Revolver Carry and Reloads

[American1776]

When I carry my .357 magnum 686P 2.5 inch, I have 158 gr. 357 magnum SJHP in the gun. My reloads are 158 gr. 357 magnum JSP.

The same applies with my model 57 .41 magnum. 240 gr. Platinum Tips in the gun, 210 grain JSP (very loud and fast).

My thinking is: If I just fired 6 or 7 357 magnums or 41 magnums, and I need to reload and keep shooting, whatever I'm shooting at is either HUGE and now angry, or is hiding behind hard cover. This is why my reloads are not hollow points, but JSP.

 

[TomkinsSP]

All my extra ammo is .38 special. My main carry gun is a 640 which is, as y'all know a .357 magnum revolver. But my BUG is a 637. So I carry the .38's.

FWIW not all 640s are .357, some are .38 special.(Same everything but cylinder not bored for magnum brass, made for PDs who did not want their people carrying those 'overpowered magnums'.)

 

[chief38]

The ONLY time I carry .357's in a Revolver is when I am in the Woods. My EDC load in my M60-7 is Buffalo Bore #20A .38 Spl. 158 gr. LSWCHP-GC +P and I do carry a spare re-load. I also sometimes use Speer Gold Dot 135 grain GDHP Short Barrel +P's but usually in the Summer months when less clothing is worn.

When in the Woods I carry a M65 (3" bbl) with Buffalo Bore 180 grain hard cast LSWC .357 Magnums. Mostly for Black Bear protection that I hope I never have to use.

 

[Erich]

I'm another one: the refills I carry also depend on where I'll be going. When I'm hiking with the SP-101 up the canyon, that'll be .357 Magnum loads. Down in "civilized parts," more likely the .38 +Ps.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

I live in the woods. 640 Pro and M&P 340 both have Barnes 140gr lead-free hp magnums, and there's a moon clip with the same in my vest pocket. No difference when I go to town.

 

[just plain joe]

Speer 135 Gold Dot hollow point .38 Special +P in 3" Model 13; Safariland Comp II Speedloader carried in Safariland Speedloader holder.

This works for me. YMMV.

JPJ.

 

[Mike in Reedley]

Buffalo Bore 38 spl +p 158 lead swchp out performs all .357 magnum ammo in short barreled guns. I know it's hard to swallow, but according to published data it's true.

 

[crazyphil]

I believe the loaded gun and the speed loader or speed strip should all be
the same ammo. Less expensive reloads are ok for practice, but carry
the good stuff for bidness. What is the good stuff? I think it's a good
idea to find out what local police and/or sheriff officers use and then use
the same brand and type cartridge they use. When, and if, asked by a
prosecutor why I used a +++triple whammy hollow point, I can say
if it's good enough for the local PD I figured it is good enough for me.

 

[iPac]

I carry homebrews in my snub Python.

140gr XTP bullet over 15gr of 2400 powder. My speedloader matches. They average 1100fps out of the snub barrel, but superbly accurate and easy to shoot.

If you are capable shooting magnums, I just don't personally see the point of carrying a gun chambered as such but loaded with 38spl. Just my opinion.

 

[fatcat3]

On duty, I carry .357 Magnums in my duty gun and 4 speed loaders. My BUG is loaded with .38 +P. Off duty lately, I’ve been carrying .38 Spl standard pressure Winchester “Defend” 130 grain BHPs as my reloads with Speer .357 Mag “Short Barrel” 135 grain GDHPs in my 3” Model 13-3. The Winchester ammo is what I carry in my 2” Model 12-2 Airweight which I actually carry more.


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oh how i envy you. in 20 years we have gone from 357 to 40s&w now 9mm. if i stick around long enough we will be using stern look and a harsh word.

 

[Bill In Texas]

FWIW not all 640s are .357, some are .38 special.(Same everything but cylinder not bored for magnum brass, made for PDs who did not want their people carrying those 'overpowered magnums'.)

I stand corrected. I was just trying not to be patronizing by over explaining. Guess I caught myself anyway.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

I believe the loaded gun and the speed loader or speed strip should all be
the same ammo. Less expensive reloads are ok for practice, but carry
the good stuff for bidness. What is the good stuff? I think it's a good
idea to find out what local police and/or sheriff officers use and then use
the same brand and type cartridge they use. When, and if, asked by a
prosecutor why I used a +++triple whammy hollow point, I can say
if it's good enough for the local PD I figured it is good enough for me.

Our local PD and Sheriff's Office don't carry revolvers anymore. I'm the last revolver toter left in my agency. Once I retire next year, that's it.

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[elm_creek_smith]

oh how i envy you. in 20 years we have gone from 357 to 40s&w now 9mm. if i stick around long enough we will be using stern look and a harsh word.

I'd carry an M1911A1 in .45 if they'd let me, but something about cocked and locked scares the higher ups. All the other guys in my office carry Glock 22s. A very few guys in other offices still carry S&W 3rd gen .40s.

The kids with their combat Tupperware[emoji768] have yet to outshoot me during qualification.

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[elm_creek_smith]

... My main carry gun is a 640 which is, as y'all know a .357 magnum revolver. ...

My first 640 was a .38 Special. It wasn't until recently, from my perspective anyway, that 640s became magnums.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I never load my EDC revolvers with anything beyond high quality .38 Special ammunition, not even +P, and my home defense .357s get the same treatment. I only load .357 Magnum loads if I go afield, especially if I'm chasing feral hogs. It's always YMMV but all I see with .357 Magnum rounds is the potential for over penetration, indoors or outside and, if you carry an Airweight type weapon, your quality second shot capability is essentially non-existent. I don't believe I will lose a self defense situation because I carried .38 Special rounds if I do my job with bullet placement.

I feel the same way about my 9mm rounds when I carry that type of handgun. Basic, high quality ammunition, nothing too hot, etc.

I know you addressed this to LEOs but it works the same for the rest of us. Except, MAYBE, the Highway Patrol.


YMMV.

 

[RGVshooter]

I only load .357 Magnum loads if I go afield, especially if I'm chasing feral hogs.

Yeah same here whenever I carry my 4" 686 when I'm out in the field,camping/hiking. On the days where I would carry it, it's loaded up with 38spl+P's.

When I do carry, it's mainly my 4" model 10 or 642, it'll be loaded up with Remington golden saber +P's and I'll have a Bianchi speed strip loaded up with 6 of the same in my front pocket. I feel well armed with either one of these.

 

[mstem]

I carry a S&W 2 1/2" RB 686-6 with 2 speed loaders with Federal 158gr. Hydro Shock's. I was carrying my reloads but upon advice of my attorney I was told to only use factory loaded ammo when carrying concealed. He also said in our rural area & most other rural areas in VA, the Commonwealths Attorney's wouldn't try to hang a person for using their own reloaded ammo, but why take a chance. But go to the Anti-gun, anti-CHP northern like cities in VA that have commie Commonwealth Attorney's & they will try to and most likely will use that against you to nail you to the wall! And they will win! His words, not mine. Sadly to say he's seen it happen in the People's Republic of Northern Virginia. Your state may be different. VA is the new MD.

 

[Donn]

My S&W Model 49's loaded with either standard pressure Ruger ARX or Remington Golden Saber +P. Same stuff is in my two speed strips.

 

[Cal44]

When I carry 357 Magnum in my LCR, my speedstrip(s) are loaded with 38 Special +P.

I sometimes carry a model 49 in 38 special and I don't want to risk getting mixed up and have a 357 Magnum reload and a 38 revolver.

I have, in the past, carried the wrong reload for my carry piece and don't want that to happen again in case I ever need a reload.

If I never carried a 38 special gun, I'd go with 357 Mag reloads.

 

[badge]

Our local PD and Sheriff's Office don't carry revolvers anymore. I'm the last revolver toter left in my agency. Once I retire next year, that's it.

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Nice being the last holdout. I was the last or one of the last revolver carriers in my former agency. Had to tolerate the youngsters with their comments about, " what was that old thing ", and " did it actually fire real cartridges ",. etc. etc. Better yet was out shooting and reloading them on the combat courses. Not always but enough to be noticeable. .357's for me.