357 magnum defensive ammo

[BabaBlueJay]

After three years of testing 357 magnum ammo from pretty much every brand I can think of, I have narrowed it down to four.

1. Buffalo Bore 125 grain tactical low flash short barrel JHP
Pros:
+ Most consistent and accurate round I've tested
+ Lowest flash of any round I've tested

Cons
- Expensive (2$ per round)
- Shoots hot

2. Winchester Silvertip 145 grain JHP
Pros
+ Smoothest shooting
+ Great expansion

Cons
- Slower
- Cannot buy in bulk (at least I have not found bulk)

3. Hornady FTX 125 grain
Pros
+ FTX Tip reliable expansion
+ Very consistent velocity

Cons
- Least accurate of those I've shot (at least for me, might just be me)
- Cannot buy bulk

4. Black Hills 125 grain JHP
Pros
+ 50 round boxes
+ Can buy bulk

- Haven't tested
- Haven't tested

Of these I have tested the top 3 (ordered a box of Black Hills due to responses on another thread for testing which I will post test results early August after I put it through my tests)

I am not including Gold Dot even though it's amazing because it would be easier to mine actual gold out of my backyard than to find any.

I need my defensive ammo to be:

Reliable

Accurate

Available

Expand within FBI standard 12-18" (1-3 have met these requirements)

For target practice I can just reload FMJ into the brass with my single stage for supplemental practice.

 

[CJH]

I carry the hornady and have been pleased with its performance

 

[Fishinfool]

I will throw another one out there - The Remington . 357 mag 125 grain SJHP. I don't know how it compares to more "modern" ammo in FBI protocol testing, but it was pretty much the gold standard for one shot stops during the police revolver era. It was standard issue when I was a trooper, and it did save my bacon one night in the early 1980's. It is loaded warm, big flash, and may not be the best choice for indoors, or in a snubby J frame, but is not priced like some "boutique" ammo, and can be found fairly easily. It always shot very well out of my L and N frame guns.

Larry

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

Any of the options would make fine choices. Whichever you can handle best in your chosen gun is the best choice.

 

[rockquarry]

Any of the options would make fine choices. Whichever you can handle best in your chosen gun is the best choice.

Best answer so far and very practical, but involves trying several ammos and assessing them, a procedure that might be less than appealing for someone looking for a shortcut.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

The contrary opinion: For personal defensive use .357 magnum is greatly overpowered for the need, and use within populated areas is questionable at best.

I carried .357 magnum revolvers on and off-duty for many years and have been present for several actual shooting events. Those experiences left me convinced that good .38 Special +P was more than enough for the intended purposes and much easier to shoot well when necessary.

All the published ballistic tables, reviews, and jello tests are fine for marketing purposes and convincing some people that the biggest hammer is always the best tool.

I still load and use .357 magnum ammo for hunting and field uses, always in medium to heavy revolvers with 4" barrels or longer. I do not consider these necessary for personal defensive use. Huge increases in recoil, muzzle blast, muzzle flash in exchange for relatively small increases in terminal performance.

Go ahead and tear me apart, guys. Heresy, blasphemy, arguing against duly adopted holy scriptures. Mea culpa. With only 54 years of experience carrying nearly every day, two combat tours in Vietnam, and 24 years as a working cop I doubt that I know enough to debate these things with the nice folks trying to sell you the latest, greatest, whiz-bang, super-duper whatever.

 

[rockquarry]

The contrary opinion: For personal defensive use .357 magnum is greatly overpowered for the need, and use within populated areas is questionable at best.

I carried .357 magnum revolvers on and off-duty for many years and have been present for several actual shooting events. Those experiences left me convinced that good .38 Special +P was more than enough for the intended purposes and much easier to shoot well when necessary.

All the published ballistic tables, reviews, and jello tests are fine for marketing purposes and convincing some people that the biggest hammer is always the best tool.

I still load and use .357 magnum ammo for hunting and field uses, always in medium to heavy revolvers with 4" barrels or longer. I do not consider these necessary for personal defensive use. Huge increases in recoil, muzzle blast, muzzle flash in exchange for relatively small increases in terminal performance.

Go ahead and tear me apart, guys. Heresy, blasphemy, arguing against duly adopted holy scriptures. Mea culpa. With only 54 years of experience carrying nearly every day, two combat tours in Vietnam, and 24 years as a working cop I doubt that I know enough to debate these things with the nice folks trying to sell you the latest, greatest, whiz-bang, super-duper whatever.

Fine post, Lobo. Good sense folks will be in complete agreement.

 

[CH4]

All the above.
I also like Speer Gold Dot 135 gr short barrel 357 or 38 +p.

 

[BabaBlueJay]

The contrary opinion: For personal defensive use .357 magnum is greatly overpowered for the need, and use within populated areas is questionable at best.

I carried .357 magnum revolvers on and off-duty for many years and have been present for several actual shooting events. Those experiences left me convinced that good .38 Special +P was more than enough for the intended purposes and much easier to shoot well when necessary.

All the published ballistic tables, reviews, and jello tests are fine for marketing purposes and convincing some people that the biggest hammer is always the best tool.

I still load and use .357 magnum ammo for hunting and field uses, always in medium to heavy revolvers with 4" barrels or longer. I do not consider these necessary for personal defensive use. Huge increases in recoil, muzzle blast, muzzle flash in exchange for relatively small increases in terminal performance.

Go ahead and tear me apart, guys. Heresy, blasphemy, arguing against duly adopted holy scriptures. Mea culpa. With only 54 years of experience carrying nearly every day, two combat tours in Vietnam, and 24 years as a working cop I doubt that I know enough to debate these things with the nice folks trying to sell you the latest, greatest, whiz-bang, super-duper whatever.

No problems with that opinion whatsoever as it's backed with tons of experience. These will be shot out of a 686 with a 4" barrel and the recoil is manageable for me. I appreciate the concern with bystanders fully, I actually agree that even with good expansion overpenetration could happen. While I still feel most comfortable with 357 magnum for carry, I'd definitely consider +P 38 special if I planned to carry in more populated areas.

As a side note it's cool to see a gun leather company actually on the forums. I may need another holster soon for my 686-1 4" and I like your products. What holster would you recommend?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm a big fan of the Winchester 145gr Silvertip .357 Magnum ammo.

In 2 of my revolvers it's extremely accurate especially a M640. The bullet may be old but IMO still very effective. Unfortunately Winchester doesn't run them regularly, sometimes over 2 years in between runs. I still have 4 boxes of 50 but that's not a lot. Last time I bought them they were $50 or $52 cor a 50 round box.

I'm surprised you didn't include Speer GDHP ammo, it's a good round.

 

[Buford57]

Might as well have something rated for werewolves that makes people say "Who was that masked man?"

 

[hyena]

I went with the Golden Saber 125gr BJHP for my .357's. No special reason.

 

[elpac3]

Don't over think this. "back in the day - - " I carried Super Vel 137 grainers. Did the job.

For a man sized target at defensive ranges pretty much any load will be more than adequate. If you are talking game hunting, that would be another story.

Human targets are pretty fragile and over penetration should be a concern. As previously stated, a .38 +P should be more than adequate. Shooting I saw involving .357's were typically a one shot deal - no pun intended.

 

[CH4]

I'm a big fan of the Winchester 145gr Silvertip .357 Magnum ammo.

In 2 of my revolvers it's extremely accurate especially a M640. The bullet may be old but IMO still very effective. Unfortunately Winchester doesn't run them regularly, sometimes over 2 years in between runs. I still have 4 boxes of 50 but that's not a lot. Last time I bought them they were $50 or $52 cor a 50 round box.

I'm surprised you didn't include Speer GDHP ammo, it's a good round.

I agree. I used them as my primary duty ammo in the 80s and 90s. They really looked cool when loaded in nickel cases.

 

[IAM Rand]

This is a foolish poll, the best type of ammo is the one that hits where it needs to be for what ever the situation is. People here are so concerned about what type of ammo is the best. The best is the one that you can shoot well and hit what you need to hit.

 

[Rammer Jammer]

The good thing about 357 Mag defensive ammo is it all basically works as intended. No need to search for that perfect round like say the 380 cartridge.

But like the post above I prefer 38 Special +p for defensive use. 357 Mag is great but a bit to peppy for my tastes.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

I went with the Golden Saber 125gr BJHP for my .357's. No special reason.

My 686 Plus is loaded with Golden Saber 125gr BJHP for home defense too. At the time the choices were Remington or foreign brands. I picked American Remington.

My LGS now have Hornady and Underwood in stock. Those are great choices too.

 

[rockquarry]

This is a foolish poll, the best try of ammo is the one that hits where it needs to be for what ever the situation is. People here are so concerned about what type of ammo is the best. The best is the one that you can shoot well and hit what you need to hit.

True, but you can't obsess or lose sleep over something that's simple, practical, and to the point. Gunfighting theorists would have a tough time dealing with something direct and useful.

 

[Marshal tom]

Lobo and I often think alike. I carried full power .357's at times back in the day but now I only carry them when camping, hiking etc in western Colorado as I did this weekend on the Grand Mesa. when carrying a .38/.357 revolver for defense purposes I generally carry 135gr. Gold Dot, short barrel in .38 although I have several other choices as well. I recently traded my M&P.340 off and got a 649-2 instead because the steal gun is so much easier to shoot well. I carried the above mentioned load in it as well but every once and a while, I shot a few .357's just to remind myself that I didn't want to do that anymore. .357's in that light little snub are just not fun at all!

 

[rosewood]

I looked at the ballistic gel test Lucky Gunner did on various cartridges/bullets. I then determine which bullet was best at a given velocity and worked up a load that matched in my .357 mag snubby. I worked up a load with the 125 XTP using Longshot powder at about 1100FPS. It is about 100FPS or so slower than using full bore loads with H110, but the muzzle flash is greatly reduced (no night blindness) and recoil is more manageable. I like that load a lot in the snubby. Couldn't find any factory ammo that quite fit my bill.

Rosewood