357 Snubbie Defense Load

[J-Frame Shooter]

I wanted to develop a load that would produce very low flash, as well as be easily controlable and get good expansion. The powders I had tried were Reddot, Unique, Bullseye, Bluedot and TruBlue.

My results are as follows:

My test gun is a Smith 640-3 Pro 2" Brl
Speer Gold Dot 135gr Short Barrel
6.8gr Bullseye-1104 fps

I fired through 4 layers of wet denim into water.
Recovered bullet wght 134gr, expanded to .595
Accuracy offhand @ 8 yards 2" but I know it'll shoot better.
D.A.O. since I have no choice

When fired at night, every other powder tried would give a momentary blinding flash.

I fired the 125gr Gold Dot @1135 fps and it didn't hardly open up at all. Needs to be pushed faster. I also want to try the Montana Gold Bullet 125gr JHP, maybe next week.

I don't think by speeding up the 135 gr Gold Dot will give me any better expansion.

I would like to hear from others about your Defense loads for short barrels.

 

[Rule3]

I do not carry a 357 but do use the factory Gold Dot short Barrel loads in a 9 mm.

For your testing, perhaps try a slower powder and test shooting through dry denim into wet newspaper or phone books.

Most folks here will probably suggest the good old hard cast 158 LSWC for a projectile. No expansion necessary.

 

[JDBraddy]

I wanted to develop a load that would produce very low flash, as well as be easily controlable and get good expansion. The powders I had tried were Reddot, Unique, Bullseye, Bluedot and TruBlue.

My results are as follows:

My test gun is a Smith 640-3 Pro 2" Brl
Speer Gold Dot 135gr Short Barrel
6.8gr Bullseye-1104 fps

I fired through 4 layers of wet denim into water.
Recovered bullet wght 134gr, expanded to .595
Accuracy offhand @ 8 yards 2" but I know it'll shoot better.
D.A.O. since I have no choice

When fired at night, every other powder tried would give a momentary blinding flash.

I fired the 125gr Gold Dot @1135 fps and it didn't hardly open up at all. Needs to be pushed faster. I also want to try the Montana Gold Bullet 125gr JHP, maybe next week.

I don't think by speeding up the 135 gr Gold Dot will give me any better expansion.

I would like to hear from others about your Defense loads for short barrels.

I tested some .357 Mag. in my 340pd for the first time today, 147gr Precision Moly, over 10gr True-Blue, OAL 1.575", It averaged 1069.8fps from my 1 7/8" barrel. After about 25rnds my hand was numb, a blood blister had formed and popped on the web of my hand and I was actually bleeding. I don't think I'll be loading anything that hot for this little pistol again! If I can't knock em down with 5 rounds of .38+P at 800fps, then I'll go back to carrying my .45acp.

 

[crsides]

I know this is the reloading forum, but I would try Buffalo Bore. They have developed a low flash powder that gives the highest velocities in the short bbl guns.

I just got 2 boxes of Buff bore std 38 spl (NON +p) low flash for 2" bbls. I think the vel with 158g lead SWC HP is in the 850 range. The +P stuff gets you over the 1000 fps mark.


Charlie

 

[Rule3]

I know this is the reloading forum, but I would try Buffalo Bore. They have developed a low flash powder that gives the highest velocities in the short bbl guns.

I just got 2 boxes of Buff bore std 38 spl (NON +p) low flash for 2" bbls. I think the vel with 158g lead SWC HP is in the 850 range. The +P stuff gets you over the 1000 fps mark.


Charlie

I tried their +P version in a 442 and it was more of a +P+! It was brutal and felt like a full 357 magnum. I see no sense or advantage to that stout a load.

 

[badguybuster]

Buffalo bore would beat a gun that small to death. Not to mention what it would do to your hands

 

[Skip Sackett]

J-Frame,

Never been a big fan of lighter bullets in the 357Mag or 38Spl. Just me though. Well, I guess the FBI agreed too. They used a 110gr bullet for a little while. When they started bouncing off of windshields, they stopped.

Here is a picture of my snubbie load, of course, it is a 38spl one. 160gr LWC that I cast, over a load of SR4756 for near 1100fps from a M60 -13 (3" barrel).
Bullet in the middle:

If it were me, and I'll tell you one thing, I LOVE Bullseye powder. Low flash and consistent, but check out the velocity advantage with SR4756. It is a low flash powder too. You may be impressed. Just one caution, recent data isn't going to amaze you much. Older data will make it sing though.

FWIW and thanks for posting your results. I may have to get some of those bullets and give her a go!

Semper Fi!

 

[Rule3]

J-Frame,



FWIW and thanks for posting your results. I may have to get some of those bullets and give her a go!

Semper Fi!

But, but Skip they are not LEAD. Can your guns handle Jacketed bullets??

 

[J-Frame Shooter]

Wow, thanks guys for the feedback. I'm very happy with my results. I tried the slower powders and they gave too much flash. I know I could push the 135gr Gold Dots faster, but why? In my steel frames, these are not brutal at all and open up awesome. I also like shooting the heavier 158's, I carry some 158gr Montana Gold JHP's in my pocket for backup ammo, you never know when a guy might have to shoot though a windshield.

I e-mailed Speer for advice on low flash powder, they suggested I try 3N37 and Power Pistol. I'm sorry to say I don't have any of that laying around to try yet, If I do more testing, I'll post it.

You guys have given me some more idea and things to try! Thanks!

 

[Skip Sackett]

J-Frame,
I'm just trying to figure out what "J" frame is out there that is big enough to carry for Montana! A 357Mag is just going to make some of those boogers out there mad!

I have a close friend living in Florence, MT. Bitterroot valley, mighty purty out there!

p.s. Welcome to the forum too!

 

[J-Frame Shooter]

J-Frame,
I'm just trying to figure out what "J" frame is out there that is big enough to carry for Montana! A 357Mag is just going to make some of those boogers out there mad!

I have a close friend living in Florence, MT. Bitterroot valley, mighty purty out there!

p.s. Welcome to the forum too!

Semper Fi Brother.

I manage a gun store in Kalispell, I'm currently wearing my Glock 17, a 640 and a 649. This summer behind my house I had 2Grizzlies, If I'm worried about bears, I carry a Mossberg 930 12ga.

I've always had a love affair w/the J-Frame, I've owned many of them, I like the steel frames. I have a sickness....It is mighty purty here, I have a foot of snow in my yard as we speak, I love it!

 

[Rule3]

Jframe,

From Speer #14, the fastest powder listed, that you have is Unique. For the 135gr short barrel out of SW M 19 2.5" they got a max of 1109fps. The fastest they tested was AA #9, H110 and 2400. The AA #9 and H110 gave almost 100fps more.

If you need the Unique load, send me a PM. All this copyright stuff.

 

[J-Frame Shooter]

Jframe,

From Speer #14, the fastest powder listed, that you have is Unique. For the 135gr short barrel out of SW M 19 2.5" they got a max of 1109fps. The fastest they tested was AA #9, H110 and 2400. The AA #9 and H110 gave almost 100fps more.

If you need the Unique load, send me a PM. All this copyright stuff.

OCD1 Thanks, I can push the 135gr using Bullseye way faster, I had them pumped past 1185 (I could go more) but I don't need that speed for this bullet. This the the first load that I ever wanted to download cuz the bullet doesn't need HV. I went with what I have cuz I wanted low flash, good expansion, and I didn't want to beat up my gun.

Unique was giving me good velocity too, but it gave way too much flash when I shot it at night with my surefire held on target.

I'm getting 365 ft lbs of energy out of an easy to carry BUG. This is way better than a 380 or 38. Sure I could get more velocity out of it, but the Short Barrel bullet doesn't need it.

This load is easy shooting, no pain! But I still know I'm shooting a 357, not a 38+P. If I beefed it up more, I would probably get over penetration and I don't want that.

OCD1, Have a great one!