145 grain Silvertip in 3" Model 13

[bassoneer]

I have a relatively "new to me" Model 13-3 with a 3" barrel. I have only shot .38's and .38+P's out of it so far and have realized it is set up for 158 grain bullets (they hit the target right on the money). I have not tried any .357 Magnum rounds and am well aware of the forcing cone issues when using 125 grain ammo. My question is what about the 145 grain Winchester Silvertip ammo? I am wondering if it will shoot to POA and will it be heavy enough to avoid any forcing cone issues? I've tried lots of ammo, but never Silvertips, and they are quite expensive, so I was hoping for first-hand experience/expertise before I made this purchase. Please advise on accuracy and if it will be OK to shoot it in this K-frame.

Thanks, B

 

[Skeptic 9c]

Silver tips are long outdated and I had difficulty finding them quick on the Winchester Ammo website. NO .357 rounds are listed under Personal Defense. I suggest you look for similar reasonably priced rounds.
Geoff
Who used to use the 145s on bowling pins, worked, but not cheap even then.

 

[XTrooper]

The .357 Magnum Winchester 145gr Silvertip load is STILL one of the best available for self-defense. Its terminal performance in bare and denim-covered ballistic gelatin tests is enviable to even the most modern designs and its actual street record is unquestionably good. Old doesn't always equal antiquated.

The real problem, as noted by Skeptic 9c, is they have been difficult to find for awhile now. If you have find them, I'd buy them. They'll work just fine in your Model 13.

P.S.- Don't rely on the skill of some web designer and/or market agent to decide your ammo choices for you. The Winchester ammo web site may not have any .357 Mag "personal defense" loads listed, but that means exactly nothing.

As an example, note these boxes of Winchester PDX1 and Silvertip ammo. Yeah, they are personal defense rounds even if it didn't say so on the box.

 

[SOUTHPAW]

357mag.STHP 145gr. S&W 13 3"

The 145gr.STHP are one of my favorites...I run it in my 3" & 4" model 13
Go to.....ammoseek.com You can find it!!!!!! No cheap!!!!! Natchez has it in stock!!!!!!!

I also like this round in my 3" 681PC....My father also keeps it in his 4" 66
No-dash.

 

[Erich]

I preferred 145-gr .357 STHPs for carry in my 3" 65 - they did 1175 fps from that gun. I'm with Xtrooper - this is one old-school loading that I completely trust.

 

[sigp220.45]

The .357 Silvertip was the FBI issued magnum round when the 3" Model 13 ruled the roost. Even though agents were supposed to carry the +P+ .38 round unless they had special permission, some guys loaded with Silvertips anyway, and plenty of guys carried it in their speedloaders for reloads.

I think it is the perfect match for your Model 13. It can be hard to find, though.

 

[Skeptic 9c]

Oy Vay!

Winchester® Super-X® Centerfire Handgun - .357 Mag 145gr Silvertip® HP 50/Box - Natchez Shooters Supplies
Tain't cheap is it?
Geoff
Who will stick with .38 +P in his Ruger Security Six Heavy Barrel.

 

[ikor]

Still an excellent load that tends to balance expansion and penetration very well. It was the last .357 load I bought and issued our Officers before we made the switch to autopistols, and I still use it today. I did, however, just buy some (also expensive) 140gr. Barnes VOR TX .357Mag rounds from Midway and supposedly they clock around 1300 or so through a 4in barrel. They'll be fine in my N frames but not so sure about my K's, and I'm pretty sure there is no way I try to use them in my J frame Magnum!

 

[bassoneer]

Thanks for all the information and replies...I may try to pick up a box and see how it shoots in the Model 13. You guys are a wealth of info. B

 

[Badkarma 1]

This is my current load of choice in a 66-2. A tip of the hat too 18DAI for pointing me in the right direction. Dale

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have a M640 that just loves 145gr Winchester Silvertip Magnums. They are so accurate in that revolver I will shoot nothing else for SD if I have the choice. I had 2 boxes and shot about 20 rounds but stopped shooting them 2 years ago when I found out how hard they were to find. A few months back Winchester must have done a run of them because everyone had them for a while. I bought 3 boxes and would have bought more if they weren't so expensive.

That is my SD load for use in my M640 because they are so accurate. A few friends tell me that ammo is outdated and there is better stuff now available. That may be true but the best ammo in the world means nothing unless you get good hits...

 

[zeke]

Own a 3 in M13 that appears sighted for 125 grainers. Winchesters 145 st is most accurate factory load have tried in ALL my 357 revolvers. Tough to improve upon and not only extremely accurate, but high velocity.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Own a 3 in M13 that appears sighted for 125 grainers. Winchesters 145 st is most accurate factory load have tried in ALL my 357 revolvers. Tough to improve upon and not only extremely accurate, but high velocity.

That's true and the bullet itself isn't bad either. Back in the day Winchester Silvertips and Remington Golden Saber bullets were the Ford and Chevy of the ammo world. Most LE agencies carried one or the other. Golden Saber bullets have a bad rep for separation but the Silvertips do not. They may be old but they still work...

 

[nebmike]

+1 in favor of the Silvertips. I actually really like that particular bullet and have used 145gr .357 Silvertip component bullets for years in some hot reloads.

I've taken multiple deer with them and they work great... probably better than any other .357 bullet I've tried. I do typically see some fragmentation, but I'm pushing them quite a bit harder than the factory load.

 

[Ironhand]

If I manage to shoot my way through 2 18-round mags of SXT, then the next 2 will be 147gr. 9mm hollowpoints out of my Beretta 92F.




Either way, it's a firefight, and I'm looking for my rifle...

 

[Stu Honea]

The .357 Magnum Winchester 145gr Silvertip load is STILL one of the best available for self-defense. Its terminal performance in bare and denim-covered ballistic gelatin tests is enviable to even the most modern designs and its actual street record is unquestionably good. Old doesn't always equal antiquated.

The real problem, as noted by Skeptic 9c, is they have been difficult to find for awhile now. If you have find them, I'd buy them. They'll work just fine in your Model 13.

P.S.- Don't rely on the skill of some web designer and/or market agent to decide your ammo choices for you. The Winchester ammo web site may not have any .357 Mag "personal defense" loads listed, but that means exactly nothing.

As an example, note these boxes of Winchester PDX1 and Silvertip ammo. Yeah, they are personal defense rounds even if it didn't say so on the box.

Absolutely still a good load. In fact,these 145gr.ST's may have been the first of the "modern"performing loads.They still hold a good spot for defensive carry,if you can find them.

 

[cavnamvet]

The 145 gr Silvertip was my LEO duty load for a number of years in a S&W model 19-3... It is a devestating round and
I can attest to this first hand..

New is not always better... especially in this case.

 

[Larry from Bend]

An ooooold Silvertip story.
Silvertips are the only rounds I've ever carried in my 2 1/2" 19-3, which I had along on a MT Elk hunt in '86. As we were bringing a Bull out in my pickup, we saw some Blue Grouse sitting on the ground maybe 40-50 feet away. My nephew said he'd get one ready for the pan if I could shoot its head off. I did. He kind of snickered that that was the luckiest shot I'd ever make. I did it again. They sure were tasty.

 

[Water-Man]

I've been carrying them for years. I'm getting about 1300fps out of my GP-100 4".

 

[Wayne Dobbs]

I've killed a couple of Texas whitetails with the 145 STHP load from a Model 19 4". The load works well. It was also one of the first duty loads that had a flash suppressed powder, resulting in almost no muzzle flash at night. When you compared it with the Remington 125 SJHP load that was very popular back in my youthful LE days, there was no comparison.