After three years of testing 357 magnum ammo from pretty much every brand I can think of, I have narrowed it down to four.

1. Buffalo Bore 125 grain tactical low flash short barrel JHP
Pros:
+ Most consistent and accurate round I've tested
+ Lowest flash of any round I've tested

Cons
- Expensive (2$ per round)
- Shoots hot

2. Winchester Silvertip 145 grain JHP
Pros
+ Smoothest shooting
+ Great expansion

Cons
- Slower
- Cannot buy in bulk (at least I have not found bulk)

3. Hornady FTX 125 grain
Pros
+ FTX Tip reliable expansion
+ Very consistent velocity

Cons
- Least accurate of those I've shot (at least for me, might just be me)
- Cannot buy bulk

4. Black Hills 125 grain JHP
Pros
+ 50 round boxes
+ Can buy bulk

- Haven't tested
- Haven't tested

Of these I have tested the top 3 (ordered a box of Black Hills due to responses on another thread for testing which I will post test results early August after I put it through my tests)

I am not including Gold Dot even though it's amazing because it would be easier to mine ⛏️ actual gold out of my backyard than to find any.

I need my defensive ammo to be:

Reliable

Accurate

Available

Expand within FBI standard 12-18" (1-3 have met these requirements)

For target practice I can just reload FMJ into the brass with my single stage for supplemental practice.

I carry the hornady and have been pleased with its performance

I will throw another one out there - The Remington . 357 mag 125 grain SJHP. I don't know how it compares to more "modern" ammo in FBI protocol testing, but it was pretty much the gold standard for one shot stops during the police revolver era. It was standard issue when I was a trooper, and it did save my bacon one night in the early 1980's. It is loaded warm, big flash, and may not be the best choice for indoors, or in a snubby J frame, but is not priced like some "boutique" ammo, and can be found fairly easily. It always shot very well out of my L and N frame guns.

Larry

Any of the options would make fine choices. Whichever you can handle best in your chosen gun is the best choice.

Best answer so far and very practical, but involves trying several ammos and assessing them, a procedure that might be less than appealing for someone lookimg for a shortcut.

The contrary opinion: For personal defensive use .357 magnum is greatly overpowered for the need, and use within populated areas is questionable at best.

I carried .357 magnum revolvers on and off-duty for many years and have been present for several actual shooting events. Those experiences left me convinced that good .38 Special +P was more than enough for the intended purposes and much easier to shoot well when necessary.

All the published ballistic tables, reviews, and jello tests are fine for marketing purposes and convincing some people that the biggest hammer is always the best tool.

I still load and use .357 magnum ammo for hunting and field uses, always in medium to heavy revolvers with 4" barrels or longer. I do not consider these necessary for personal defensive use. Huge increases in recoil, muzzle blast, muzzle flash in exchange for relatively small increases in terminal performance.

Go ahead and tear me apart, guys. Heresy, blasphemy, arguing against duly adopted holy scriptures. Mea culpa. With only 54 years of experience carrying nearly every day, two combat tours in Vietnam, and 24 years as a working cop I doubt that I know enough to debate these things with the nice folks trying to sell you the latest, greatest, whiz-bang, super-duper whatever.

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Life of the party until 8:00PM

Fine post, Lobo. Good sense folks will be in complete agreement.

All the above.
I also like Speer Gold Dot 135 gr short barrel 357 or 38 +p.

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213th FBINA

No problems with that opinion whatsoever as it's backed with tons of experience. These will be shot out of a 686 with a 4" barrel and the recoil is manageable for me. I appreciate the concern with bystanders fully, I actually agree that even with good expansion overpenetration could happen. While I still feel most comfortable with 357 magnum for carry, I'd definitely consider +P 38 special if I planned to carry in more populated areas.

As a side note it's cool to see a gun leather company actually on the forums. I may need another holster soon for my 686-1 4" and I like your products. What holster would you recommend?

I'm a big fan of the Winchester 145gr Silvertip .357 Magnum ammo.

In 2 of my revolvers it's extremely accurate especially a M640. The bullet may be old but IMO still very effective. Unfortunately Winchester doesn't run them regularly, sometimes over 2 years in between runs. I still have 4 boxes of 50 but that's not a lot. Last time I bought them they were $50 or $52 cor a 50 round box.

I'm surprised you didn't include Speer GDHP ammo, it's a good round.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

Might as well have something rated for werewolves that makes people say "Who was that masked man?"

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I need ammo, not a ride.

I went with the Golden Saber 125gr BJHP for my .357's. No special reason.

Don't over think this. "back in the day - - " I carried Super Vel 137 grainers. Did the job.

For a man sized target at defensive ranges pretty much any load will be more than adequate. If you are talking game hunting, that would be another story.

Human targets are pretty fragile and over penetration should be a concern. As previously stated, a .38 +P should be more than adequate. Shooting I saw involving .357's were typically a one shot deal - no pun intended.

I agree. I used them as my primary duty ammo in the 80s and 90s. They really looked cool when loaded in nickel cases.

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213th FBINA

This is a foolish poll, the best type of ammo is the one that hits where it needs to be for what ever the situation is. People here are so concerned about what type of ammo is the best. The best is the one that you can shoot well and hit what you need to hit.

The good thing about 357 Mag defensive ammo is it all basically works as intended. No need to search for that perfect round like say the 380 cartridge.

But like the post above I prefer 38 Special +p for defensive use. 357 Mag is great but a bit to peppy for my tastes.

My 686 Plus is loaded with Golden Saber 125gr BJHP for home defense too. At the time the choices were Remington or foreign brands. I picked American Remington.

My LGS now have Hornady and Underwood in stock. Those are great choices too.

True, but you can't obsess or lose sleep over something that's simple, practical, and to the point. Gunfighting theorists would have a tough time dealing with something direct and useful.

Lobo and I often think alike. I carried full power .357's at times back in the day but now I only carry them when camping, hiking etc in western Colorado as I did this weekend on the Grand Mesa. when carrying a .38/.357 revolver for defense purposes I generally carry 135gr. Gold Dot, short barrel in .38 although I have several other choices as well. I recently traded my M&P.340 off and got a 649-2 instead because the steal gun is so much easier to shoot well. I carried the above mentioned load in it as well but every once and a while, I shot a few .357's just to remind myself that I didn't want to do that anymore. .357's in that light little snub are just not fun at all!

I looked at the ballistic gel test Lucky Gunner did on various cartridges/bullets. I then determine which bullet was best at a given velocity and worked up a load that matched in my .357 mag snubby. I worked up a load with the 125 XTP using Longshot powder at about 1100FPS. It is about 100FPS or so slower than using full bore loads with H110, but the muzzle flash is greatly reduced (no night blindness) and recoil is more manageable. I like that load a lot in the snubby. Couldn't find any factory ammo that quite fit my bill.

Rosewood

Snubby .357 revolvers bring another factor into the mix that may not be readily apparent.

About 1976 I loaded up my new Model 19 2.5" with SuperVel 110-grain JHP and cranked off 6 rounds, fortunately outdoors at the time so the blast was not debilitating. Time to eject the fired cartridges, found they were firmly stuck in the chambers, and that tiny little shortened ejector rod could not get them out. It took a dowel rod and a mallet to remove the fired cases.

Definitely not the ideal situation if faced with the need to reload during a social engagement.

I have had similar experiences with Model 28 and Model 27 S&W revolvers, as well as a Colt Python when shooting high-performance magnum ammunition. Difficult to impossible ejection of fired cases, and the short-barreled revolvers multiply that issue with shorter ejection rods.

Something more to think about.

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Life of the party until 8:00PM

Back in th early to mid-'70s, I don't recall anyone who bought anything other than Super Vel for their .38s and .357s. Not the hottest if I remember right, but it was close.

It simply doesn't matter what brand, They all work and work well. I load 357 but lack the years off experience in shooting bad guys. As with hunting, shot placement is what matters,
The debates will continue for ever along with the magic bullets!

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Still Running Against the Wind

I voted for Silvertip more or less because I just felt like it, but I can't imagine any of the listed cartridges being ineffective if they hit the right spot. Likewise, if any of them doesn't hit the right spot, I reckon there won't be a great difference among them. Like Lobo, I suspect that a good .38Spl is sufficient. A .357 might be better if you can shoot it well, but I certainly wouldn't lose much sleep worrying over which one.

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Formerly Model520Fan

...because I don't use premium ammo, which of which Buffalo Bore and a few others are definitely the 'best'. But I use top of the line ammo made by traditional manufacturers that is available, affordable and thoroughly tested and has a good track record. Speer Gold Dot, Hornady FTX, Federal HST, Remington Golden Saber. I'm sure Winchester has a good entry.

I just saw Paul Harrell test a relatively new ammo and usually he says his opinion has 'caveats' and 'you be the judge'. This one he said it was downright awful. Accuracy and terminal performance.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I am a huge fan of Paul. I keep trying to find the green and white box he uses to no avail.

Gold Dot is amazing I just can't ever find it.

OK, back when we were issued the Federal 125 gr full house.357 ammo. Muzzle blast was ferocious, recoil, even with 681s was, shall we say, noticeable. When we shot quals, by the time we hit the 25 yard line and completed the first 3 phases of barricade, my gun hand had had all the fun it could stand. Given the time limits for the last phases (and a lack of specific requirements) I shot the last 8 rounds with the support hand. That's not likely to be a consideration in a self defense situation, but still.

Now then, step the rounds down to 1250 f/s or so (think Remington Golden Saber and the like) from 1450, and things got a whole lot more pleasant and the various ballistic tests were still quite satisfactory. Or, as noted above, you could use .38 +P. Most of the "defensive" ammo loaded since the early 1990s comes with flash suppressed powders, although you might have experiment a bit to make sure. We had VA state police do night shooting with us with the.357 Sigs they were using at the time. We'd wait for them to fire a round and use the muzzle flash to illuminate our targets.

I voted for the Silvertips because I like them but the only .357 I carry is a model 60 so for me it is the Barnes 125gr Tac-x PD, they claim 1,200fps out of a two inch barrel. I only have 5 shots so I have to make the most out of them.

I agree, I used to buy the 50 round boxes when on sale back when. Luckily I still have a fairly good supply of those too.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

I waited like a vulture for a run of the Silvertips, which as I understand it they only make every couple years. I bought some stupid amount, but there is a good chance it will last the rest of my life. I am of the school that does not fancy full house .357s for social use, for the same basic reasons. I usually carry a standard velocity 38 SWC (Georgia Arms IIRC) in my M66. I shoot it more precisely and faster.

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NHI, 10-8.

I wish. I only ever found one box and absolutely loved them. If I ever had the opportunity to buy bulk I would. I like to shoot at least a box of my defensive ammo of choice with FMJ or reloads for more obscure practice each month. If you know of a place with Gold Dot in 38 +P or 357 I'm all ears though. The 20 I shot were absolutely magnificent!

"This is a foolish poll, the best type of ammo is the one that hits where it needs to be for what ever the situation is. People here are so concerned about what type of ammo is the best. The best is the one that you can shoot well and hit what you need to hit."

You left out important details and what you said is not entirely true. I am certain that you would not apply your logic if you were forced to carry a "rimfire" cartridge chambered in .22LR in a J-Frame snub. I don't think there is one person on this forum who disagrees that a 22LR isn't a lethal round. In other words .....shot placement is king... Isn't that right???

Also, don't be so FN'Herstal harsh on the original poster and what was presented. It's just a poll and your life isn't going to change as a result. I hope not.

And yes, I do carry a Snub 43C chambered in 22LR!

All the love,
Data

Slightly OT but information some here might want.

The last time I bought .357 Magnum Silvertip ammo I put my name on the waiting list from Midway USA and a few others. It took so long I had forgotten I was on the waiting list but when I got the email I bought from Midway and Midsouth Shooters Supply.

If you're wanting them it can't hurt to put a reminder request in several well known sites which accept requests.

I have bought and shot their .357 Magnum, .38 Special and 9mm Silvertip ammo, all excellent loads. Unfortunately I think they are now only sold in 20 round boxes.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

You don't say what type of defense this ammo would be used for. Would be criminals or wild animals?

When I woods walk in Bear Country I use Buffalo Bore 180 grain 357 magnum hard cast lead - mainly for penetration. It is also very accurate and reliable - has a hell of a kick too.

For SD against would be criminals I choose not to use 357 Mag's because of several reasons. First off in populated areas I feel the round is over penetrative. The last thing I'd want to do is harm an innocent bystander, friend or family member. Secondly, I no longer use a revolver for EDC. I switched to something smaller and lighter with almost twice the capacity and in 9mm over four years ago.

Tight accuracy and velocity don't matter as much in self defense ranges as terminal performance. Penetration, expansion, wound channel etc. are much more important. Lately I've been favoring the heavier bullets, for example, in .357, 135-158 grain over the 110-125 gr. bullets.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Maybe so, but it's a another data point that helped me eliminate two options. Plus it's more for fun, of course my final decision will be more driven by testing.

I've tossed out Hornady because I'm just not very accurate with it and Buffalo Bore because it's way more pricey than Winchester and I shoot both about the same. Once I test the Black Hills coming early next month I'll have my answer. Foolish, yeah, fun and entertaining also yeah.

I see some people pointing to the jell-o test to determine what they carry. I will admit that it is interesting to see what happen in the Gel Blocks but, I wouldn't rely on them to chose what I shoot. I have seen many real world shooting victims to not care much about people shooting jell-o. There are sooooo many factors that you can't account for that it is moderately probative of what would happen in real life.

Jell-o is for eating not for shooting, just ask Bill.

So, what do you base your decision on? Many of us don't have the abilities to do extensive testing on live targets so we have to work with what we have.

Rosewood

Any cast or partially jacketed .357 ammo of normal 158 gr. weight should do anything that's needs doing wth this cartridge. Extensive testing in jello or other substances means little except to obsessive hard core YouTubers or aspiring gunfighters.

If you shoot it well, it's accurate in your gun, point of impact vs. point of aim is where it should be, and recovery from recoil is acceptable to you, that's your best ammo. All the superfluous stuff isn't important. But you'll have to try several ammos. Takes time and the ammo isn't free, but you'll learn a lot more than the gunfighters and YouTubers and improve your shooting skills in the process, something the aforementioned others seldom have much interest in.

Don't forget us lead bullet guys.There are a lot of good design lead bullets out there superb for game and self defense. A load I carried for years was a 148 grain hollow based wad cutter loaded backwards with stiff load of Red Dot in 38 special and a stiff load of Unique in 357. Over penetration was not an issue and recoil was controllable.

You fine people are making me buy a bunch of silver tips to see if I’ve been missing out lol

Exactly! Thank you, I will keep my 158 jhp.

I tested them and they are phenomenal 🙂 it's come down to them or Black Hills which I'll be testing soon

They’ll all do just fine.

I’d prefer the heaviest projectile.

I just took delivery of 6 boxes of this from Midway. I plan to carry it in my 686 Plus 3" and 2"

Barnes TAC-XPD .357 Magnum short barrel test - YouTube

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Loyalty Above All.. but Honor

None of the above. Why would anyone carry less than 454 Casull out on the mean streets? Preferably a 7 1/2” barrel.

Yep, the Silvertips in 38 Super, 357 Magnum, and 44 Magnum are always outstanding, and always surprisingly accurate,, buy em when you can... and I think I've actually shot some 44 Specials as well,, expensive, but worth it.

The one thing I have seen plenty of is people saying that they have tested the bullets. Who did they shoot? Just sayin. They claim to have tested them so I would like to know who they shot and how long did that person last before they expired?

Accuracy is one thing, actual testing is something else. Oh, I am sure that there are people that have shot Jell-O and said that they are wonderful bullets but, really folks, how do you know how well a bullets works until you have tried it on someone or something.

PS. I am not recomending that someone does this and if you do you are on your own

Just this morning I was shooting some .357 handloads through a M28 4" Highway Patrolman. I use the original .357 Magnum bullet, the H&G #51 developed by Phil Sharpe. It's a 160 grain cast plainbase SWC loaded with 12 grs. #2400. Muzzle velocity is probably 1100 fps in the 4" gun. It's accurate, recoil is very tolerable (more so than the hotter factory stuff), and it will likely do anything hotter .357 loads will do, but I don't have much need for shooting through bullet proof vests or cars like some.

The #51 is more useful than the #358429 or #358439 because you don't have to crimp it using a make-do method because of bullet length. Accuracy of the #51 will equal either of the Lyman designs.

I seldom shoot factory ammo, but if any company produced a factory .357 load like mine, I think it would be a great and useful .357 load. I realize Buffalo Bore and maybe others make .38 Special loads to approximately those specs, but I don't know if anyone downloads .357.