.357 magnum defense ammo

[lineman21]

I just bought a 28-2 with a 6 in. barrel. I will mainly be keeping it in my truck just in case I ever need it. What is a good defense round and brand for the .357 magnum.

 

[st regis]

Federal brand 125 grain SJHP. Actual police shootings show it as still a 96% one shot stopper. 158 gr SJHP would be my second choice in any brand. A couple of bianchi speed strips or HKS speed loaders and you are in GOOD hands!. Joe in GA

 

[murphydog]

Hi, and welcome. The .357 load with the best statistical stopping power is the 125 grain JHP by Remington. Others ammo makers produce similar rounds and are likely equally effective.

Be sure to practice shooting the gun, and also consider how secure the gun will be in your unattended vehicle. If the answer is "not very", how difficult would it be to carry/conceal it in your state legally? Hope this is helpful.

 

[lineman21]

Thanks for the replies. I will be bringing the gun in with me everytime I get home. I have already had a 22. hornet stolen from my truck at my house. If I will be away from the truck for long periods of time It will not go out with me. I plan to get another .357 snubnose to carry

 

[Sportsterguy]

I love Speer Gold Dot 158 gr. JHP's! Work well on a 150 lb-200 lb deer. Should do it's intended job for self defense on a 2 legged animal. All of my 357's have em and I only shoot hand loaded 158 gr. LSWC's for practice.

I really doesn't matter which HP round you go with for SD. It's what you hit with it that counts!

 

[ab4ka]

I think it's hard to go wrong with anything in a .357, but I've always heard that the 125gr SJHP was the "gold standard".

 

[Markcuda]

Do a Google search on Buffalo bore ammo.
Potent stuff, I hear

Edit=here ya go.
http://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=102

 

[ErnieDeBord]

If that dont work...I carry 185 gr full house Fedrals out of of my 629

 

[sub-moa]

Just a thought, when temporarily away from your vehicle someplace you can't carry, you might take an inexpensive coated bicycle cable with loops on either end. Wrap it around a rear bracket of the front seat and pull one loop thru the other. Use a long shank padlock to then lock the trigger guard or topstrap of the unloaded handgun to the available loop and push the whole thing further under the front seat. Out of sight and secure against the typical opportunistic thief while being relatively quick and easy to unload/lock and later unlock/load. Been doing exactly that for many years in my Jeeps and P/U, works for me anyway ...

 

[AKAOV1MAN]

As far as ammo goes, the 125gr HP is a proven MAN stopper. For anything heavier, or a man, I would use a heavy Buffalo Bore load up to 180 gr. Can be used in a solid for larger animals, or SP/HP for less hard to stop. Since you have the barrel length, you may as well take advantage of it. If you can, weld or using one way bolts secure a lock box in your truck, a solid one.

 

[thedogfather]

Yes, the Remington Express 125 grain SJHP is a powerhouse load. Double Tap makes a very hot 125 grain JHP. Remington Golden Sabre 125 grain JHP is a reduced velocity load and is very comfortable to shoot out of my 4" model 28.

 

[Kinoz]

Don't quote me on this, but I believe Massad Ayoob said the 125 grain Gold Dot was a keeper.

 

[AZ Desertrat]

I agree with the 125gr Fed.....very good track record.

 

[canoesota]

I like the Federal Premium 158gr Hydra-Shok!

 

[ncbengal]

I love Speer Gold Dot 158 gr. JHP's! Work well on a 150 lb-200 lb deer. Should do it's intended job for self defense on a 2 legged animal. All of my 357's have em and I only shoot hand loaded 158 gr. LSWC's for practice.

Does Sportsterguy mind sharing his recipe for the 158 gr Gold Dots?

 

[Sportsterguy]

I love Speer Gold Dot 158 gr. JHP's! Work well on a 150 lb-200 lb deer. Should do it's intended job for self defense on a 2 legged animal. All of my 357's have em and I only shoot hand loaded 158 gr. LSWC's for practice.

Does Sportsterguy mind sharing his recipe for the 158 gr Gold Dots?

Bought them (1k rounds, "Canned Heat") from Georgia Arms 4 years ago at a gunshow in Va. They were dirt cheap!

If you want my recipe for the LSWC's I'll post it upon your request.

 

[safearm]

Federal Classic 125 grain JHP. Fairly easy to find and not at an outlandish price.

 

[WVfishguy]

Has anyone used Magtech's Guardian Gold? It's a 125 grain JHP with a BIG hollow point, and seems pretty darn hot. But I'd hate to shoot one indoors - you'd go deaf for sure.

This may seem weird, but my favorite load out of a 6" Model 28 is a 180 grain gas checked LSWC with healthy load of H110 or 2400 for about 1250 FPS (by my Chrony). Super accurate, controllable, lower flash and less noise than lightweight bullets (I think).

 

[Otis311]

I am not sure whether to go with 125 or 158 both in JHP. What are the trade offs

 

[pps]

I am not sure whether to go with 125 or 158 both in JHP. What are the trade offs

The 158gr will generally penetrate deeper than the 125gr. Some worry about over-penetration with the 158gr and end up choosing the 125gr.

I switched from the 125gr to the 158 gr for 2 reasons...first the 158gr hit dead on to my fixed sight ruger, and second..after working in a prison treating inmates, some beefed up with prison muscle, I decided to go with the extra penetration. I want the best odds at hitting vital organs, even if I have to shoot through his (BG)butt to hit them.