+P Harder on frames than .357?

[dwever]

Two Questions:

So I go to Gander Mountain looking for .357 Federal Premium Vital-Shok 180 Grain for a combo self-defense and hunting load. They're out. So I figure for a stop-gap I'll just buy Winchester .38 +P JHP self defense, and order the Federal in from Midway USA and forget about the hunting for now. The Gander guy with his vest with NRA instructor and stuff all over says to me that not only is the +P harder on frames, it has greater muzzle flash, could he just order me what I'm looking for? I didn't argue, thanked him and just said I was going to check the internet.

Is that possibly true about +P? How?

Second question: How do you guys feel about the Vital-Shok 180 for a combo self defense and hunting load for these Alabama White Tail?

Thanks as always. Hey I see I went over 100 posts. Not bad for 49 months.

 

[WC145]

.38spl +P is much lower pressure than .357mag, lower pressure = easier on guns. That guy doesn't know what he's talking about.

 

[Ashlander]

That guy must have misunderstood -- he must have been thinking 38 Spec +P vs. 38 Spec. Nothing else makes sense.

 

[MDMarauder]

Sounds like you were misinformed.. You should have no problems using .38+P.

 

[dwever]

That guy must have misunderstood -- he must have been thinking 38 Spec +P vs. 38 Spec. Nothing else makes sense.

Yeah, I'd like to think that, except that I asked for .357 Federal Premium Vital-Shok in 180 Grain or 140 if they didn't have 180. .38 Special Federal Hydrashok is 110 grain only.

Anyway, I'm not going crazy. The world is as I thought it was. Thanks.

 

[Erich]

As to your second question, that load would carry a grievous danger of overpenetration if used as a self-defense load in a civilized area. Should be dandy for hunting. I carry 180-grain .357s (handloads) for personal protection while hiking up Bear Canyon behind the house, but I switch them out for much lighter hollowpoints when I get back to civilization.

 

[jbull380]

What? You question the advice from a guy wearing a vest with pins and stuff all over it?!!

 

[photoman]

Unfortunately, gun shop salemen are just about the worst source for quality gun information on planet earth.

I recommend CorBon DPX for self defense ammo. I don't hunt so can't advise regarding the other.

 

[Alpha_Mutt]

BS from a gun store clerk -- how unusual!

 

[Steve_NEPhila]

This debate is best settled using basic physics. It is physically impossible for a lower energy cartridge to exert more force on a "frame" than a higher energy cartridge. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Barring any defects or major dimensional differences, the magnum round will exert more force upon the frame of a firearm than a lower energy round. Case closed.

 

[dwever]

As to your second question, that load would carry a grievous danger of overpenetration if used as a self-defense load in a civilized area. Should be dandy for hunting. I carry 180-grain .357s (handloads) for personal protection while hiking up Bear Canyon behind the house, but I switch them out for much lighter hollowpoints when I get back to civilization.

Thanks Erich, can you (or any one else) recommend a good Federal self defense load where over-penetration is not a fear; or give ammo parameters I should be looking for in a .357 for a self-defense load.

Thanks!!!

 

[slumpy]

So I shouldn't have listened to the pimply walmart kid on the best dvd player to buy, joking.

 

[ralph7]

Thanks Erich, can you (or any one else) recommend a good Federal self defense load where over-penetration is not a fear; or give ammo parameters I should be looking for in a .357 for a self-defense load.

Thanks!!!

federal hydra-shok is excellent ammo in any caliber.

 

[Dave T]

I've heard good things about actual results with Speer Gold Dots. They offer a 125g and a 158g, maybe other weights. I don't like the muzzle blast from 125g 357 loads so I would go with the 158g GD.

I also think folks worry way too much about over penetration. Worry more about what happens if you miss. That is even more likely in an armed confrontation.

Dave

 

[Nacho Man]

i was told by a shop owner that 230gr hp 45acp was inferior to the 200 hp & 185s. of course all he had on his shelf were sd ammo in 200 & 185. what a crock.

 

[stantheman86]

Every type of ammo is different........I have some older 70's era Super Vel .38 +P that has more muzzle blast and recoil than CCI Blazer .357.

 

[Mule88]

The .357 Blazer 158 gn is only rated at 1100 fps. Its not really a full house load so its likely some super vel +P's would have more muzzle blast than the blazer brands. Super vel used lighter weight bullets to get the higher velocities so that in its self is prone to have a higher muzzle blast than the slower heavier bullet the blazer uses.

 

[WC145]

Big changes in powders since Super-Vel also. They're now designed for less muzzle flash, particularly the powders used in short barrel specific loads.

 

[Drail]

Don't waste any money on "+P" ammo unless you have a 5 in. or longer bbl. It's a marketing scam.

 

[nawilson]

So I shouldn't have listened to the pimply walmart kid on the best dvd player to buy, joking.

Teenagers and electronics? Actually, that is probably better advice than you could get on a gun forum.