357 ammo

[CCantu357]

I have an older Model 19 that i use for SD. Knowing that the hot 125s cause excess wear, I am wondering what anyone might know about Rem. 125 Golden Sabres, W-W 145 Silvertips, and 158 Hydra-Shoks? I am leaning toward the Hyrda Shoks but am not sure. Any info or viewpoints on these 3 types?

 

[Steve C]

I have an older Model 19 that i use for SD. Knowing that the hot 125s cause excess wear, I am wondering what anyone might know about Rem. 125 Golden Sabres, W-W 145 Silvertips, and 158 Hydra-Shoks? I am leaning toward the Hyrda Shoks but am not sure. Any info or viewpoints on these 3 types?

Remington GS 125gr are loaded to medium velocity or about 1,230 fps from a 4" barrel and should be fine for a K frame as the full power 125gr JHP's at 1,450 fps are the ones known for cracking the forcing cone.

Any bullet weight or loading other than the full power 125's should work fine and avoid damage to your pistol for practice shooting, self defense or hunting.

So your Silver tips and Hydrashoks will be fine as devensive ammo. I still carry 125gr JHP full power loads at times in my M19 and M66 with 4" barrels as its still be the best manstopper out there. I just don't use them for practice.

 

[flop-shank]

Full power, I would run the Silvertips if you can find them. Corbon makes a 140 gr. JHP that looks like a winner, but I have yet to try that load. In the managed recoil realm I would try Speer 135 gr. short barrel Gold Dots. BTW, what length barrel does your gun have?

 

[BreakerDan]

.357 Magnum 145gr Silvertips are one of the best loads in the caliber.
They are accurate and have plenty of power. A lot of law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Dallas TX PD, issued the Silvertip when wheelguns ruled the streets. My Model 28 loves them.

I used to have a Model 19- just never warmed up to it- that I shot 125s
in quite a bit. From what I read, most 19s that were used in law enforcement had 2-5k rounds of 125s through them before they had problems. Most people are not going to shoot that many of them through
the life of the gun. The WWB 110gr Magnum at 1200fps is also a good choice and is not a full power load that is going to hurt your 19. This 110 gr Magnum was the issue Border Patrol round in the 80s and was very successful.

Also consider the 38+P+ 147 gr Hydra Shock, it is also a great round.
Check out ammunitiontogo.com- they have a great selection of duty/SD type rounds in stock.

 

[armsmaster270]

Winchester Silvertips are good rounds using them aiming at the base of the neck on a B-27 target I can and have put 6 rounds in the upper chest @ 100 yards with a 4" Model 19.

 

[CCantu357]

thanks...the Silvertips seem to be easy find as well, although those 158s really seem to shoot the best out of a 4 inch