125 for the 357 and 158s for the 38 by various manufactures was the norm.

Seems like less shots, and more hits with more terminal results were also the norm then, as compared to today.

It is about over penetration..................

the 158gr LswcHP at 890 fps in a .357 Mag in a .38 case was
the basic "Bad guy" bullet thay most LE units used since it had a good street record.

The 125 Mag had a 96% one shot stop average on the street but many LE were not allowed to use the "Over kill" bullets so
they let the LE with Mag K frames use the 110gr +P+ but even that came to an end.
Funny how you can't shoot a bad guy with a good bullet.........

Since Ness,and the Florida shoot out times have changed.........some people actually think about protecting the law officers with ammo that will put the BG down and protect the people in the area as well as the officers.

Bigger is better, is something you hear a lot about now a days as well as faster is also better..........
Can't wait til they come out with Mag Lazer beams !!

LOL...that ammo was around a lot longer than the pre 70's we carried the 158gr,38cal.lead roundnose well into the 80's

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

I'm not LE but 158 LRN would be my guess- not the best but the most common.

The first department where I worked, we were issued Remington 125 grain SJHP if we carried a .357 Magnum; .38 Specials were issued 158 grain LSWCHP +P. At my second department, you had to carry the 158 grain load regardless of whether you used the city's issue gun, a 4 inch M15, or your own .357.